Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-01-08

similar attacks. has been evidenced
however. by the subsequent retire
ment OF number OF them to villas
outside OF Tokyo, where they arc
now living in semiseclusion. Ynsuda,
whose fate they hope thus to avoid.
was known for no outstanding traits
Objectionable TO the so-callcd mall
contents who sought anu took his life
but his vast wealth and prminence
were such as to make him the ra.-
ufal target of anticpitalistic agita-
ton. President OF the Yasuda Bank.
which he founded. one OF tho organ
izers OF tho long established Yolso-
hama Specie Bank, and Il power In
industrial and banking nelds-his
total resources were estimated at
yen. or about $1,000 900. 600 gold.
An attempt was made at the time
OF the late Premier Hara's assassina-
ton TO connect with the Yasuda af-
fair. but evidence to the contrary now
seems fairly we'll established. What
appears more probable, and II is be-
licved in some wcll-informed quar-
ters to be practically certain. is that
the unsuccessful attempts on the lives
OF Baron *. Sumitomo, another mill
Iionaire iinancier, and Prince Saionji.
n member OF the ''Gcnro," or elder
statesmen. were the next episode of
the Eruesome plot, which began to
unfold with the Yasuda murder,
Neither of these attempts was sue
cessfui, owing to premature explo-
sions of bombs obviously intended ia
destroy these two men. hut both cases
served to strenSt then the theory of
the police.
a. I,,a4
Baron Sumitomo has been living
since carly in October at his Kyoto
villa, whittier there is reason to be-
lieve he had withdrawn on che advice
OF the authorities. Information as to
his 'rie. visit to Tokyo ON November
Il. apparently had been obtained nv
the mysterious band and on the after
moot OF his arrival here a bomb was
placed in the drive leading to his
mansion Mt Chaumuyama. Forum
ately for the nobleman. a cart horse
hauling provisions for his kitchen
stumbled over and exploded 1t half an
hour before the Baron's arrival home.
The officials were successful In sup
pressing all news of the ATTEMPTED
assassination until a few days ago.
when permission to publish certain
carefully prepared reports of 1t was
granted.
iiHlCc SaionJ! was bound for his
Okitsu residence on November %,
when bomb apparently intended for
him exploded prematurely In front
of the Tokyo Central station The
Prince arrived shortly afterward and
was escorted safely to his waiting
train.
No arrests have been made in Prince
Saiorjfs case or in that of Baron
Sumitomo. and the only policy of the
authorities in attempting 10 crcum-
vent the plans they have discovered is.
for the present at least, one of add-
;ional prccautfon.
Unusual measures arc being taken
to guard the safety of Premier Taxa
hashi. who is seldom seen in public
and then only when surrounded by Il
bodysuard OF from ten to twenty no.
liccmen. soldiers and plain clothes
officers. When he travels by train
no one unknown TO his guards is per-
mitted in the carriages Immediately
in front and behind that in which tho
Premier is riding, and the many other
PRECAUTIONS taken Indicate that the
government intends To take no such
chances with tho present Premier as
those that made Premier Hara such
an easy mark for q station masters
haif-w!t helper.
tCopyrigh,. 1929, Public Ledger Coz