The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-16
JAPAN CITIES BY CATASTROPHE.
Number Of Lives Lost, Many Persons Seriously Hurt And
 Heavy Property Damage Is
 Toll Of Latest UpheavaI SECOND VISITATION IN PERIOD OF FIVE MONTHS Railway, Telegraph And TeIe. phone Service Is Completely
 DemoraIized-American Re-
 lief Agencies / Are Routed

TOXIC. Jan. 15.-(By Associated Press.)-A number of lives were lost, many persons seriously injured and heavy property damage caused early today by the second great earth quake. which has stricken Japan within five months. The victims of today's shock. so far as is known, were all Japanese. Most of the casualties, it is believed were con- fined to the vicinities of Tokio and Yokohama, where the trembler ex- pended its greatest force. The shock came this morning at 5:45 o'clock, approaching those of last September in intensity, but com paratively brief in duration. It awakened the inhabitants of Tokio and Yokohama and caused them to flee to the streets in alarm. Thou sands of residents ate their breakfast in the streets, not daring to return to their homes.
 The Imperial hotel of Tokio, filled to capacity with American travellers and others who are here on recon struction work. was quickly emptied as the hostelry trembled Most of the guests hurried to the streets. but no panic ensued. There were no causalties here and little damage to the hotel except for smashed win dows. loosened plaster from the walls and broken roof tiles. O O O Railway Service Suspended. Railway service west of Tokio was suspended immediately following the shock as damage done to railroad beds.
 Photographic communications also were interrupted and it was some hours before land lines were in shape to carry messages.
 The earthquake damaged the docks Qt Yokohama. where the liners President Grant and President Lin coin were tied, but the vessels them selves were not injured
 A number of fires broke out both in Tokio and Yokohama, but the rapid work of Japanese fire fighters prevented them from spreading.
 Reports have been received that a number of railway trains were de- railed, although 1t Is not known how many casualties were caused by these accidents. All railway lines between Hiratsuka and Chigasaki were broken. and communication be- tween Tokio and Kobe was cut off temporarily. The shock derailed part of a dozen freight trains at Totsuka, near Yoll ohama. An engine was hurled from the track at Omori, a suburb of Tokio.
 The cabinet went into session im- mediately after the earthquake to gather information regarding the number of casualties and to deter mine if relief measures were neces- sary. The stock market suspended operations temporarily owing to the failure of communications.
 O o o
 Water Mains Ripped Open.
 Besides sporadic fires caused by the trembler, water mains were ripped up in many places and streets and hundreds of homes in both Tokio and Yokohama were flooded.
 It was reported that Oderwars, about 10 miles southwest of here, suffered considerable damage from this mornings shock, although de- tails from this place are still lack ing.
 The central observatory announced todays trembler was "a follow-up" of the great one of last September, and q number more shocks. of even as great intensity, may be expected.