JAPAN REMEMBERS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 304, 21 November 1928, Page 2

JAPAN REMEMBERS.

THE GREAT EARTHQUAKE. MUSEUM OF RELICS. Japan has not forgotten the great earthquake wave which swept the country, leaving in its wake a trial of destruction and ruin. Indeed, the people of the East are alive to the possibility of the recurrence of such a catastrophe, and realise that the Swoid of Damocles, to use the expression in a metaphorical sense, hangs threatening above their heads. They do not however according to Mr C. T. Salmon, of Palmerston North, who has returned from a visit to this quaint country of the East, allow distracting thoughts to disturb the placid exterior for which they are noted, and probably accept tho ever present peril with Oriental fatalism. . A “Standard” reporter was informed by Mr Salmon that lie found no evidence of a great fear on the part of the people, but they were taking every precaution to safeguard against future damage on such a scale as attended the last great visitation. Reconstruction was far from complete, and vestiges of the great earthquake still remain, but never, stated Mr Salmon, liad he seen such solid foundations as were being provided for the new buildings in ferro-concrete. Opportunity was being taken to remodel the cities at the same time as reconstruction was proceeding, and some magnificent blocks, worthy of any capital, had been erected. The streets were paved and, in. cases, two chains wide. In Yokohama a museum for earthquake relics had been established, and it was a grim reminder of the disaster, containing interesting objects which gave some indication of the extent and frightful nature of tho disturbance. Among the exhibits was a huge'fused mass of metal being that remains of a heavy chain, and from the solid iron projected links which had not melted completely away. Similar evidence of terrific heat was afforded by a ship’s anchor on ivhich great drops of oncemolten metal had solidified into bulbous lumps on the surface. Stark tragedy was associated with another museum exhibit placed on a piece of blue velvet. It was the metal top of a lady’s handbag, in addition to two bones of a human hand, as well as several teeth—altogether a grim reminder of a terrible holocaust. 'Sunk into the floor of tile museum was a diarama representing Yokohama in the midst of earthquake and fire. Green and yellow lights played in the scene, which depicted straggling lines of people fleeing to safety, and it had a crude, but realistic effect. One of tile places visited by Mr Salmon in Tokio was a one and half acre square, the only open space in that particular quarter of the town. It was there that, during the height of the disaster, 30,000 or 35,000 people crouched, stood, or lay upon their hastily gathered bundles in terror, and when the flames swept in, devouring the inflammable goods which they had carried with them, all perished in a frightful manner.

Every year, on tlio anniversary of the earthquake, a solemn ceremony was held in that square, in which a wooden shrine has been erected.

Yes, japan remembers, and prepares again, added Mr Salmon.