Tragedy on Hwangyangshan Mountaii Tokyo, Feb. 8.
1X high Japanese naval officers, including Admiral Baron Mineo Osumi, a member of the Supreme War Council, were killed when the plane in which they were travelling from Canton to Hainan island crashed a few minutes after taking off.
The accident occurred on February. 5, but, was only revealed today, a Navy Office communique following discovery of the ]wreckege on Hwangyangshan, on the right bank of the West river, Kwangtung province.
The communique reads: "An aeroplane requisitioned by the Navy. with Admiral Baron. Mineo Osumi, member of the Supreme, War Coun" el, Lieut, Hideo Matsuda, his side, freer-AdmiratHikafio. Susn, Com: mander Takao Tsunoda, Commander Blick Shirobama, and Blect Paymasfor Chugoro Tachim! aboard, hopped from (anton at '1245 pin February 5 for Hainan. island' and ecome Missing since 1230 the same
ese naval unit nearby started'a search Yon receipt of the news, a Japan-for the missing plane In_ ce-operation frit military fore. "The wreckage tthe same plane" was found Hwangyangehan, om the. right bank the, West River, in the morn= ing of February "0 "as a, result Jot aerial observation, A nding party immediately landed and started advance on the spot. covered. by naval, sir and miliry force. The [Fepanese forces reached the spot Russia Is Key to Southward Move Tokyo, Feb, 7.
The Iaunching of the southward drive is an absolute necessity for Japan and a certain number of problems which hamper such a move must be solved immediately, the "Hochi" declares in a leading. article, Three questions are to be dooli with without further delay, the "Machi" declares: readjustment of Japan-Soviet relations, disposal of the China incident, reforms in the domestic structure, "That Japan must seek a way to the South is self evident and docs not require further emphasis, This country is concentrating on the construction of what is called a "high tension State," but its realization des ends on our acquisition of sufficient foures of natural supplies, the paper said.
Commenting on the present state of affairs in China, the "Hecht" added "of course, Prince Konoye is not the only one responsible for the lagging of the China affair. The truth ts that you do not go to Aght fire in your night-gown and this precisely what Japan did when she did not realize the real serious ness of the situation, "Fortunately, however, the China affair has resulted in' a decisive victory in Japan's favour as for military operations are concerned. There Is still much to be desired, however, on matters other than military and this is why the situation still appears somewhat confused, and Japan continues a heavy burden In the shape of the China affair, Admiral Baron Osumt "On the other hand it {s impossible for Japan to venture southward with the threat of a Soviet attack in the North, We must find a way to dispense' with the abnormal. concentra Vion of rpops necessary for the defence of" Northern approaches Sapar the afternoon of February 7 and immediately started to pick up the oc-Jeupants of the plane.
Admiral Osumi has been, inspecting the military situation in China. Born on May 1, 1879, he served Jaboard the warship Matsushima dur-Jing the Russo-Japanese war. After being stationed in Germany, he was Jappointed aide to Count Helhachiro [Togo in 1012, and later attended the Versailles Peace Conference while Jserving as naval attache at the Japanese Embassy. in Paris.
Raised to be Vice-Admiral in 1024, wax appointed Commander-i IChiet of the Yokosuka naval base in 1029, promoted to Admiral in. 1031, Jand served twice as Navy Minister under the late Admiral Minoru Saito "Finally, our reform of internal Institutions is not thorough enough. National enthusiasm must create a structure before the country. Is rebared to start on her next big
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.