IN FACE OF DISASTER

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11653, 18 October 1923, Page 6

IN FACE OF DISASTER

INDOMITABLE JAPANESE 'problem OF RECONSTRUCTION FACED INSTANTLY. “BUSINESS AS USUAL ” By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright Australian 113 dN Z Oabb Aeoooir Mon. TOKIO, October 10. Qno of the most tragic, phases of tl,o disaster in Tokio was the death ot 38.000 people in the grounds of the military clothing depot in the Honio district. When the fire swept the I stricken city, thousands sought refuge in the open spaces of the military depot, tut the flames and heat overwhelmed them, and corpses were piled feet high. The authorities immediately took steps to cremate the bodies, and to their ashes were added those 01 the dead of other devastated regions So the remains of more than IUO.OUO mople were collected in these grottndj before the heap of ashes was erected a* ill Buddhist shrine. Thousands daily come to pay their respects at the shrine and make offerings to the dead, whilst the bereaved take away little boxes of ashes in memory of their lost ones. . , On Sunday a party of Australians from the Australmount paid their rest ects, sprinkling a little incense at tho shrine and making obeisance before the image of Buddha. The Buddhist priests asked the. Australians to accept little images of Buddha in token of their appreciation of the Australian efforts for the relief of the stricken. GIRLS BOILED ALIVE. When the fire swept the A’oshiwarr. quarter, more than 1000 girls sought iefuge in a pond, but the heat boiled the water, and the girls were literally boiled to death. Dead 'bodies are still being leooyered from the devastated parts of Tokx>. Tho 20-mile drive through the ruined streets of Tokio discloses the completeness with which tho Japanese are grappling with the problem of reconstruction. Everywhere there is new timber and galvanised iron for tempo!'arv shucks. Four days after the earthquake, timber ships left Puget Sound, and tho Japanese immediately rushed all the available timber front Hokkaido. Timber lias been pouring into the country ever since. Within a, fortnight the Ginza shopping and other districts will resume operations. TOTAL REORGANISATION. In the meantime plans for rebuilding are proceeding with feverish, haste. Data regarding meteorology, geology, and other matters have been collected over a number of years, and months ago a plan for the reorganisation of Tokio was prepared. * This is now being adapted to the present circumstances. Dr. Beard, a famous American expert on municipal administration, is advising the Japanese on the question of a new and greater Tokio. The whole system of municipal administration, which is very obsolete, will be revised in the light of modern methods. An important question also Is, who is going to pay for the reconstruction, and another is whether the insurance companies are going to pay any earthquake and fire losses. The Government will probably pay for most of the reconstruction, if possible raising all the money by domestic loans, but the insurance companies are refusing to pay for losses, and this is a very serious matter.

The notice “business as usual” posted on the Imperial Hotel is an indication of the return to normal activities in some quarters of the city, which escaped the more serious effects of the disaster.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has intimated that no further relief supplies are required; but Japan is very grateful for the assistance already given.

FOOD SUPPLIES

MAY BE NEEDED SHORTLY. REFUGEES’ RETURN. Australian and . N.Z Gable Association. TOKIO, October 15. The Australian Press Association’s correspondent states that the presentfood position in the Japanese earthquake area is well in hand, but daily many Japanese are returning from the country to start Ife afresh. As all these return and the cold weather approaches, thero will undoubtedly he a great need for stores. As soon as the disaster occurred, supplies poured in from other paTts of Japan, and before proper control was assumed thero was much lavish distribution. This is not so now. The relief distribution has been brought under a proper system. FREE OF DISEASE. Work has been started in removing the debris of the Yokohama Club, where a huge mass of fallen masonry prevented the search for hodies. The corpses of several Europeans have already been recovered.. All day long dynamiting goes on among the ruins of Yokohama, and great buildings are being blown up, creating terrific clouds of dust. So far tho city has been remarkably free of disease. There is a little typhoid' and dysentery, but it is not serious. The swarms of flics are most serious, however, from the point of view of health. Many Japanese are going about with masks over their mouths and noses, especially the districts where tho death-roll was exceptionally heavy.

HEART-BREAKING

SCENE OF DEVASTATION. PITIFUL AND DESOLATE. (Special to Australian Press Association). (Received October 17, 7.10 p.m.) TOKIO, October 16. The Press representatives, as guests of Count Yosliii, were taken a trip along the Sumida river, on tho bank of which Tokio is built. The trip was difficult, owing to the destruction of so many river boats through the disaster. Practically the only vessels now on tho river are the scows bringing building material to tho city. A wonderful view was afforded tho party of tho destruction wrought by tho earthquake and fire. Hero is a wide, desolate waste from riverbank. on cither side, as far as the eye can reach. Such parts as have escaped destruction are not visible from the river. Only the blackened frames ol a few buildings and factory chimneys arc visible. But lor the most part it is one long and seemingly endless stretch of rusted, twisted iron, broken bricks, and ashes. Tho party passed under numerous damaged bridges, which are now being repaired. For six miles up the liver there is "nothing hut desolation on both sides, including tho ruins of the residences

of Prince IComatsu, a noted field-mar-shal, and <also the world-famed Mocujima, noted for its cherry gardens, and now a pitiful, desolate sigiit. The general scene of devastation is enough to break the heart of any people.