The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-09-11

KrauS told him:
 "Open the door so I can come ir and present my credentials"
 Tojo waved his arms and replied
 Unless this is an official order I do not care to discuss it." Kraus turned to an interpreter.
 Tell him to quit this damn fool. ing around and let's get going, Kraus said. "Tell him to open tht front door so I can present by cred entials. Tell him to prepare him. self for a trip to General MacAr. thurs headquarters at Yokohama"
 The interpreter translated.
 Tojo. slammed his window dowr hard. We thought he was moving to open the front door and wen to the front of the house.
 At 4:21 D., I11., a shot rang out.
 Kraus rushed to the front double door. They were locked, but he pull. ed them open and ran into the en. trance hall with correspondents i'm. mediately behind him. Other news. men had arrived at the scene with Kraus.
 The door leading from the en- trance hall to Tojo's study on the left was locked. Kraus called on To- jo to open 1t.
 There was no reply. Kraus mount ed an interior step and kicked in the door.
 Victim Unconscious
 Tojo was slumped in an easy chair parallel to the door. A red smear bubbled from his midriff. He was unconscious, but grooming heavily with every breath.
 In the next room to the rear was young man sitting cross legged on a mat, his head bowed in silence. TakamatSu said he was one of To- jos sons.
 Kraus sent a jeep to Tokyo for medical aid. Beads of sweat appear ed on Tojo's brown, bald head. His grooming continued uninterrupted ly.
 Photographers took pictures and correspondents roarned the house while we waited for a doctor.
 Suddenly Tojo. regained con- SciouSness. He waved his left arm to summon interviewers We crouch ed around him.
 Then he made what undoubtedly was his dying statement assuming responsibility for the war and say- ing he now was happy to die"
 Tojos son appeared from the next room with a glass of water. A medical corpsman ordered that the general not be moved until a doc- tor had arrived.
 He cannot be moved the corps man said. We are trying to save him"
 Tojo by then was unconscious again, but still breathing and grooming. The wound was a bad one. It appeared almost six inches long and continuously bubbled red froth.
 I wondered why he had not shot himself through the heart if he actually had wanted to die. Jap anese newsmen explained, however, that this was the place where a formal hara-kiri dagger normally is plunged into the abdomen in a Japanese ceremonial suicide.
 Takamatsu told me in the car driving to Tojo'S home that the 61year-old warlord's associates had already advised him four different times that Hara Kiri was the only honorable course left open to him.
 It is evident that Tojo's personal prestige among the Japanese peo- pie had reached the lowest con- ceivable ebb prior to today's at- tempted suicide.
 Tojo became premier in October, 1941, and immediately assumed domination of Japan's future war policy. He took over the ministries of war, munitions, commerce, and industry in addition to making him. self chief of the general staff
 He resigned July IS, 1924, after the fall of Saipan, and afterwards visited Manchuria where he used to be chief of staff of the Japanese Manchurian Army.
 His home is in the suburban dis trict of Tokyo, flanked by cornfields.
 To reach the house you walk up a country lane surrounded by hedges which enclose approximately an acre of land.
 Tojo's house is comfortable after the Japanese fashion, but not elab- crate. The window at which he first appeared to speak to us has three parallel double panels. He slid aside the top center one and apparently had to stand on the window seat inside to talk down to us.
 Strange Character
 Looking up, was immediately impressed with his seemingly lean cut vigor, and the personality that had dominated Japan and led 1t Into a hopeless war.
 Tojo's attitude toward Kraus was politely quizzical, as though he questioned Kraus authenticity Kraus' attitude was brisk and fnili' arly correct throughout.
 After Tojo shut the window the first time, We assumed that he was going to the front door to open t as requested. Then Tojo, apparent ly not understanding the import oi Kraus visit, reopened the window gain and asked questions through } T interpreetr.