JAPANESE OUTRAGE

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXVIII, Issue 121, 17 May 1932, Page 2

JAPANESE OUTRAGE

Murder Of Premier BY YOUNG OFFICERS POWER STATIONS BOMBED By Telegraph —Copyright —Press Assn. TOKIO, Last Night. The murder of the Prime Minister, who died at midnight in the presence of his family and the Finance Minister was the most deliberate in Japan’s long history of political assassinations. The official residence was attacked by a group of 25 young naval and military officers. The police were overpowered and an entry forced.. The Premier was seized. He pleaded with his assailants not to shoot and? he ■would discuss their differences, but he was held by two officers and at a word of command was shot, two bullets en-

taring the head. The military authorities express surprise at the outrage and promise the severest, punishment. The existence i( revealed of a secret society of young officers dissatisfied with the form o* government and capitalist influence They cut off the tips of their little fingers to prove devotion to the cause. Takahashi was invested as Premier this morning in the presence of the Emperor. The resignation of Cabinet, which is sitting at present, is inevitable. A super party Government is anticipated. A Foreign Office spokesman deprecates fears of serious national developments, and considers the action of the reactionaries is without important numerical support. Three power stations were bombed, but the damage was unimportant. The stations arc being heavily guarded by police. On receiving Cabinet’s resignation the Emperor commanded Takahashi to continue in the meantime, but the War and Navy Ministers, holding themselves responsible insist thet they should not remain in office in any Cabinet.