Evening star., 1936-02-28
BY GLENN BABB.

Pacific telephone to San Francisco) -
Tense Japan. facing prospective mill
tary or fascist government, waited
this morning for the Thousand army
insurgents to carry out an agreement
to return to their barracks.
Four statesmen were assassinated
Wednesday morning by the insurgent
group. in which the highest officer Is
q captain. Only the army can clean
up the mess. There is no civilian au-
thority capable Of restoring order.
While the government is nominally
headed by Home Minister Flmio Goto,
carrying on as acting premier at EN-
peror Hirohito;s request, the imperial
princes and high army officials stand
before the surviving members of the
cabinet In conferences with the EN-
peror.
While the insurgents had agreed to
return to their barracks by 8 am. to-
day. they had not done 80 long after
that hour.
Troops Make Exit for Insurgents.
A Gordon of government troops
which had surrounded the affected
area since late Wednesday had been
withdrawn on that side through which
the insurgents would have proceeded
to their barracks, a mile away from
their headquarters in the official resi-
dence Of the prime minister. -
It was In the garden of this resi-
dence. that Premier Keisuks 6kAda
met BIZ death ID ths snoN yFadr lay
mornane raNsd sout by the tninry
gent I'D td1ds to AsA across the garg
dem He was sh0 down, sSiid his
assassins drew d sinsis mt lover his
body. Fresh snow covered IT. 4;
AN day and all night long Okadaa
body. almost concealed by fts white
mantle, lay IN the snow. His sister,
his son-in-law and his secretaries
sought to obtain it, but were turned
back by the fixed bayonets of the In.
surgents.
Late yesterday two secretaries were
permitted to take the body away. It
was placed In a coffin at ceremonies
not attended by any one OF promi-
nence. following the Buddhist rite. and
taken to Okada's humble home in
Yodobashi, there to await funeral
services.
Takahashi's Death Dramatic.
The death of Minister of Finance
Korekiyo Takahashi was equally dra-
matte. The insurgents entered his
bed room and one opened fire with
pistol. Although hit three times, the
minister still stood.
What are you trying to do?" he
demanded Of the intruders.
The question, witnesses said, SEEM
ed to infuriate the officer at the head
of the assassins. He drew his sword
and slashed at Takahashi, nearly
severing the statesman's right arm.
Takahashi died within q few hours.
The wife Of Admiral Viscount
Makoto Saito, lord keeper Of the privy
seal, was with her husband at their
residence. not far from the imperial
palace, when q party Of about a score
Of the rebels, armed with machine
guns, broke in. She tried to move in
front of the muzzle of one of the ma
chine guns being used to kill them.
Her hand was wounded. American
Ambassador Joseph Grew, who had
entertained her and the viscount at
dinner only a few hours previously,
called upon her late yesterday and
expressed sympathy. e-.f:.
(The fourth statesman assassinated
was Gen. Jotaro Watanabe. director
of military education, who was killed
in hts residence.) :. !
Americans Elected From Hotel.
]. In addition !: to taking over the
premier's residence. the insurgents
confScated the Peers I Club the
Koraku Restaurant and /. the 6anno
Hotel Several American tourists
staying at the hotel were politely but
forcibiy informed they would have to
get out. These included Mrs. Tom L.
Sears, wife Of an executive. Of the
Associated Press News Photo Service.
During the night the martial law
administration removed many troops.
SO this morning, for the first time in
two days, it was possible to-: drive
through the center OF the city, in
cluding the government buildings
held BY the Insurgents. = 80. ~ I.
Government troops still were. naain-
tanned, however. on all, streets, keep
ing their regular pests and patrolS.'
Many Of the principal streets snd the
grounds Of the imperial palace re-
manned closed to the public. g,iards
with fixed bayonts standing watch
fully behind barbed-wire ;e1tangle-
ante -ssI5 = y 1F.fsss-
approximately 1000 Soldiers Involved.
The approximately / 900 insurgents
are believed to belong 10 the 1stg and
Sd Infantry Regiments of'the lste Di-
vision, generally known ssethc Toxic
Division. :. -,
The leader Of the insurgents, who
declared they were seeking to remove