JAPANESE MUTINY

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 194, 14 May 1936, Page 8

JAPANESE MUTINY

New Zealander Who Was In Tokio UNEASINESS IN EAST Dominion Special Service. Auckland, May 13. To be in Tokio during the Japanese revolt at the end of February was the experience of Mr. L. H. Rogers, an Auckland business man, in the course of a tour of the East. Mr. Rogers ieturned to-day by the Narbada. Visitors could gain very little idea of til© course of events in Tokio, Mr. Rogers said, as all communications were stopped and they were compelled to remain iu their hotels. Most of the rioting took place in the direction of the palace, but they saw barricades of barbed wire and machine-guns in the streets in other parts of the city. AU trains, trams and motor-cars weie at a standstill. After about four days they were allowed to go out to certain parts of the city but the area near the palace remained closely guarded. Mr Rogers was at the Imperial Hotel, to which many Europeans from various embassies came, but neither they nop the editor of one of the chief papers who was staying there could get any clear idea of the situation, as no information was available. It was from the Imperial Hotel that an English journalist and author, Mr. Gerald Sampson, was taken under arrest for criticising the proclamation of martial law, but the whole affair was carried out very quietly and Mr. Sampson was allowed to return after a few days. Referring to the causes of the revolt Mr. Rogers said there was more than a suspicion that Communism was prevalent in both Army and Navy. By a judicious use of tips Mr. Rogers eventually managed to secure passage on a train leaving the capital and he later made an extended tour through China. Both there and in Japan he got the impression that a conflict was brewing between Russia and Japan and that an outbreak could not be long delayed. _ . .. The encroachment of Japan in north China was also precipitating a highly dangerous situation. Feeling was running high throughout the five northern provinces, and even moderate aud peace-loving Chinese business men said that any attempt by Japan to seize the provinces would have them up in arms. The position was complicated by the presence of large numbers of White Russians holding positions in China and opposed to the policy of both Japan and Russia. While in China seas, Mr. Rogers travelled in one of the “pirate-proof” boats, in which elaborate precautions are taken against seizure. All Chinese are securely locked in a separate part of the vessel throughout the time it is at sea. The officers' quarters are guarded by iron grilles and Russian guards are on duty day and night. The officers are all heavily armed. While attacks from the sea can be repelled with machine-guns the only danger is from an outbreak among the crew, and this also is guarded against. The opinion was formed by Mr. Rogers that New Zealand was still not fully alive to the possibilities of Eastern markets. New Zealand butter was gaining a footing, but Australia was making much more general headway. He had booked orders in Java for New Zealand produce that had apparently been little offered there before.