RIOTS IN JAPAN?

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1672, 12 February 1913, Page 8

RIOTS IN JAPAN?

POLITICAL UPHEAVAL

ATTEMPT TO FIRE NEWS^

PAPER OFFICES, i

By TeloEraph—PreM Association— Copyright ' (Rec. February. 11, 11.5 p.m.) : Jokio, February U. The excitement in connection with the political crisis following.tho vote of censure by the Diet on Premier Prince Katsura and the immediato adjournment of the Diet by an Imperial resoript, has led to much disturbance in the city.

The Mikado, in a further rescript, has ordered the Marquis Saionji to try to alleviate tho situation in the direction, of tho abandonment of the vote censure on the Government.

Two members of the lato Cabinet favour compliance, but the others are unwilling to compromise.

A crowd surrounded the Diet and cheered tho arrival of the Oppositionists, who were wearing white roses, while it hooted'the Ministerialists. Tho police made repeated charges; and fifteen persons.were injured, -

A rescript has been issued suspending the sitting of the Diet for threo days.'

Dense crowds assembled and tho police became unable, to oopo' with the situation, so that the military had to bo sum-, moned. Stone-throwing occurred and. a renewal of the melee followed. The rioters attacked a newspaper office l and the staff replied with revolvers, a rioter being killed.

The mob then looted the oil-shops and soaked straw in oil which was thrown into tho newspaper offices. Th© offices are in consequence now; guarded.

The military charged with drawn swords and ;tho mob was' scattered in. sections. Rioting then took place further afield, and was accompanied by tho turning of tramoars and the wrecking of polioe stations. An armed force protected Prince Katsura's residence. '•■ ' ■;-' .''