Tokyo, Sept. 29.
The well-known ex-Premier, Genral Baron Tanaka died suddenly at his residence here to-day at the age of 60.
Baron Tanaka had been Minister of War ina three Ministries, namely the Hara, Takahashi and Yamamoto Gabinets, before he accepted the Premiership in April, 1927, He was Premier from then until last July, when his Cabinet resigned en bloc.
'Tha Into Premier, after passing through a non-commissioned officers' school, was promoted to be a Sub-Lieutenant at the age of twenty-three and graduated from the Milltary Staff College in 1898.
He became a Colonel in 1907, Major-General in 1911 and Lieutes ant-General and Vice-Chief of the General Staff in 1915. He was Director of the Military Affairs Bureau from 1910 till he was seat abroad in 1913, He was eve ated a Baron in 1920 and became. President of the Sefyukkai in 1925.
Baron Tanaka's death occurred at 6 o'clock in the morning, follow-Ing a violent heart stricture an hour previously. Though there were no signs of illness when he retired last night he has suffered from a weak heart for many years and for this reason had given up smoking.
Although Mr. Ogawa, the 3 ter of Railways in the late Tanaka Cabinet, and several of the lesser official of the Tanaka regime have been charged with official corrupt tion, Baron Tanaka himself is be-Fieved to have been more sinned against than Up to the present, there has no hint that he. personally was involved in the sanedession. of scandals which are now. coming to light. A. generous, imple-hearted soldier and_a cou tageous fighter, Baron Tanak main weakness' was his choice of undeserving friends, friends to whom hye.was intensely Joyal. He was generally popular, even with his Bitterest political enemies who were forced to admire the courage of his Zefugal to accept defeat even when the whole country was against him.
Tt is not yet certain who will succeed him in.the presidency of ithe Seiyukai bue the question of fis successor is particularly important fat the present time owing to the Probability of a General" Election
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.