THE SOUTH POLE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 75, 25 March 1912, Page 5

THE SOUTH POLE.

RETURN OF JAPANESE EXPEDITION. MUCH SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH CARRIED OUT. NO SIGN OF CAPTAIN SCOTT. (Per Press Association.) Wellington, March 21. In the early hours of yesterday morning the Japanese South Polar exploring ship Hainan Maru came into the Heads direct from the Antarctic. She lay well out in the harbour towards Somes’ Island, until a, berth nearer the city was allotted her, and then she signalled for pratique. This is tiie 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 not sucli extreme reticence on the part of Commander Shirasa and his party on the Hainan Maru, and they were also the essence of native politeness. Captain Shirase appeared to know no English, or, at least, had not a working knowledge of the language. Some of tiie explorers with him, however, were able to say that their work had been in the main purely coastal work. They had net gone:. to look'for the Pole, but confined themselves solely to scientific exploration's. Was 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 consuincdly and interpreted the question to his companions grouped around, They laugh-, od even more so. It was new to them, thev said. Did Captain Scott reach the Pole? Professor Takeda was asked. His reply is worth giving in full: — “Captain Scott was excellently equipped for the work he had to do. He had motor-cars and other means of travelling at great speed over country, hut did he reach the Pole? I cannot say; lie may have done so.” On that.important question no more was to bo learned or, rather, could he learned, from the personnel of the Hainan Maru. The decks of the Hainan Maru wore in something like harbour order, hut there was not much room to move about. Solidily built, upturned puntlike boats were on the deck forward and aft. Thev had evidently been extensively used. v ‘ Of the thirty, dogs ftakeh down from Sydney only six have returned. The rest were utilised to keep the survivors alive when no longer fit for work. . ~-,v The explorers and crew return to civilisation in the pink of condition, and a heartier, healthier; lo.okipg pirJ ty would be difficult to picture. Fleshy, well-built, and obviously wcTl nourished, the complement on the Hainan Ma-l ru gives, the To direct tp >tho awful: rigours of the Antarctic climate,' where! men are properly looked after as these appear to have been.■ -rji. n iu ru “We had to,,ebb—rice, dried salmon,’ canned,.meat', biscuits,! plenty to last all the time. Some Tokio manufactored biscuits were produced. They resembled in flavour, shape and other characteristics biscuits made in New Zealand fact on (bah" 'rjjoleAVere other signs besides their healthy and ruddv appearance that all on, board had lived well. Professor Takeda described how, when-{the Kaiiifui JVlav.u, Iqft Sydney in November lastf she■ went straight for the Bay of Wlffilts, where a party Ihnded. The Hainan Maru proceeded in a'-South-easterly direction.': She met the Fram as already re-! ported, 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. Tiie will be communicated to Tokio, and.l am sorry that 1 cannot add more except to say we returned to King Edward Land and the Bay of Whales for the’ parties who were, landed there, and picked thorn up. We left the ice on February 4. We are all well, as you see, and have had excellent health all the time. What our future movements will be I cannot say. I am 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 Hainan Maru was last down in the ice. There was some, mistake. Men were landed from the Hainan Maru as explained by Commander Shirase, at the Bay of Wales and King Edward VII. Land, but that was 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 thd;Kai-! nan Maru (especially when in the ice) was sometimes severely tested. The ship arrives, however, in excellent order considering the rough character of the work ishe had to do. “Engines too small,” was the comment on the steam motive power made by an officer of the Hainan Mai n. The ship, however, depended almost entirely on sail and relied on steam only as occasion required. Are you glad 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. \V. Young, as .soon as he landed. A VERY SHORT STAY. "Wellington, March 25. The Hainan Maru left Sydney on November 19th last. According to tiie report tne vessel left the ice harrier finally for Wellington on February Ith, so that the trip northward occiipied 47 days. If the trip southwards from Sydney occupied tiie same time, the expedition could have spent only 30 days in the Antarctic. FUNDS FOR AMUNDSEN. (Received 20, 8.40 a.m.) Christiania, March 24. The fund to make up the deficit on Amundsen’s expedition is assured.