The sun., 1918-08-19
FOOD RIOTERSIN
JAPAN PILLAGE
CITIESFOR RICE
Troops Are Called Out to
Protect Property and to
Check Mobs.
DISORDER RIFE IN TOXIC
Social Unrest Declared to Be
Virtual InsurrectiOn-
Crisis Feared.
DISORDER RIFE IN TOXIC
BY the Associated Press.

iohIO, Aug. 10 tuelayedD SO serious
and widespread have the food disorder
become that troops have been called out
in almost every important city in Japan
to guard property and to keep the riot
ers in check, In several places the pill
laying mobs have attacked the police,
who in turn and in their own defence
have fired on the crowds or drawn their
sabres and charged them.
The seriousness OF the situation.
brought about by the high prices OF rice.
which made it almost impossible for the
poorer classes to purchase this necessary
article OF sustenance, has led to a spe-
cia, meeting Of the Cabinet. which de-
cided to appropriate $4,000, 900 for the
purchase Of stores OF rice for distribu-
tion among the people at a moderate
price. The Emperor. moved by the dis
tress. contributed $1.5O0.000 to the ma
tional rice fund. Several miilionaires
also have contributed 100000 each to
purchase rice for the poor. The Mitsui
and Iwaski families each has given
100000 to the fund.
There is an abundance Of rice in the
country. but II Is held in storage by
farmers and brokers. The aim OF the
Government Is to force the rice mara
ket. but up to this time 1t has avoided
regulating the price. which has fallen.
Street car. are h.,r1 r,u,v.d In mi. c,,v
by soldiers for the si.,rtbution Of rice
in districts where .ufysyins IA renorted.
= -'' "a
Da@aEe ~ Toxic.
In the rioting in Toxic last night
'tWednesday) mobs attacked and dam
aged property in the business and the
atre districts. The rioters also entered
and pillaged houses in Askaua, the great
recreation resort OF the middle and lower
classes Several disturbers were
wounded by swords in the hands 'of the
police. Even the naval station at Mai
zuru has been affected by the unrest and
junction with the populace. Many per-
The riots broke out in Toxic last Tues
day night, when crowd OF 5000
marched to the Gina, the great retail
'horousntare OF Inc CITY, Where they
stoned ana damaged 2oo stores ana res
taurahts' ralded rice depots ana unSlc-
cessiuhS attacked Inc Ministry OF the
i"'erior' .N'he'y srres's were ihaae anu
."eh'y poice"en were 'hJufeu' e'
.nal nisn' iokio was oocup'eu y! "ea'
ue'"'i,he"'s VI po''ee anu 'nia"''!'
Al Naso'a' ho'eo LOT It's fiahuiac.ure
Oh poree'a'hs' a mop' es'imateu a' 'V'ooV'
engaged IN riots. AL several places the
soldiers fired on the disturbers. At
Kobe the soldiers and police were
.a,,s, ,ha r,o,sr. 1r.., -,oo u..
h'uee' Se'ee' hou"e' anu ''ee
stores were burned
In the rioting at Osaka mobs pillaged
groceries, drygoods stores and food de-
pots and set fire to theatres and other
h,,,d,ngs The military forces called
49,, g. ,.,,,ai, oraar ,,,sr. a,,.o,,.d
o'' ~
s.. pu .~.....
The street railways nave suspended
sIon in the city and the Goyernor has
forbidden the people to be on the streets
after >dark.
TeIsphone wires were cut and several
t-omyay. ware forced to susnard gar.
-.
VICE ai'e' e"i p"ose"ss "au oee"
WOUNDED Troops ihciuo'hs cavalry
were called out to suppress the rioters
and twenty-five policemen and many
rioters were hurt. Five hundred per-
sor. were arrested IN the outIy,rx
49, .,Ia ..nraa ,,a oi,as
pw"s ne Peo '"e po"ee
WIN oaihSoo
Atn. '"e ,,h,,"h p',,s q, us, 49,
.,, lo,Dun ~ s;n,s ~. ~ ay , N,u
reiA.se " VIC s e' r NV per
nht'eo ~ so" up ~ ~ sen-
era! opiio. 'rs," %
una uhs' ~, .ns ,o vnras, amonp tSa naon, " om
no. lns tha hai,nS that tbs ar,,,,rn 20 "Iu aa
,enoiua towsrd a SOCIAL crisis The n.ws-