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Show JAPAN EARTHQUAKE TAKESJVIANY LIVES FLAMES AND FLOOD REDUCE CITIES OF YOKOHOMA AND TOKIO TO RUINS Estimated Loss of Lives in Catastrophe Catas-trophe May Mount to 500,-000; 500,-000; All Communication Cut Off Osaka, Japan, More than five hundred thousand lives art now feared fear-ed to have been lust in the greatest disaster of Japanese history, when earthquakes, fire -and floods destroyed destroy-ed Tokio and Yokohama Saturday. One hundred thousand were killed in the capital, according to latest reports re-ports by airplane, and a like num. Iier is believed to have perished in the port city of Yokohama. Aside from the terrible toll of lives Japan has been set back a generation by the disaster, the Osaka Mainichi says. Tho financial loss from the earthquakes earth-quakes which threw down many of the finest modern structures of the capital, destroyed bridges, tunnels, towers, manufacturing plants, banks and residences and from the fires which followed and are still raging beyond control, has been inestimable. Japan will lose her position as fourth power of the world; according to the Mainichi, because the country ias no financial reserve. The largest companies are bankrupt bank-rupt ; insurance concerns and many of the strongest banks probably are ruined. Tlie country's manufacturing interests inter-ests are blasted. Financially and from the viewpoint view-point of loss of human life the disaster dis-aster is considered the greatest in Japans history. A message says the entire island of Enoshima, off the Japanese coast, sank into the sea during the earthquake. earth-quake. Osako, Lieutenant Ishida, who flew over Tokio and the stricken district dis-trict in an airplane Sunday has reported re-ported to the commander of the Kagoya division that the imperial palace was only partially damaged. Tokio itself is devastated with the exception of Ushirome ward, part of Koishigawa ward practically the whole of Yetsuya ward and the north side of Asyamaderi. Nearly all the concrete and brick buildings collapsed. Fukagara ward was flooded by the tidal wave The airman said it was difficult to fly over the capital at a height suitable suit-able for observation because of the intensity of the flames and the suffocating suf-focating smoke. The imperial palace has been thrown open for refugees. Nothing is known as to the safety of the foreign diplomatic representatives representa-tives and there is no news concerning the many foreign residents. The latest estimate of casualties in Y'okohama alone exceeds 100,000. Reports from Y'okohama say that the damage to buildings in the foreign for-eign settlement has been particularly serious. The specie bank and the Grand hotel in that city, have been demolished. While the capital of the empire burned, the new premier, Y'amamoto, hastened the work of forming his new cabinet and various reports state that the new government was officially installed in-stalled Sunday. After the final meeting of the ministers Sunday, acting Premier Uchida decided upon the promulgation promulga-tion of martial law the emergency commandering act and the establishment establish-ment of a relief bureau. |