JAPANESE EXPEDITION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10418, 23 March 1912, Page 7

JAPANESE EXPEDITION.

[Peu Press Association.] Later. WELLINGTON, March 23. The members of tho Japanese expedition state that they did not go to look for the Pole, but confined themselves to scientific exploration. Professor Takeda, when asked if Captain Scott readied the Pole, answered diplomatically to the effect that Captain Scott was well equipped and might have attained his object. Or thirty dogs taken by the Kainan Mam Irom Sydney, only six returned. The rest were used to feed the survivors. The men look in the pink of condition, and state that they had plenty .of food supplies. Leaving Sydney on November last the vessel went direct to tho Bay of Whales, where the party landed, while tho Kainan Maru went in a south-eastern direction and met the Fram. while Captain Amundsen was away making his dash for the PoleThe next call made was King Edward VII Land, where the coast exploring party was landed. " Then we went into unknown parts of the sea/' said Commander Shirase. "We confined our attention to scientific exploration and the results will bo communicated to Tokio, and I am sorry that I cannot add more, except that we returned to King Edward VII Land and the Bay of Whales for the parties were landed there and picked them up. We left the ice on February 4. No one was left behind." The weather at times was very rough, but there were intervals of beautifully fine conditions. At times the hull of the vessel was severely tested, hut she returns in excellent condition. The engines proved too small for tho motive power required, but the vessel depended almost entirely on her sails. It is added that valuable scientific work was done, dotails of which must first ho sent to Japan.