JAPANESE DISASTER.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 October 1923, Page 3

JAPANESE DISASTER.

fußTiiiiit particulars. (Special to Australian Press Assn.) TOKIO, Oct. 11. All Japan is intercstrd in the reve'alions of the murders of llie leading Socialists during the cttrly days of the disaster. There was a general rounding up of the Socialists as soon as the military assumed control. The authorities admitted they were killed owing to their alleged refractory conduct under arrest. Foreign settlements In Yokohama are field on perpetual leases and I he Japan-

ese are always anxious to regain p issession of these whenever they ire offered for sale. The Japanese bought them ;it any price owing to the complete demolition of I lie foreign -ctt!ement and the opportunity may he taken to abolish these leases. Yokohama, prior to the earthquake, was the centre of the silk trade Imt which since has been largely transferred to Kobe and now strenuous elforts arc being made to recover the trade and the silk exchange has been reestablished in Yokohama. A movement is also afoot to make Tokio the principal port instead of Yokohama.

A serious problem that is lacing the

Japanese in the devastated legions is the rebuilding edict which provides that no permanent buildings are to lie erected lor three years in view of the projected general leorganisatiotl and lay out in the rebuilding of the citv.

Almost every office building in Yokohama was razed to the ground and the only institution of note conducting business in its own premises is the Yokohama Specie Bank. The shell of tlie building remains while the hanking is carried on in vaults by the light of candles and lanterns. The hank was the scene of one of the worst sights of the disaster. After 'he first shock hundreds sought refuge ill the building. Fire followed and ‘he refugees were trapped in the vaults and other parts of the premises.

Elsewhere in Yokohama little businesses are making fresh starts in primitive shanties hv the roadside, (inly a flagpole and a ling, together with a few rude graves of members of the Consular staff, mark the site of the British Consulate. The Acting Con-sul-General, Macrae, is working upon a typewriter and he is wearing shorts, aboard a steamer in Yokohama Bav.

From appearances the 'Tokio authorities are making a hotter attempt to grapple with the appaling situation that/Yokohama, where the people are stunned and listless as if they were half expecting a further visitation. No shocks of any violence have been felt since 'Thursday, the Jth of October. The great -Maruuouehi district, con

turning some magnificent I>uiUlinn;», remains practically intact, thanks (n the modern methods adopted in their construction under the supervision r.f American architects to make them earthquake and lire resisting. '(" o railway station is also a splendid build ing and with the adjoining hotel, escaped without great damage. In the same quarters of the city, nevertheless, even form concrete proved ineffectual v in some eases.

The I nipt' rial llutel, one of the finest in the world, occupying an area of five hundred feet hy two hundred and enntainino a theatre seating a thousand persons, with numerous shops aim offices in addition to the ordinary neronimodalion and Iniilt hy an .American architect, was hardly damaged. It is now filled with foreigners, mostly Kmhassy officials and newspaper torrespooden ts.

The magnificent Imperial Theatre suffered more through fire than the quake. The outer walls only are standing and must come down. There is great danger from the falling walls everywhere hut some people are still living in the top storeys of high bindings which have immense cracks throughout their walls and in some eases are tilted lo one side.

For a day or two after the earthquake looting and violence generally funned one of the ugly features of the disaster. Many looters were shot on sight and opportunity was also taken to kill Koreans between whom ami the Japanese there is much bitterness.