JAPANESE DISASTER.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 October 1923, Page 2

JAPANESE DISASTER.

OFFICIAL ESTIMATES. DRASTIC RETI!EXCHMEXT. (Special to Australian Press Assn.) TOKYO, Oct. 22. Interviews with the .Japanese officials and European diplomats indicate that csimates of the losses published in the tally days of the disaster were much exaggerated. The official estimate of the dead in all places allotted is now nearly two hundred thousand. The estimates of property losses is most difficult as the question is, should they he computed on the basis of original cost or on present- renewal. In either case reliable figures arc impossible to obtain and suggestions vary betwen live hundred million and two billion pounds. In the destruction of the most of Tokyo, the disaster .struck at the heart of .japan. Tokyo being the centre of tile nation. It is a financial burden, owing to reconstruction, that .Japan must leaf oil one hand ami the Government must expect a decrease of recipts owing to the decision, as an emergency measure, to reduce the taxes or exempt from payment those in the devastated districts, while on the other hand enormous sums of money are required for the relief of the sufferers and restoration work. The Government has decided on a 3: astir policy of retrenchment, involving the total abandonment or postponement, of schemes in hand, both in the current and the next fin-am-ial year, and the budget of 135 million sterling has been reduced by twenty-five million. •JAPAN’S FLEET. TOKIO. Oct. 23. How far lias .Japan’s naval strength Ik'Cii affected by the earthquake? Early rumours indicated that half the seagoing licet had been destroyed, but it now is known that these were gross exaggeration. The Naval Department issues statements from time to time, and the most autliorativo opinion lit .Japanese sources is that, in these statements. the losses have not boon underestimated. No ships afloat, were _ destroyed by fire. ’lhe loss of the Naval Technical laboratory at Thukiji was a serious blow, Itecause it was the only organisation for the study of advanced weapons and the armament of ships. The “Amagi.” which was at Yokosuka, sustained serious damage. This was one of tin* battle cruisers in the course of construction at the time ol the ’Washington Conl’eriu-e, and which, in accordance with the terms of the naval treaty was to lie converted into an aircraft'carrier. The Annagi protiablv is damaged lievond repair, and it seemed the battleship Caga. upon which work was stopped after the At ashington Conference will not take the p-la-e of the Amagi as an aircraft carrier. The light cruiser Dava, which was in course const ruction, was destroyed at Yokohama. and two submarines in dock at. Yokosuka were seriously damaged. The only other ship damaged much appears |,e the “Mikassn.” which was to have been scrapped, will not now he emp!„ved as a target ship. Otherwise the losses are represented in buildings at Yokosuka and elsewhere. The Government hopes to re-establish Yokosuka, as a jiort in six months. The destruction ol private dockyards at Y’okolmma and Eraga is a serious loss. An important result ol the disaster will In- a reduction in the naval estimates for J 923-24. which will show a decrease of £509.909. compared with 1922-23, and now probably a further reduction of 20 per cent. The ships to he scrapped under the Washington Treatv have undergone the first scrapping operation, which means the armament has been removed, but tin* period for their total destruction has not yet claused. The Maidzurn naval station, in the island sea. and Cliiukai liu Korea), have been reduced to minor naval stations. Tint port Arthur station is aboli-heil. hut a defence corns is retaincd there and a Gonsan. J lie station in Korea is also abolished, following 100 YYasliiugton Treaty, whilst Takesi iki station, in the Straits of Korea, was really dismantled before. Untouched by the earthquake are the Japanese steel works, near Hakodate, wliei-e ixu-eii inch guns are made; the ICatv.-isiki dockyards, near Kobe, which builds submarines and smaller gun*; the Imperial Si eel Works, near Nagasaki. which constructs armour plate, and the great Mitsubishi Company, at Nagasaki, where there are battleships.