ANTARCTIC EXPLORATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 228, 25 March 1912, Page 5

ANTARCTIC EXPLORATION.

RETURN OF THE JAPANESE EXPEDITION. TIIE KAINAX MARU IN WELLINGTON. VALUABLE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH. NO SIGN OF CAPTAIN SCOTT. liy Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. In the early hours of yesterday morning the Japanese South Polar exploring ship Kainan Maru came into the heads direct from the Antarctic. She lay well out in the harbor towards Somes' Island until a berth nearer the city was allotted her, and then she signalled for pratique. This is the first heard of her by the outside world since she left Sydney in November, -except when she fell in 'with the Fram while Captain Amundsen was away in search of the Pole. The silence of the ice world seemed to have sealed the lips of Captain Amundsen and his party, but there was hot such extreme reticence on the part of Commander Shirase and his party on the Kainan Maru, and they were also the essence of native politeness. Capt. Shirase appeared to know no English, or at least had not a working knowledge of the language. Some of the explorers with him, however, were able to say that their work had been in the main purely coastal work. They had not gone to look for the Pole, but confined themselves solely to scientific explorations. there not an oath sworn that they would not return without finding the Pole?, one of them was asked. On thoroughly understanding the question he laughed consumedly and interpreted the question to his companions grouped around. (They laughed leven more so. It was new to them, they said. Did Captain Scott reach the Pole? Professor Takeda was asked. His reply is worth givinsr in full:— "Captain Scott was excellently equipped for the work he had to do. He ihad motor-cars and other means of travelling at great speed over country, but did he reach the Pole? I cannot say; he may have done so." On that important question no more ■fltys to be learned or rather could be learned from the personnel of the Kainan Maru.

The decks of the Kainan Maru were in something like harbor order, but there was not much room to move about. Solidly built, upturned punt-like boats were on the deck forward and aft. They had evidently been extensively used. Of the thirty dogs taken down from Sydney six only have returned. The (rest were utilised to keep the survivors alive when no longer fit for work. _ The explorers and crew return to civilisation in the pink of condition, and a heartier, healthier looking party ,would be difficult to picture. Meshy, well built and obviously well nourished, the complement on the Kainan Maru gives the lie direct to the awful rigour* of the Antarctic climate, where men are properly looked after as these appear to have been. "We had plenty to eat; rice, dried salmon, canned meat, biscuits, plenty to last all the time. Some Tokio manufactured biscuits were produced. Thej tesembled in flavor, shape and other characteristics biscuits made in New Zealand factories. There were other signs besides their healthy and ruddy appearance that all on board had lived well. Professor Takeda described how, when the Kainan Maru left Sydney in November last, she went straight for the Bay of Whales, where a party landed; The Kainan Maru proceeded in a southeasterly direction.

She met the Fram as already reported, but Captain Amundsen was away from the ship. The next call was made at King Edward VII. Land, where a coast exploring party was landed, and then we went into unknown parts of the sea," added Commander Shirase, through an interpreter. "We confined our attention to scientific exploration. The results will be communicate 1 to Tokio, and I am sorry that I canrot add more except to say .we returned to Kin<r Edward Land and the Bay of Whales for the parties who were landed there and picked them up. We If ft the ice on February 4. We are all well, as yon see, and have had excellent health'all the time. What our future movements will be I cannot say. l a m cabling to Tokio, and it is probable we shall remain for five days in Wellington." It was reported that two men had been left behind when the Kainan Maru was last down in the ice. There was some mistake. Men were landed from the Kainan Maru as explained by Commander Shirase, at the Bay of Whales and King Edward VII Land, but that wa9 on this present cruise. They were all called for and taken on board again. No one was left behind. The weather was at times very rough at sea and on shore, but there were intervals of fine weather, beautiful, clear days, with snow glittering in the sun. It was always healthy, however cold it might be. At sea the sturdy build of the Kainan Maru (especially when in the ice) was sometimes severely tested. The ship arrives, however, in excellent order considering the rough character of the work she had to do. "Engines too small," was the comment onthe steam motive power made by an officer of the Kainan Maru. The ship, however, depended almost entirely on sail-and relied on steam only as occasion required. _ Are you clad to get back to civilisation? an officer was asked. He replied to the effect that the experience was one well worth having undergone. Valuable scientific work had been done, but details of it must first be sent to Japan. The life in the Antarctic was not as hard as one might imagine, provided the commissariat was ample and properly attended to. No seals were seen; much less eaten. He added that there was a remarkable poverty of life on land, and birds were not always plentiful. The marine life was, however, extremely interesting. Captain Shirase officially called upon the Consul for Japan, Mr. T. W. Youn<*, as soon as he landed. °