ADMIRAL OKADA STILL ALIVE

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 134, 2 March 1936, Page 9

ADMIRAL OKADA STILL ALIVE

Hidden Two Days in Cupboard While Rebels Occupied House BROTHER-IN-LAW SHOT BY MISTAKE Last of Insurgents Surrender as Troops Move to Attack By Telegraph—Presa Assn.—Copyright- , (Received March 1, 7.30 p.m.) Loudon, February 29. A Tokio conjnuinique contains the amazing news that Admiral Okada, the Premier, is alive. Apparently the mutineers mistook for Admiral Okada liis brother-in-law, the retired Colonel Matsui. who somewhat resembles him, and riddled Colonel Matsui with bullets. After a final warning from General Kashii, military governor of Tokio, the last of the rebels surrendered without firing a shot when troops closed in. The Imperial household confirms that Admiral Okada is alive and that his brother-in-law was shot. It appears that Admiral Okada was actually in the house when the mutineers broke in. He was warned to hide just in time, and remained concealed while the mutineers were in occupation of the house and managed to escape on Thursday. He called on the Emperor last night and expressed regret at the trouble. The Emperor declined to accept his resignation. A responsible Japanese official explained that Admiral Okada, after escaping, did not dare to tell even relatives for fear of further attempts on his life. Consequently the family mourned him as dead. It is now recalled that the Emperor sent condolences to Mr. Takahashi’s relatives but none to Admiral Okada’s. The significance of this was not realised at the time. It is reported that a loyal officer warned Admiral. Okada, who bid without food or water, cramped for two days, in a. tiny steel cupboard in his own office, the rebels repeatedly passing his hiding-place.

BACK TO NORMAL

Tremendous Tension Relieved ARMY DISMISSALS Rebels Submit Without Firing Shot (Received March 1. 7.30 p.m..) Condon. Febrary 29. Conditions at Tokio arc again normal, hut the tension hitherto has been tremendous. The name of the Emperor, never used politically except in eases of dire necessity, was invoked to induce the rebels to surrender, upon which General Kashii ordered residents of the Nagataclio are at Tokio’s Whitehall to evacuate their homes, brought up tanks and simultaneously broadcast to the nation that the rebels must be subjugate. “We hesitated because of possible damage from gunfire to residences of princes of the blood and foreign ambassadors,” be said. "The national spirit also forbids lighting among Imjrerial troops, but the delay of the rebels in surrendering is intolerable.” They have defied Imperial commands, and a settlement by force is unavoidable.” General Kashii then made a last appeal to the rebels, stating that he sincerely admired their courage and loyalty, and that they could surrender without shame because the officers recognised their error. Troops closed in on th? rebels who submitted without firing a shot. Hundreds of barricades were demolished. citizens then thronging the streets. A Tokio message reports that Admiral Kantaro Suzuki. Grand Chamberlain, who was reported to have died, recovered from his wounds. Official Broadcasts. Yokohama reports that a Tokio official broadcast at 11.35 a.m. announced. "Most of the rebels, N.C.O.’s and men, excepting some at the Premier’s home and the Sanno Hotel, have surrendered without resistance.” A broadcast at 11.40 a.m. said: "We think that the restoration of peace and order is not far off and that the prohibition of sending news home and abroad will be lifted soon. Refugees from the danger zone are quite safe, and will be told later when they- can return to their homes. A broadcast at 12.40 p.m. stated: "The prohibition of domestic telephoning and telegraphing from Tokio is lifted, but no news is yet allowed to go abroad from Tokio Bus and motor-car traffic in Tokio city is still not permitted.” Earlier official broadcasts stated that regular army aeroplanes scattered leaflets advising N.C.O.’s and soldiers that it was not yet too late to surrender and save their lives. “Your wives, children and sisters are weeping,” they said. Leaflets were also dropped from tanks urging surrender. A Shanghai message states that a broadcast at Tokio in General Kashii’s name stated that force would be used against the rebels but action would bo delayed to give them a last chance to surrender. Citizens were ordered to remain Indoors. A later official broadcast from Tokio announced that all revolting troops had surrendered by about 2 p.m. The situation was entirely calm. Trams and automobiles were permitted to move in the suburbs of Tokio. A Shanghai message reports that the Japanese Embassy announced that all

rebels had surrendered without resistance.

General. Kashii’s morning communique announced that the majority of rebel non-commissioned officers and privates surrendered without much resistance. 'Small units still in possession of the Premier’s residence and the Sanno Hotel should be subjugated shortly. Normal railway traffic and internal telegraphic communication in the Japanese language only was being resumed at noon, Japanese time. Tramway services at Tokio are still prohibited. Semi-official reports state that the censorship has been lifted,' also that Admiral Okada had actually presented the resignation of Cabinet before the revolt. The document is at present in the Emperor’s possession.

The fate of the rebels was still uncertain. Unconfirmed reports stated that the leaders, by order of the military authorities, committed harakiri with revolvers. This indicated that they were not criminals. It is expected that the rank and file will resume their duties without punishment. Desire to Avoid Bloodshed. A further official communique announcing the end of the mutiny explains that the delay in suppressing it was due to the authorities’ desire to avoid bloodshed, and adds that the situation might have had alarming consequences if mishandled. Some leaflets distributed among the rebels stated : “Return to barracks forthwith and you will be pardoned, but resist and you will be shot.”

Three army captains, seven lieutenants, and five subalterns have been dismissed for participating in the revolt. A report that 18 committed hara-kiri is unconfirmed. General Kawashima, Minister of War, in characteristic Japanese fashion, made a statement blaming his own inability to control the army. He added : “I expect the army will now reform and 1 strengthen its unity in order to alleviate his Majesty’s concern, regain the people's confidence, and re habilitate its honour.”

It is pointed out that such a declaration by a Japanese of the old type would have been followed by hara-kiri or at least resignation. Shadow of Dictatorship. Yesterday the shadow of a military dictatorship under General Araki seemed to loom nearer. The situation was complicated by the presence of the naval forces, which it was thought might resent the assassination of their honoured leaders by insurgent army officers. Meanwhile, despite repeated promises to return to barracks, 1500 rebel soldiers still occupied Admiral Okada’s official residence and hotels, and still received regular food supplies. Misgivings spread among the populace when loyal troops fixed bayonets and resumed the posts from which they had withdrawn earlier when it was believed that the surrender of the rebels was complete. A cordon surrounded the entire district in which the revolutionaries were holding out. General Kashii declared that be would take appropriate measures to secure the surrender, but be was handicapped by the knowledge that powerful factions regarded the rebels as patriots, and that therefore a spark might precipitate an explosion. The Foreign Office spokesman at Tokio declared that there win be no change in Japan’s foreign policy. He denied suggestions that Japan had become firmer against Russia, and added that the assassinations were purely an internal matter, and not due to alleged weakness of the Government's foreign policy.

A Shanghai message states that the Minister of the Navy has called a conference of high naval officers to consider the situation from a naval viewpoint.