The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-09-07


issued an edict rationing the rice
it among the needy. The above
ton by throwing them from the
windows to the ground below, as
the flames swept nearer
Economic Disaster Seen.
was picked up by the automo
bile of a director Of the Formosa
Bank, who was rushing to his office
for an emergency meeting. He told
me that a terrible calamity to all
the business section threatened and
Japan's future might be involved.
1t was 4 o'clock in the afternoon.
Tokyo was burning in many Sec
tons.
Pushing my way to the Gina.
the Broadway of Tokyo, 1 found
old men, women and children in O
panicky crowd. Flames poured
out from the side streets, and no
attempts were being made TO check
them. This was because the water
mains had broken. A roaring in.
ferno was threatening the center
Of the city.
Big Buildings Doomed.
When l returned to the Imperial
Theater, the metropolitan police sta
ton was burning, as was the beauti-
full and palatial new business Sec
ton, including the Palace Hotel, the
Yusen and MArunouchi buildings,
the Yurokat Theater and the Tokyo
central fstation. These fine struc-
lures were already cracked and top
ping.
The night came on with its un-
speakable horrors. Then began the
tragic exodus of the foreigners from
the doomed city.
Ambassador Woods Immediately
assumed charge and began moving
from the American embassy with his
staff. He offered a temporary
asylum to foreign refugees in his
home in Seaimokucho, with man
named Sneffen, who was there in
charge.
The flames were pressing closer
upon the embassy and the Skuramu-
yum, place of great interest, when
the Prince Regent, appearing before
the cabinet then in session, con-
ferred with the ministers and called
out two divisions of infantry to
guard the city.
Then, emerging from the tottering
building, already in flames. he met,
while passing through the yard of
the foreign office. Yamazaki, sec
rotary to Uchida, minister of for
eign affairs, who carried In his
hands a small basin Of water. The
Prince Regent paused to wipe the
CRIME from his face and then,
turning to me, said:
"Yamamoto, who has been APP
pointed premier, will assume the
duties of the premiership on Sun
day despite this disaster"
This declaration of the Prince
Regent, made in most dramatic
fashion, and in a moment filled
with horror and direct forebodings,
seemed to me to indicate the splen-
did spirit Of Japan in the midst
of what seems overwhelming mis-
fortune.
The prince, continuing, said it APP
peared that Tokyo will be cut off
from the world for several days,
and that the ministry feared for
the worst and did not dare con
lecture to what terrible lengths
would go this. the most terrible
disaster i'll the history Of modern
Japan.
All Messages Refused.
The naval radio and all com.
munication stations refused to &C.
cent messages and word was
brought into Tokyo that Yokohama
was still in worse straits that the
capital city.
Advices also were conveyed to us
that the earthquake had extended as
far north as karuiZawa, q summer
resort located about thirty-five miles
northwest Of Tokyo in the noun
tains, a place much frequented by
Americans and Europeans. North
Of KaruizaWa, the places were Re.
ported to be unchanged.
The great earthquake was felt
with destructive fury south Of
Yokohama, hitting all villages and
practically annihilating them for
miles around.
When I left Tokyo at midnight
fierce fires were sweeping from
three directions toward the center
of the city. All the government
buildings were apparently doomed.
Refugees Fiji Streets.
The Japan Advertiser was a mass
of flames. Refugees packed the
streets and the public parks, the
narrow thoroughfares and small
open places being their only shelter.
Now was going on a tremendous
and dramatic flight. Thousands
upon thousands Of the unfortunate
homeless populace, with hopes
abandoned for salvaging homes or
belongings journeyed by foot, cart
and motorcar under sky of
blazing red toward another great
disaster. Believing that safety and
refuge waited for them toward the
south, they started blindly for
Yokohama.
They did not know that this