Empire Plunged in Mourning at Passing of Ruler Early on Tokyo, at 7.05.
Christmas Day: Prince Regent's Accession Formally Announced at Hayama Tokyo, Dec. 23.
It appears that the Emperor's Eondition took a sudden change for the worse at 6.30 o'clock this afternoon T. I. H. the Prince Regent and the Crown Princess immediately repaired, to the Emperor's chamber, while various Princes and Princesses of, the Blood, Premier Wakatsuki, and! other high officials also proceeded to! the Imperial Villa, A tense atmosphere is gain prevailing in the Imperial Villa.
According to q bulletin issued by the Imperial Household Office 9.20 o'clock to-night, there is a sign of His Majesty's heart.becoming weaker, his pulse is soft and there pause in the beat. The rate of His Majesty's respiration has increased and he is experiencing some difficulty in expectoration which alto somewhat increased and the year is always vo: y busy. tailers likewise will cuffer severely as they are heavily stocked in anticipation of end of the year sales, the proceeds of which normally would enable them to square their debts and pay the mancfactarers. contains pus.
Dee, 24.
The Imperial Household's com-issued at 2.25 p.m, to-day His Majesty's temperature at 2 p.m, stood at 29.2 degrees, pulse. at 144, and respiration at 48. The rate of His Majesty's pulse and respiration has increased, and his temperature has suddenly risen Toho.
Tokyo Dec, 25.
The Emperor died at 1.25 a.m.
Though the gravest anxiety had deen elt in all parto of the country since the Emperor's sudden relapse on December 16, the injectiono help-stave off' the inevitable: and raked the people's hopes but. the general gloom and depression which had lifted slightly during the past few days increased throughout} yesterday as each successive bulletin made it more apparent that the' end was near.
The Emprors, the Prince Regent and the Crown Princess and the: Prime Ministers and thers were present at the bedside when His Majesty breathed his last, upon which 'a Proclamation was' issued signed jointly by the Premier and the Minister of the Imperial Household formally announcing His Majesty's demise, whilst an announcement of the death was immediately broadcast by radio.
'At the same time a sacred cere-many was held st Hayama, at which the Prince Rezent's accession to the Throne was formally announced, when the three sacred symbols' of the sword, the mirror and the jewel and the Imperial Seals were presented to the new Emperor,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.