STRICKEN JAPAN

Evening Star, Issue 18375, 8 September 1923, Page 3

STRICKEN JAPAN

A TERRIBLE MATH MM LATEST ESTIMATES: 500,000 Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. NEW YORK, September 6. The latest estimate places the number of dead at half a million. (Received September 7, at 11.25 p.m.) The Iwahi correspondent of the ‘ New York Times ’ says:—“To=day’s advices state that officials in the devastated area in Japan place the number of dead at 500,000. This is considered probably to be a more correct figure than other estimates.—A. and N.Z. Cable.

POSITION IN TOKIO. RAIN PUTS OUT PIRES. YEW YORK, September 6. Tho Tokio correspondent of the United Press Association states that merciful ram descended upon tho city, enveloping the wreckage in clouds of steam am .causing the fires final]v to die down, ibis permitted the rescue work to proceed m more orderly fashion. The Relief Bureau decided to erect tends lor the refugees from the outlying villages on the Imperial Palace "rounds until rebuilding can begin. In the meantime the first connected story of tho disaster has become available. Immediately following the first quake fires started l in fifteen places simultaneously, and thousands of 'alarmed natives rushed towards the river crowding on to the bridge, which collapsed under tho weight, causing many to drown. As Saturday and Sunday passed the fires continued. The smell of burned human flesh permeated the air.— A. and N.Z. Cable.

TRADE WITH JAPAN.

INDUSTRIAL REORGANISATION.

SIGNS OF ACTIVITY,

OSAKA, September 5.

National attention is focussed on the meetings of the Emergency Cabinet, which are held twice daily. Yesterday it was decided to care for 15,000 of the injured in the army barracks nearest to the city. 'The Chiba- Prefecture is creating tent.barracks for the troops, which are .eating biscuit rations, and is supplying 50,000 homeless persons with army biscuit". The -Governor of Nagano, which produces 90 per cent, of the silk, has telegraphed to the Kobe Chamber o-f_ Commerce to establish immediately -a silk inspection bureau. The Kobe merchants have created a bureau to keep the foreign trade going, and have decided to accept the storage of cargoes en route for Yokohama.

The directors of (he Osaka and Kobe fire companies announce that responsibility for the damagee will not be shouldered, in justice to -the other policyholders. They slate that the premiums of the Japanese, companies are not high, like the foreign companies, and it may be decided to repay them. Tiie Chamber of Commerce has decided against a moratorium, and is advising the merchants and 1 banks to reach a mutual understanding. The cotton operators admit that the recovery of the industry is impossible for six months at least, as they must replace the spindles and rebuild the factories. One-third of the twisted -thread factories have been destroyed.—Sydney ‘ San ’ Cable.

NEW CABINET TAKES UP BURDEN,

TOKIO, September 7.

The dramatic installation of the Japanese Prime Minister (Count Yamamoto) took place on the lawn in front of the Akasaka Palace while the fire was raging and the earth trembling with recurrent shocks. Part of the crowd dared not enter the palace, owing to the danger of its collapse ; but in the presence of the Prince Regent Count Yamamoto and the members of the new Cabinet took the oath and turned to the great tasks before them.—A. and N.Z. Cable.

POSITION IN TOKIO AND YOKOHAMA.

FOOD SUPPLIES COMING TO HAND. TOKIO, September 7. To-day a semblance of order prevails. Slender, hollow-cheeked youths walk the streets carrying big Japanese swords, aiding the police in the relief work and assisting in the search for and the identification of the bodies. Nevertheless, the survivors cannot believe that they are safe, many fearing to lie down lest in sleep they should bo overtaken by a new dteaihdealing quake. Only Complete exhaustion has stilled the wandering throngs, which otherwise continue their endless pilgrimage seeking to escape Natures calamitous power. _ . . Supplies are now reaching Tokio in large quantities, and tlho danger of starvation is over. —A. and N.Z. Cable. NJvW YORK, September 6.

The ‘Now York Times’s’ Osaka correspondent says that order in Tokio and Yokohama is gradually being restored, but shelter, provisions, clothing, and carts and lorries are extremely Troops are concentrated in and around cities, ami precautions are being taken against outbreaks of lawlessness. Half a million refugees are encamped about the Imperial Palace in Tokio. The refugees wait for many hours in a line two miles long to got one piece of ricehall. Parents wander about the streets calling the names of lost children. Others are carrying placards with the names written on them. The troops are constructing shacks, of which the Government Ims decided to build 12,000. _ Profiteering is severely punished when it is discovered ; but enormously high prices are being paid for food. There is n great shortage of petrol, and motor traffic has almost ceased. Fears of a financial collapse in Japan were at first entertained, hut they are not borne out—A. and N.Z. Cable. FUTURE OF THE PACIFIC.

HEW CONDITIONS. LONDON, September 6. The ‘ Morning Post,’ further commenting on the international aspect, says: “It is believed that Japan, owing to the necessity of devoting her resources to her oaonomio recovery, will probably find |it desirable to keep even below the naval strength fixed at Washington. If this view proves to be well founded, it opens up an entirely now vista in connection with AngloAmerican relations concerning naval armaments. With the temporary enfeebleanent of Japan all question of American and Japanese rivalry in the Pacific practically passes out of tho range of practical politics. It is pointed out that Japan now, owing to her losses, will have no anxiety regar ding the emigration of her surplus population to the United .States or elsewhere.”—A. and N.Z. Cable.

SHIPPING DISORGANISED. Australian and N.Z. Press Association, SYDNEY, September 7. In view of the shortage of future supplies as 'a result of the Japanese earthquakes, merchants and retailers are advancing the .prices of Japanese goods. The shipping companies in Australia, are advised not to accept cargo for Tokio or Yokohama, as there are no discharging facilities. Cargo will still be but all will be discharged at Kobe. A number of Australians aro supposed to have perished in the disaster, but authentic news is lacking. The inter-State tennis player Russell Kcays, of Geelong, is reported to have been killed, along with Mr Hawkce, ecn.

SALVATION AMY IN JAPAN.

GENERAL BOOTH’S APPEAL. LARGE SUMS NEEDED. [Pee United Press Association.! WELLINGTON, September 7. In the face of the unparalleled calamity which has overtaken Japan, and incidentally tho work of the Salvation Army, the New Zealand headquarters of that organisation has received; -an appeal from General Bramwell Booth for financial help towards reco-ne-truotinig the results of the patient toil of the past thirty years, all of which vanished in a single day. The appeal states : “ Tho Army, in common with other religious associations, suffered a gre-n-t blow. Our head-quarters—-and I fear the hospital, with other institutions -and l many officers’ houses and soldiers’ homes —have gone. ibcv have been thrown diown into the ruin by tho earthquake or reduced to ashes by fire. Most serious and lamentable of all, we have lost some noble, -devoted men -and women, both Western and Japanese. In tho presence of this dreadful emergency wo must turn with more determination -a-n-d faith than over to God- and put our hand- to tho plough. Wo shall find the men and the women. The Army has always been able to raise up messengers of the Cross who fen-rod no dangers. Wo shall also need '■money. Our immediate claim is for the relief of the distressed' and suffering people. For this purpose it seems to mo that we should immediately wisely -distribute £1,009,000 for tho restoration of the destroyed buildings, and for temporary erections needed for carrying on the work in (he present awful conditions for tlvc care of tho orphan children, who have always been an -iinportan-t consideration. In dealing with s-iic-h nalaanities another £1,000,000 is needed-. 'These may appear to ho large figures. Tlio nations are disturbed by many conflicting cares and sorrows ; yet 1 db not hesitate in the presence of (.his dreadful calamity to present my claim to the world. Tho future of Japan is not a matter which concerns merely the Eastern nations, nor a mat ter of interest merely to the Western people. It is a matter which concerns tho whole world. No opportunity has ever occurred- for bringing home to her people tho influence of Christian charity such as this one. That opportunity concerns cve-ry one of us. Let us uso it.”

JAPANESE ENERGY. CARRYING ON AT KOBE AND OSAKA. NEW YORK, September 7, (Received September 8, at 8.40 a.m.) The United Press Association’s Tokio correspondent says that several more relief vessels have entered the port. Fresh troops have arrived, chiefly engineers, who have begun to restore the railways in order that the food and clothing which are accumulating at Kobe and Osaka may speedily he moved to the capital. (Meanwhile Osaka lias become a now centre of business and communication, and the Government is considering the question of removing the Foreign Office to that city. Kobo line become the silk export centre, and the main offices of all the industrial and commercial houses which wore formerly located in ‘Tokio and Yokohama are ■slowly gravitating there.—A. and N.Z. Cable.

NEW ZEALAND CABINET'S DECISION.

HELP TO BE GIVEN. f Pee United Press Jsson.mcN.] WELLINGTON, September 7, •Cabinet to-day decided to contribute towards the British Government's measures for affording relief to the Japanese earthquake sufferers. DOMINION ASSISTANCE THE MAYOR’S PROPOSAL. COMMUNICATION FROM ACTING PREMIER. His Worship the Mayor (Mr H. L. Tapley) yesterday sent the following telegram to the Acting-Premier (Sir Francis Bell) Subject lo the approval of the Government, I proposed to call meeting citizens organise relief fund Japanese disa«tor. if you approve I will communicate with mayors of other cities suggesting .similar measures. Reply urgent.’’ The following reply has been received by His Worship: —“Cabinet considered telegram form Mayor of Auckland, and memorandum from Mayor of Wellington before your telegram arrived. Cabinet considers it very doubtful whether public subscription of money is appropriate for relief of disaster in the country of a great nation such as Japan. If Lord Mayor of London’s fund, as telegraphed, Ls proceeded with without comment, will reconsider question of inviting New Zealand mayors to open subscription lists. Government desires to join with British Government in present cost incurred by that Government in sending food and similar relief, and is offering contribution to that effect. You are at liberty to publish this. ■ Am making public statement to same effect.—Francis Bell.” The Mayor states that he is expecting further advice regarding the Government's intentions within the next day or two.

JAPANESE RELIEF,

TO THE EDITOR. Sir*, —Your leader will bo very welcome ‘ to a multitude .of readers who must, recognise this imperious call on our sympathy and gratitude. Japan was our shield and buckler in the anxious days when German warships were hovering on our coasts, and finally delivered the cities of New Zealand from the fate of Papeete by driving the whole squadron to its doom at the FaUdands. Now is our opportunity to prove wo don’t forget. The Government alone can promptly and adequately rise to tho occasion; the public will endorse whole-hearted measures and gladly supplement them by voluntary aid. Contribution enclosed.—l am, etc., Noblesse Oblige.

September 7. [Our correspondent encloses a contribution of £l.—Ed. E.S.]