The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1918-12-17
JAPANESE STUDYING MODERN
METHODSOF FORTHCOMING;
MANY BLAZES ARE OCCURRING

Toxic, Sow 30. Correspondence OF
the Associated Press Frequently
fires throughout Japan attended by
considerable destruction of property
ana some loss of life have urgently
called the attention OF the japanese
authorities to the necessity of improv-
ing the means of fighting fire, In
Honle cases entire villages have been
wiped out ami IN the city Of Toxic
blocks Of tiny wooden houses have
eocn consumed with amazing swift
ness.
A Japanese fire is different from
almost any other fire Ia the world. I
had an opportunity Of observing that
fact whcn "A fire occurred some time
ago near the headquarters of the As
sociated Press and seemed Tor a time
TO threaten us destruction
Foreign style houses in Toxic are
grouped In conpounds-eha h. three
or four structures are contained in
one large area, or Errdcn. They dot
here and there the great oriental me
tropolis which stretches out FOR miles
IA mas Of low built. t~ile-roofed.
painless Woode houses. the streets
borderch by lines of wooden telegraph
poles carrying their burden of wires.
In the same compound with the cor
respondent lived AN American military
attache, ana an American business
man.
The mellow notes of - Japanese
gong pealing through the night awoke
the sleeper. As h." turned uncusily
there came a discreet knock on the
door. "Danna san said the hoy. "
'Danna san speak like see big fire
Big fire, come. Please get up. please
! go" A great mass OF light showed
through the windows. The fire was
near aud the correspondent went with
his comDatriots.
In the United States a big fire ap-
peals as spectacular; IN japan IL Ia
spectacular with the picturesque and
the artistic added. The boy" was
wrong In n particular: II was not u
big fire as Toxic knows them-only
30 houses-but n afforded a dramatic
instance of the Toxic fire-fighters IN
action. The Americans Joined the
throng of h%urrying. murmuring, HI.
monO-wrapt, clog-shod japanese
which choked the narrow street lead
ing to the scene of the fire which
doomed up, angry me menacing, ar
eighth OF u mile away. Masses OF
sparks scared -heaFenward and clouds
OF luminous smoke rolled upward and
beyond. toward the centar ~ the
great city whose greatest scourge has
ever been fire.
"It n spreading, a japanese friend
said gaily. THE gongs are sounding
far away to cali endorsements. Lei
us hurry; We must get "A good view. o.
The crowd was becoming almost Inn
possible In density. and almost All the
men composing IL bore aloft exquisite
japanese paper lanterns. II was a
continuous singing Liant of fantastic
decoration hat wound onward until
4, ended on the borders Of the con
flaeration itself. A. the crowd in
creased the noise grew In volume until
IL became a roar OF sound. Everybody
seemed excited Nothing seemed sys-
tematized. False appearances, both.
Ne~ q great shout arose and men
waving huge lanterns forced a passage
way in the middle OF the street. \
hard-pump on four wheels. drawn
and pushed by pcrspiring men, toiled
up. followed hy a hose-reel similarly
propelled. The fremen had strange
Japanese letters u designs on the.i
floating garments, their heads and