REBELS SURRENDER

Evening Star, Issue 22277, 2 March 1936, Page 9

REBELS SURRENDER

THE TOKIO RISING ADMIRAL OKADA ALIVE IN HIDING FOR TWO DAYS Frew Association—By Telegraph—Copyright YOKOHAMA, February 29. A Tokio official broadcast at 11.35 a.m. announced: "Most of the rebel non-commissioned officers and men, ex- . cepting some at the Prime Minister's home and the Sanno Hotel, have surrendered without resistance." A broadcast at 11.40 a.m. said: "We think 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, ajid will be told later when they can return to their homes." A broadcast at 12.40 p.m. stated: " 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 the regular army aeroplanes scattered leaflets advising the non-commissioned officers and soldiers that it was not yet too late to surrender and save their lives. " Your wives, children, and sisters are weeping." Leaflets were. also dropped from tanks urging surrender. A Shanghai message states that a broadcast in Tokio in General Kashii's name stated that force would be used against the rebels, but that action was delayed to give them a last chance of surrender. Citizens were ordered to remain indoors. A later official broadcast from Tokio announced that all the revolting troops had surrendered, and that by about 2 p.m. the situation was entirely calm. Trams and automobiles were permitted to move in the suburbs of Tokio. A further Shanghai message reports that the Japanese Embassy announced that all the rebels surrendered without resistance. ADMIRAL OKADA STILL ALIVE LONDON, February 29. ' A Tokip communique, described as official, contains the amazing news that Admiral Okada is alive. Apparently {he mutineers mistook for Okada his brother-in-law, the. retired Colonel Matsui, who somewhat resembles him, and riddled Matsui with bullets. General Kashii's latest communique announces that the majority o£ rebel non-commissioned officers and privates surrendered without much resistance. Small units are still in possession of the Prime Minister's residence and the Sanno Hotel, but should be subjugated shortly. Normal railway traffic and internal telegraphic communication in the Japanese language only were being resumed at noon. The Japanese train and tramway services'in Tokio are still prohibited. Semi-official reports state that the censorship is lifted, and also that the Prime Minister, Admiral Okada, had actually presented the resignation of the Cabinet before the revolt. The document is at present in the Emperor's possession. The fate of the rebels is still uncertain. Unconfirmed reports state that the leaders, by order of the military authorities, committed hara-kiri with revolvers. This indicates that they are not criminals. It is expected that the rank and file will resume duties without punishment. 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 his house when the mutineers broke in, but that he was warned to hide just in time. He remained concealed the whole day while the mutineers were in occupation of his house, and managed to escape on February 27. He called on the Emperor last night and expressed regret at the trouble. The Emperor declined to accept his resignation. 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. It adds: " The situation might have had alarming consequences if it had been mishandled." Some leaflets distributed among the rebels stated: " Return to barracks forthwith. You will be pardoned, but fi you resist you will be shot." A responsible Japanese official explained that Admiral Okada, after escaping, did not dare to tell even his relatives for fear of further attempts I on his life, consequently his 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. Conditions at Tokio arc again normal. The tension hitherto has been tremendous. The name of the Emperor, never used politically except in cases of dire necessity, was invoked to induce the rebels to surrender, upon which General Kashii ordered the residents in the Ngatacho area, Tokio's Whitehall, to evacuate their homes. He brought up tanks simultaneously and broadcast to the nation that the rebels must be subjugated. " We hesitated because of possible damage from gunfire to the residences of the princes of the blood and the foreign Ambassadors. The national spirit also forbids righting among Imperial troops, but the delay of the rebels in surrendering was intolerable. They defied the Imperial commands,

and settlement by force was unavoidable.” General Kashii then made a last appeal to the rebels, stating that he sincerely admired their courage and loyalty. They could surrender without shame because their officers recognised their error. The troops closed in on the rebels, who submitted without firing a shot. Hundreds of barricades were demolished, the citizens thronging the streets. A Tokio message reports that Mr Suzuki has recovered from his wounds. ARMY OFFICERS DISMISSED TOKIO, March 1. Three army captains, seven lieutenants, and five subalterns have been dismissed for participating in the revolt. The 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 ': “ I expect the array will now reform and strengthen its unity in order to alleviate His Majesty’s concern and regain the people’s confidence and rehabilitate its honour.” It is pointed out that such a declaration by the old type of Japanese would have been followed by hara-kiri, or, at least resignation. It is reported that a loyal officer warned Admiral Okada, who hid, without food or water, cramped for two days in a tiny steel cupboard in his own office, the rebels repeatedly passing his hiding place. COMPLICATED SITUATION TOKIO, February 28. The shadow of a military dictatorship under General Araki looms nearer. The situation is complicated by the presence of naval forces, which may resent the assassination of two of their honoured leaders, Admiral Okada and Baron Saito, by the insurgent army officers. GOVERNMENT IN CDNTRDL TOKIO, March 1. (Received March 2, at 10 a.m.) The Okada Government fully controls the situation,, which is quiet throughout the city. Martial law is expected to continue for some time. The most urgent and immediate questions will be the appointment of a new Lord Privy Seal, who is the Emperor’s chief immediate advisor, and the reconstruction of Cabinet. CITY OFFICIALS RESIGN FEEL RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUTBREAK TOKIO, March 1. (Received March 2, at 10 a.m.) The army authorities announce that Captain Nonaka has committed harakiri. Twenty other officers were deprived of their honours and medals and confined to the military prison. The non-commissioned officers and men are confined to cells in their respective barracks. The city’s leading officials are tendering their resignations in accordance with custom, because they feel responsibility for the outbreak. The Emperor has conferred posthumous decorations on Baron Saito, Mr Takahashi, and General Watanabe.