Transmission #2-0-6-4 Addendum: Breaking News
Channel 10 JTV News
Mid-Morning Report
"Ladies and gentleman of the Republic of Japan. Channel 10's Yuhi Kurenai reporting in from JTV offices, Tokyo Metropolitan, with breaking news: 'Tragedy at Ginza Station'. Without further introduction, tet's get into it.
Shall we?
At approximately 10:12 this morning, November 29th, 1963, 'Tokyo Blue', Metro's premier bullet train connecting Tokyo's financial district to Ginza proper, has tragically suffered a massive technical failure along its rails. During the bustling lunch hour, traveling from Shinsuke platform in the lower downtown area to platform 4, a large explosion occurred just as Tokyo Blue began pulling into its block. Metro Police under the direction of Chief Yamato and JSDF detachments in the area have bee dispatched to secure the surrounding scene. Alongside with them on the ground our correspondent, Amaha Yurika. Amaha-san, have there been any updates in regards to the number of casualties?
...
"Hai! Yes, Yuhi-san, there is. Just now I've been told a number between forty to fifty-five people are in critical condition, with five - yes, five - deaths so far being accounted for. As you can see behind me, though, it wasn't just the blast that's caused all this damage: Tokyo Blue's brakes somehow never engaged as it began to pull in, causing it to careen into the station at full speed right after the explosion was said to have happened. Which, I was told, was due to two defective motors experiencing what is called an electric arc occurrence. Now what that is simply is when a large rush of electricity is siphoned into the train's engines, it creates a large backlash of energy. Due to the motors being defective, this caused them to spark and overexert themselves."
...
Is that true, Yurika-san? Five reported casualties?
...
Hai, Yuhi-san, that is correct. From the count: the conductor for the train, a JSDF soldier, a young woman, and a mother with her young child. All have tragically perished in this incident. But searches are still ongoing, and unsettlingly, the feeling around here is the number I just gave could very well rise."
...
Yurika-san, as has been mentioned on the broadcast, the story so far is stating Tokyo Blue encountered a technical failure from two defective engines. From what you're hearing as this investigation continues, have there been any more details answering how that could've transpired?
...
Nothing yet to suggest anything otherwise but a mechanical failure, Yuhi-san. However, that answer doesn't seem to put a lot of people at ease. Talking to one of the engineers at Ginza Station, he said how Tokyo Blue was one of the newer models. Put out by Shinsenkan railway just last year; for it have any sort of technical issues to that extent seems very peculiar. Police Chief Yamato, however, is proceeding under the belief this is simply a terrible accident - No more, no less. And has refrained from making further comments, hoping to keep the investigation 'pristine and undiluted' for his people to conduct their search.
...
It must be a very tenuous situation considering how close this all happened by The Wall. Not to spread any unfounded inquiries, but so far no movement from our happy neighbors up north?
...
No, not all, Yuhi-san. Of course, always a fear of the people here in Ginza, who literally live in the shadow of the divide between our two nations. Thankfully, no such movements have been sighted. On the off-chance something were to happen, though, US Sixth Army patrols have been dispatched from Camp Basilone, to monitor The Wall here in Ginza all the way towards Metro. You can even see in the background - those three helicopters? Those are Bell UH-1 Iroquois. "Hueys" the Americans call them. They've been making routine rounds since the moment's this accident's occurred, and have so far reported nothing out of the ordinary to JSDF's Third Recon unit attached here in Ginza.
...
Glad to hear at least there is a semblance of control. Thank you, Yurika-san. I know it may not mean much, but our thoughts are with the victims and their families during this unimaginable time. We will do what we can and continue to keep all of you informed as this story develops.
In unrelated news: troop movements along the The Republic of South Vietnam's 17th parallel has been spotted. Recently, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Le Dean, was seen touring the border. The visit coincides with increased movement of North Vietnamese forces, raising alarms about an imminent escalation in hostilities.
In light of these developments, emboldened guerrilla and paramilitary groups intensify their assaults against Southern authority. Ramping up attacks against coastal cities, with high-profile figures increasingly targeted in these brazen attacks. The most alarming incident was that of the kidnapping and subsequent rescue of General Nguyen Khanh of ARVN Southern Command. This being simply another in a troubling series of targeted operations which have rattled the government's credibility and grip on power. Something Commander of French Expeditionary Troops Henri Navarre vows to put a halt to.
...
"Our hamlet program is meant to break teh backs of the Viet Congress military by depriving them of they one main source for recruitment: the villages, poor houses, and rice paddy huts he - or she; yes, these barbarians even force their women to fight for them - are so fond of. And why wouldn't they be? The pied piper waltzes into any town he pleases, plays a tune, and out he goes with a whole company of rats in tow. Rats who work as cooks, chauffeurs, busboys, maids, nannies, mailmen, or whores. They know everything about the lives the families whose houses they work in, but no more.
Behind me are 1.2 kms of barbed wire surrounded an area of split trenches dug 182 cm deep. Watchtowers and sandbag bunkers control entryways north, south, and east of here. There as seventy-five to one hundred armed men who'd love nothing more than to shoot rats where they hide. This is there house now. They want a free country? There it is, inside that wire there. They can do with it whatever they want. Except be communist. That I will never allow."
...
The commander's comments have drawn ire from Fourth International representatives present at the League of Nations. Many have decried his rhetoric as harmful to prospective peace talks, particularly from his counterpart Raoul Salan, General of the Commune of France's Algeria division. In Salan's own words, he's described Navarre as a "backwards aristocrat", who "tells his horse to move forward, all while he sits on the beast facing the other way."
General Salan is set to travel to Hanoi this week on behalf of President Monatte to discuss Commune reinforcements, in light of de Gaule's bolstering of French expeditionary forces by another two thousand men. Prompting a swift response by the Kennedy administration, sending US Secretary of State Dean Rusk and Vice President Johnson to Saigon to meet with de facto leader of the junta, Dương Văn Minh.
A marked escalation from the White House, which for a time had been reticent, waiting not the sidelines to see the unfolding turn of events going in Saigon. Many believe this is in response to the marked surge of Anti-Communist sentiment followed President Kennedy's botched assassination attempt in Dalles not so long ago. Prompting a stricter stance by the administration against what many in the American media are dubbing 'Red Actors' operating on American soil. As fears of growing Soviet influence infiltrating their homeland continue to grow. Fears which have caused many tor call the six tumultuous months of insurrection in major US cities following the murder of Senator Joseph McCarthy in May of 1957.
Here, a response by President Kennedy commenting publicly as a new 'Red Scare' takes hold of DC.
...
"To the best of my knowledge, 'no', I do not believe there is substantial evidence of a concerted and concentrated effort with the Untied States to suffuse Communist involvement here. Mr. Oswald as I've been informed was a deeply troubled, mentally ill individual. Despite political leanings suggesting otherwise, it's my estimation he was the exception which proves the norm: that most Americans are hardworking, genial, loyal folk; sprinkled by a little bit of arrogance and ignorance. Which goes over so well with people from other parts of the world."
"Still, it is my job and responsibility to protect those people to the best of my capabilities, invested as I am by the powers afforded by our own Congress. And a part of those powers, is the unwavering position a free people's choice should never be subsumed by the appropriation of power by those in government operating under bad faith. The stance of the United States, of my administration, is the unremitting support of the Republic of South Vietnam SAVE democratic election be held to divide a new, lawfully chosen president by the end of the year. If any want to question America's commitment, well, I'll point to the stare hanging for William Colby at Langley. That should tell you otherwise..."
...
As tensions rise and public sentiment shifts, the administration of one of the world's superpowers faces a delicate balance between national security and civil liberties. With growing anti-Communist sentiment in Washington, President Kennedy's new bill national security bill the 'Patriot Act' is up for a vote in the House. All while democratic senators derided the bill, saying it infringes upon the privacy of American citizens. This has also been touched on by Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko; calling the bill 'heinous' and a massive 'overstep' by a presidency which has ever 'meddled in places its nose shouldn't go.'
Still no word from Zhou Enlai's office or that of the Chinese delegation.
But more in local news, real-estate and shipping mogul Bando Gato's prospective reconstruction of Tokyo Harbor has taken another hit in the House today. The proposed construction has promised to double the size of the Bay operations, while also looking to refurbish the Sanya section between Arakawa and Taito wards. But recent filings due to Gato's supposed criminal activities within the Shijima Yakuza have stymied attempts at obtaining license for his Bando Group to commence building. Despite multiple allegations for human and drug trafficking, the Bando Group's legal team has resolutely surrounded the beleaguered businessman, who has outwardly denied any and all accusations. The enjo-kasai ring with ties to Gato, resulting in the disappearance of more than a dozen underage girls ten years ago, still is a major spot of contention.
Despite multiple attempts at reaching Gato-san for an interview, he has declined all attempts.
As ever, we here at JTV Channel 10 strive to keep you up-to-date of all situations as they continue to unfold. Stay tuned later on in the day for further coverage on these and more critical issues. As always, I'm Yuhi Kurenai, reminding you all information is key. Information brought to you by the only news team you can trust. With that, stay knowledged everyone, be safe, and most importantly be careful.
It's a crazy world out there.