Troops Fire on Interned Japs; 1 Dead, 9 Wounded

By United Press.

MANZANAR, Calif., Dec. 7. -- Military authorities enforced martial law at the Manzanar Japanese relocation center today after one Japanese was killed and nine others were wounded in an outbreak of pro-Axis violence on the eve of the anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Shots were fired at a mob of Japanese last night when tear gas failed to halt an attack on the camp police station in the second flare-up at the center in 24 hours.

Ralph P. Merritt, director of the center, announced the mob was attempting to seize Ted Uyeno, who was considered loyal to the United States. Uyeno had been removed from the camp to safeguard his life after an outbreak Saturday night and returned last night when the demonstrators promised to disperse.

Tear Gas Blown Away

The mob was said to have attempted to storm the police station, using a driverless automobile as a battering ram.

Last night the factions began fighting and soon there were 4,000 in a milling crowd. Shouts of "Pearl Harbor, Banzai! Banzai!" had precipitated a free-for-all.

...toward the troops, the soldiers first threw tear-gas bombs. The fumes, however, soon were blown away. The Japs then began hurling stones at the soldiers and rushing the lines. The troops opened fire.

This stopped the advance and the milling, yelling celebrants reluctantly obeyed orders to return to their quarters.

The center had been placed under martial law earlier yesterday because of the previous outbreak between pro-Axis elements and Japanese loyal to the United States. Merritt said military police were called when the regular police force could not quell the disturbance.

In a statement on the first outbreak, Merritt blamed the alien Japanese in the camp, which housed 10,000 persons, and said American-born Japanese made a loyal effort to avert the outbreak.

Attackers Disappear

The trouble began Saturday night when six masked men attacked Fred Toyama, president of the Japanese-American Citizens' League, a group considered by the camp administration to be loyal to the United States.

The attackers disappeared before camp police, summoned by other Japanese, arrived. Toyama, severely beaten, was removed to the camp hospital.

The disturbance drew a mob of about 1,000, which heard pro-Axis orators assail the United States and extoll Japan. An attempt to take Toyama from the hospital was frustrated by loyal attendants who, with approval of authorities, spirited him from the camp.

Threats then were made against Uyeno. Authorities took him to the Inyo County jail at Independence, Calif., for his own protection.

Merritt said he talked with leaders of the large group which surrounded the hospital and obtained a promise of no further trouble.

But when other groups began gathering Sunday morning, muttering threats to kill Toyama if he were found, Merritt called upon Capt. Martin Hall of the Military Police detachment stationed outside the camp to take charge.

Situation Difficult

Merritt's statement said that of the 10,000 Japanese in the camp, approximately 4,000 are aliens while another 500, though American-born, were educated in Japan and sympathize with the Tokyo government.

The balance he said, are American-born and pro-American.

"I pay tribute to the efforts of these loyal people but the percentage of the camp against them has made the situation a difficult one," Merritt said.