BEHIND THE VEIL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22816, 27 February 1936, Page 9

BEHIND THE VEIL

RIGID CENSORSHIP IN TOKIO MILITARY COUP REPORTED POLITICIANS ASSASSINATED (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, February 26. (Received Feb. 26, at 10 p.m.) Messages from Shanghai and Peking report that a military coup occurred in Tokio, where the strictest censorship is being observed. No details are yet lcnown, but it is understood that several important Japanese politicians have been assassinated, including Mr Takahashi, Minister of Finance. ' All attempts to communicate with Tokio 'by telephone V have failed. The Premier's residence, the Ministry of the Interior, and the ... police headquarters are reported to have been seized by the military forces. The stock exchanges in. Tokio and Osaka have suspended business.Other messages state that martial law has been'proclaimed in Tokio. FATE OF PREMIER UNCERTAIN 'SHANGHAI, February 26. (Received Feb. 26, at 11.30 p.m.) It is learned that the coup was carried out at dawn by 3000 men comprising the 3rd Infantry Regiment of the J Ist Division," stationed at Tokio, who seized the offices previously cabled after overjcomihg the sentries. Units' of .the Imperial Guard Division have been ordered tb evict the rebels. The fate of the Premier (Mr Okada) and the Minister of the Interior (Mr Goto) is uncertain, ft is presumed that they are at least prisoners. An unconfirmed report states that Mr Goto was assassinated. The cpup'is believed to have been engineered ; 'by the younger, officers of the Ist Divi- ' sion, which was recently ordered to Manchuria. They were issued with ball instead of blank cartridges. \,