"I THINK SO.”

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7929, 12 October 1911, Page 8

"I THINK SO.”

TO THE SOUTH POLE

getting ready to start.

JAPANESE EXPEDITION. ('‘Sydney Morning Herald/'} Tin* Japanese who have been for some time encamped at Vauehiso, and who aio now getting ready to start for tho -Antarctic ami make a dash for the bouth Pole, do not speak English well, Lvon Mr Takeda, the leader of the scientific party, who is a high school professor at Kiusin when at home, has a difficulty in expressing himself in tho English language. One might gather from hifi ouaint expression “my show that this expedition is under his entire control, and that he has found all the money for it; but tho fact remains that Lieutenant Shiraso commands tho expedition and most of the money has been found by Count Oknma, who, wo are given to understand, occupies a position in Japan “all tho same Gladastony and Astory"— probably meaning that Count Oknma combines tho statesmanship of the late Mr Gladstone with tho wealth ot tho Astors. When Mr Takeda says 'my show," tyrfwover, ho simply means ‘‘XTI show you." Ho makes tho remark every time he shows you anything—and ho has a good deal to show that is interesting. But Mr Takeda, who did nearly all tne talking when a “Herald" representative called at the camp recently, has made certain of at least one good English phrase, and that is “1 think so." There is many an English gentleman who knows fur less of the Japanese language than this Japan'ese gentleman knows of the King’s English. Commander Shiraso is even more sparing with his English than the professor, and does not appear to havo got further than tho gentlemanly “excuse me."

But Commander Shiraso, though ho speaks no English, is an eminently interesting man. Like Mr Takeda, ho was wearing a loose gown —a sort of kimono and walked about on bits of wood, a kmd of footwear that should prove very advantageous to Australians, in viow of the , present high cost of living. Any odd piece of timber big enough to cover the foot, and having a couple of small crosspieces, will do; all you havo to do is to attach a bit of cordage to it to go round the instep and another small piece to go between tho big toe and tho next one. Tho camp is picturesquely situated at the foot of a hill, and tho flag of the Rising Sun is flying from a tree. A rough weatherboard house has been built, and there are half-a-dozen tents around It. On tho door of the house is written ‘'No except by order"; but there is a little tea tree enclosure close by, with table and seats, where visitors are received and entertained, always being provided with some Japanese tea and sugar-coated pcaiuUs. When the professor oame he began by explaining that he was a high school professor at Kiusin, What is a high school in Japan? According to Mr Takeda, it is equal in standing to the Sydney "University, while tho' training received in a Japanese University is of a higher standard. He said there were fifteen universities in Japan, and thirtyfive high schools. Then come tho academies, and finally the primary schools. A university man in Japan had to pat in eighteen years iu educational harness — primary, six years; academy, five years, high school, three years; university, tour years. Thus wo. see what modern Japan is. and what education and the assimilation of western ideas are doing for hei Mr Takeda himself started going to school at five years of age, and he had finished his high school course when ho was nineteen. Tokio has, in ail, ten universities, with 150 U professors (all Japanese), Kiusin has two, with 500 professors, and there aro three others, wringing the total profession list dp to 2500. "But the Australian education is very good—l think so/’ said Professor Takeda. "And there is great kindness to us/’ ho added. * THE POLAR BASH. Then the professor and i Commander Shirase told something about their plan& to reach the South Pole. Captain Nomura, the commander of the Hainan Maru, which has been undergoing repairs here, was despatched to Japan to report the movements of the expedition after the unsuccesful attempt that was made to penetrate the barrier ice. All the other members of the expedition had taken an oath not to return to Japan, until they had reached tho South Pole—as the Spartans of old swore to return home with their shields, or upon them. Captain Nomura is returning to Sydney by the Nikko Maru, which is expected here on the 18th inst., and it is hoped that the expedition will be ready to sail from Sydney about the end of this month. So far as is known at present by the party. Captain Nomura is bringing no horses or dogs with him, though he may have something else that may prove valuable. Professor Takeda said enigmatically that ho had more faith in "Japanese horses" than anything else (he thought so) —and then he made his meaning clear by tapping himself on tho log. “Japanese horses very strong," ho said. A "Japanese horse," then, is the equivalent of "shank’s pony." They will go through Ross Sea, penetrate .tho ice-barrier, and strike 78 south latitude. Then they will build a hut, and get ready for the polar dash, every man his own horse. There are ten sleds of a very light type—("My show," said Mr Takeda, na ho gave instructions for one to be brought out for inspection)— and ten of the strongest of tho party will be harnessed to these, and will pull them over the snow and ice. Each sled will carry two cwt —about a ton altogether. FOR THE GLORY OF JAPAN.

It is admitted that the expedition is not nearly as complete as Captain Scott’s or Amudsen’s, but these Japanese explorers aro nothing daunted.* Even if they learn that Scott has reached the pole before them, even if Amundsen has, they will go on, for the sake of their honour and the glory of Japan. From 78 south latitude to the Pole, said Air Takeda, was a distance of about 750 miles in a straight line, and probably they would have about 1000 miles to cover. 'They reckoned on covering IS miles a dsy, so that it would take between 50 and 60 days to do it. But "the pole is very high, and 78 south latitude is very low—l think so —and we will come back in ‘about 30 days. My show."

He produced an atlas, turned to the Antarctic f regions, and showed tho route the expedition proposed to take. It seemed, easy on paper. But these hardy men of the East, who aro used to cold and do not fear tho hardships attendant on such a journey—Commander Shirase, for instance, once went round Kamschatka and through Behring Strait in the hope of getting to the North Pole, and after reaching 73 north latitude had to return on account of adverse currents —are not confining their attention to the reaching of the Pole. They are scientists, anxious to add to the world’s store of knowledge, and they are well equipped for the task. "Excuse me," said Commander Shiraso. " Excuse me," said Professor Takeda — *' my show." And they bowed themselves out* of tho tea tree enclosure and wont into tho house. Presently they returned laden with scientific instruments; and other members of the expedition came out also, carrying more, and placed them on the table. There, were theodolites, anemometers and sextants, chronometers.

'clinometers and pedometers, microscopes, protractors, thermometers and barometers, hygrometers and psychrometers, rain and tide gauges, and anemoscopes, a telescope, a sunshine recorder, tele* plasts, ami field glasses, and dozens of other things, including a photographic outfit. Provision lias even, been made for colour photography. These men are going to deal with astronomy, meteorology, geology, zoology, botany, physical geography, bacteriology, chemistry, and tides and currents. Professor Takeda is in charge of the scientific staff, and next to him comes Br. Mishyo, who will have charge of the zoological, botanical and chemical work. Other members of tho staff are Messrs Nishikawa, Muramatu, Yo?hino, Watanabe, Yamabo, and Hanamori. If confidence in their powers, if tho taking of a .solemn oath,*will get these men to tho Pole, then they will reach it. COST OP THE EXPEDITION. In view of tho cost of Captain Scott’s expedition, and iu viow of tho .£-10,000 or £50,000 which Br. Mawson wants for his, it is not without interest to state that tho amount that was handed to Commander Shiraso for tho Japanese expedition was .£15,000, loss £-ioou paid for the Hainan Maru—and this sum was expected to last for three years, as from December, 1910. Out of £II,OOO tho stores, clothes, and seamen’s wages had to be found. The bulk of the money was provided by Count Oknma; the rest was subscribed by other patriotic Japanese. There are seventeen seamen to be paid, the amount they receive being about £3 a month. Tho members of the scientific staff receive no salaries. „ Buf when they return to Japan there may bo something waiting for them in tho wav of a present.

And will you roach tho Pole? " I think so," said Professor Takeda with a smile.