The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-09-04
ENORMITY OF JAPANSLOSS
 NOT YET TOLD
tcontinued From Page One.)


 in modern times.
 Topping all previous estimates death and ruin Ujiro Oyama, Jap anese consul general in San Fran cisco received from Michitara Yada Japanese consul general in Shanghai a report that 100000 persons were killed and one million made home less in the Tokio- okohama sections
 Former estimates from various sources have placed the casualties as high as 10000 in Tokio alone. One of these came from the Japanese minister of Marine by way of osaka Cities Shattered W,tGerness.
 A, composite of reports depicts Tokio and Yokohama as a shattered wilder ness as of mortar. bricks and stont where once stood some of the stateli- ests structures in the empire.
 Dead and dying are on every hand. The survivors who can grope their way through the fire and smoke an6 debris are leaving the city for places of safety.
 Those who still live are threatened with starvation and many are trying to catch fish from ponds and lakse to tide them over until food arrives.
 It estimated that at least 1000 tons of rice alone is needed to meet the emergency created by the food short age. The imperial palace which was badly damaged by quake and fire has been thrown open to needy sur vivors.
 What happened at Yokohama can be barely more than surmised. But every report, though meager, con- firms the worst fears. While 1t seems certain most of the foreign residen- tial section escaped it is estimated 1,400 buildings in the city were de- stroyed. The number of dead are countless. An officer of the steam CT London Maru reported that the bodies were scattered everywhere on land and in the water where many sought refuge in ships after the quake.
 How extensive the quake was can- not be accurtely stated. It is known It extended as far south as the Izu peninsula. on the eastern seaboard, about 100 miles south of Tokio. A message by cable from Kobe to the Associated Press tonight said there was bad shake in Toyama, a city of more than 60,000 population near the northwest coast of Japan, nearly 200 miles northwest of Tokio. and in Koke, fully $50 miles southwest of Tokio. The vibration seems to have permeated the island transversely. Foreign Embassies Destroyed.
 In addition to the hundreds Of larg public and private buildings destroy ed, which include a large number of Japanese government buildings, Ja- panese and foreign naval hospitals arsenals, printing and newspaper of fices, it WIS learned tonight through ! Osaka that the Italian and French embassies in Tokio were destroyed. Nothing has been learned of the fate of the American embassy and it's staff.
 Eight of Tokio's fifteen wards are known to be almost totally wiped out, while the remainder are largely in ruins or burned over. one total num- ber of buildings destroyed being i placed at 100000 for the city and su- burbs.
 In Yokohama Bay and at Yokosuka, a city of 10000 on the upper reaches of Mic Bay. the destru ction is nearly as great population considered Gs it is in Tokio. Reports came today of new quakes centering in Yokosuka yesterday afternoon, doing great damage, especially to ships. It is known that Saturdays quake and subsequent tidal waves did great damage to Japanege naval vessels.
 The extent of the damage, however, has not yet been determined.
 The quake destroyed the tele- phone exchange at Jomachika. At 2 o'clock last night new quakes shook Kawaguchi, destroying 5000 damag- ing 1,500 more. Other places where destruction was complete or nearly so as a result of Saturdays quake, are: Nagoya, with population of 620,000. "virtully destroyed;" Sasako 600 perished when railway tunnel col lapsed; Ito, 500 was washed away; Hakone. famous mountain resort, fre- quented by foreigners. easier to count the dead than the living" Omisha, submerged in 6 sea of mud Oshima, volcano emitting smoke Odawara. swept by tidal wave Other volcanies in the islands nearby are reported ctive.
 O o o
 All Glasses Suffer.
 The rich and titled suffered along with the poor and the obscure. When the first shock came a session of Ja- panese leaders and statesmen was being held in the naval club for the purpose of selecting a new cabinet to take the place of that of the late Premier Kato, which resigned when the premier died. Although the building collapsed, the leaders who survived adjourned to another build ing and completed the cabinet, which was announced in Associated Press reports today.
 A report from Osaka this after noon said that Viscount Takaha former premier, and 20 other leading members of the Seiyukai, or govern ment party, were killed while hold ing conference, and 1t is surmi sed II was the conference to select q ] cabinet. The courage displayed by the statesmen is taken by many as an example of the sioicism of the Japanese people at large, who, be- cause of centuries of frequent earth quakes and other disasters, have n fA h ( !. .t,,cr ard say 'it can't be helped"
 The report of the cabinet meeting was given to the Associated Press by the Radio Corporation Of America. While the Emperor and Empress are reported safe at Nlkko, a resort of the higher nobility are reported dead. Prince Masa yoshi Marsukata former premier and keeper If th4 privy seal has died fro injuries. ac- cording to a report from the ailway bureau by way of Nagasaki.
 Some Missionaries Escape.
 A large colony of foreign mission aries at Qaruizaka have escaped, 1t was learned.
 While survivors are uniting in emergency rescue work and the dis cipline of martial law promulgated by Premier Yamamoto. the world cNeSiNc o"Pai began tOudy to ruSn to the scene of the disaster With as- sistance.
 The United States and British Eavies have rushed ships from chi- Iese and Philippine ports to aid n the rescue as far as possible. The American ships. it was reported, Lave ben stationed at vantage points to relay wireless messages connected with the rescue work. Red Cross units in the Philippines and China lave been ordered to Toklo.
 A cablegram from Kobe rsceived tonight by .he Ass o.iatcd Press said the American consul there had com nandeered ;hS lnlted s;ates shil . ping board steamer West Crowa, filled it wita f. d and started it for the center of the devastated region