SUPPLEMENT TO HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, FRIDAY, AUGUST 1, 1930.
Introducing the "Empress of Japan"
EMPRESS OF JAPAN.
THE PREMIER SHIP OF THE PACIFIC SERVICE.
HE Empress of Japan, designed
as the premier ship of the Pacific service of the Canadian Pacific, exemplifies the care with which the Canadian transportation ompany plans for the comfort of thvellers.
Situated on the promenade-deck at the forward part of the ship and extending the full width of the ship is the bull room, furnished as a palm court, and finished in natural oak embellished with taste. ful gilding. It is open on thres
"KEEPING FIT" ON THE EMPRESS OF JAPAN.
On the Pacife the Empresa There are bicycle machines in the of Japan" and
"Empress of gynasium of the Empresses. These Canada" have gymnasiums which are fitted with dials which record
THE SWIMMING POOL
Monotony, a fearful spectre that
A gymnasium on board an ocean
are in all respects like those of the distances travelled to 500 metres.baunts the human race from cradle" liner is no longer & novelty. The three Atlantic Empresses. Spacious Bicycles are placed side by side, to grave, but specializes particu
iarly on, the unwary traveller who floating palaces of to-day which rooms, with excellent ventilation, which offers the possibility of rac
leaves on a trip unprepared against and fitted with the latest equipment ing competitions.
it, or chooses his means of trans- portation without due regard for the methods used to discourage its unwelcome, visitations, nowadays suturs defeat at the hands of ship
cross the mighty occans between Canada and the Orient and Canada and Europe have gone one better than the best hotels. There are hotels that can invite their guests to bathe in private swimming
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for almost every phase of athletic Rowing machines, pulley-machines, axercise. In addition, the 'Empress of Canada" and the new "Empress of Japan" have
swimming-pools, which are in the first tank of
which test the strength and develop the muscle, are amongst the paratus with which the gymnasiumı of the Empress of Japan is equip ped, and boxing-gloves, medicino-
designers.
For engines, oil-burning geared sides-port, forward, and starboard pools; but how many of them can those to be found on board bea balls, punch-balls, foils, single-into an important item in the re-
turbines, drive-twin-propeller shafts capaile of developing an average sen-ared of 21 knots. Six hundred and saunty feet from stem to storn, the Empress of Japan has a breadth of 88 feet, and is 56 feet deep from "B" Deck.
Six decks, lettered "A" to "F,” and a super-structure containing the promenade and boat deck, are devoted to passenger requirements. Both the boat and promenade decks excred 300 feet in length
-to wide sea views seen through broad windows half screened by. palms and flowers. At either end
offer the busy man or woman the going ships use of a gymnasium 7
"How to keep £t at sea1" Board one of the famous "White
cross
an
Camels and Horses,
The apparatus with which the gymnasiums of the ships of the Canadian Pacific line are fitted is varied and diverting. The "horse" and the camel" are perhaps tho most popular among the machines When travelling on the "Empress
fountain surrounded by flowers sparkles in the sunlight, or reflects Empresses" bound from the Orient from the scintillating of the "electric for Vancouver, or lighting concealed in the richly de-Quebec to Southampton by corated ceiling and capable of in- "Empress of the Atlantic." These liners have gymnasiums on board, stantaneous colour changes.
and you will have no reason to fear the consequences of a period of Australia".and the Empress of enforced leisure. Leisure is de- of Scotland" to and from Canada
Other Public Rooms are costly echoes of the ballroom from its bright yet Empire Lounge, stately creation in plain, wood and gold and blue brocade finish. An Overworked Term.
ing, to the snug Smoking Room Luxury, an overworked word in where the inlaid teak "floor and connection with steamships that is walnut skirting contrast with a selected light-grained really justified on this occasion, is specially the keynoto of the interior ae-mahogany which is studded with commodation of the Empress of brouze nails to obtain a trellis Japan. First class rooms, practically offect, An outstanding feature is all outside cabins, are fitted with the monumental chimneypiece of bedsteads in every instance. They carved Roman stone, crowned with
a cut-class overmantel. are lavishly lighted, and the ball- "louvre systein of controllable venti- lation first instituted in the Cana. dian Pacific "Duchess" liners on the Atlantic, is supplemented by electric fans. Steam is used for heating, and this system is also amplified by electric heators in each room. Pedestal basins with run- ning hot and cold water, pier glass mirrors in the wardrobes, triple mirrored dressing-tables, and hotel type bathrooms are features of the sleeping cabins,
Suites and special staterooms are connected with every department by A comprehensive telephone system. Suites are decorated with olive wood panelling, the furniture is covered with purple damask, and thic twin beds are recessed. Each suito possesses a sitting-room dans with landscapes in a grey tone, and a tiled verandah with wide win- dow surmounting #flower-boxes, Special staterooms are decorated in, walnut with satinwood enrichments, and Quebec birch and black bean.
Elaborate Furnishings:
Grey-green-blus Cipollino marble, with gilded bronze mountings, has been employed in the dining-room, which seats 24 people. The centre of the room is a high well, on each
side of which is a running gallory with a musiciane gallery at the after end. The furniture is of dark, carved mahogany. Entranco to the dining-saloon is obtained through a Louis XIV: foyer, in which the marble treatment of the saloon is repeated in massivo, columns. Illuminated alabaster or- naments mark the termination of the two-carved balustrades of the grand staircase that ends in the foyer
public rooms, which consist of ball room and Palm Court for- ward.. writing, lounge, smok og-room, cocktail bar, gymnasium End, of course, a well-appointed
room.
Elevators are installed at con- venient points to connect all decks, and direct connection between the gymnasium and the green and black marble swimming-tank five decks below on "D" deck is maintained by a fast private elevator. The bath has its own refreshment booth, spectators balcony, dressing-boxes, electric bäth, and is lighted by an underwater system.
Other features are the barber and hairdressing shops, manicuring and chiropody salons, shops, stenograp- her's offices, and a photographic
darkroom.
On the operating side of the ship Buch up-to-date appliances as Welip- Maclachlan devits, electric sound. ing-machines, submarine signal ap- paratus, electric clear-view screens, and all the usual devices quch wireless direction-finders, etc.
MFWM. BAIRD,
Passenger Traffic Manag
Over One Thousand Passengers,
The Empress of Japan has passenger capacity of 1,080 passen gers, divided between third, and steerage.
us
sirable, and may be enjoyed to the on his last visit, the Prince of full during a pleasant sea-voyage; Wales rode many imaginary miles
EMPRESS OF JAPAN,”.
but there are certain ways of on the comfortable back apeading leisure-time that makes
its full benefits apparent sand the more desirable.
Though the White Empresses are the fastest ships on
sticks, and Indian Clubs, provide boxers fencers, and indian-club artists amongst the passengers with every opportunity of indulging in thoir favourite pastime.
The gymnasium itself is a spaci ous room, well ventilated, and fitted with electric fans which help to keep the air always fresh. During certain bours it is reserved
for the exclusive use of the lady passengers, and most important of all a
competent instructor" to initiate the unsophisticated in the intricacies of the apparatus, how
to punch a punching-bag without it hitting back, and row on
the
The swimming-pool has developed
creational and social activities an board the modern ocean liner..
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"It has been said of those who enjoy bathing that the sight of water unless rimmed with ice-" cakes-usually arouses in them the
Imaging the mental attitude. of go to disport themselves in it. such people crossing the ocean with- out the opportunity of indulging in their favourite pastime.
This particular phase of ocean travel has been given more than
ordinary consideration
latest
од
the
passenger ship launched into the world, tha. 26,000-ton' Canadian Pacific liner Empress of Japan.
The swimming-tank on this modern vessel is located in "D" deck, near the centre of least. motion of the ship. It is one of the most modern bathing-pools afoat, connected by direct elevator: to the gymnasium on the boat- deck. The pool is a perfectly balanced black and green creation in Italian marble, fitted out on generous lines with a refreshment pavilion, a spectator's gallery, dressing-boxes, and the latest thing in electric baths. But the foost, unusual feature of all is the under- water lighting effect, which gives a bather the delightful sense of floating on
a rainbow, and also doing away with deep and obscure waters so disliked by the timid
bather.
KITCHEN INSPECTION.
One of the most popular occa aiona during any steamship voyage -with the ladies particularly-is the day that the Chief Steward arranges for an inspection of the
kitchens.
Passengers with housewifely in- stincts, and even husbands who are. intorested from the viewpoint of the marvellous, efficiency displayed -seem to revel in an inspection of th many devices that are embodied nowadays in what is still called the galley, but much more resem- bles the scientifically planned culi- nary department of a large institu- tion.
"As might be expected in this day of electricity, the kitchen of a modern liner relies almost exclu- sively on white coal for its ovens, broilers, toastors, egg-boilers which are automatic as well as electric tea and coffee uras, meat-
sausage. machines,
THE EARLY !! EMPRESSES.
Exactly forty years ago the first of the great White En- presses of the Canadian Pacifc. Steamship Lines was launched. The name of this famous clipper stemmed lirer, which commenced setting new speed records on the Vancouver, Hong Kong, and Shang- hai run immediately she got out to her stacion, was the Empress of Japan." With the arrival of the latest addition to the Canadian Pacific fleet on the Pacific: Ocean, Chinese shipping centros: will have the opportunity of seeing a new "Empress of Japan,"la 20,000-ton liner, with a speed of 21 knots
In 1887, the yes: the Dominion of Canada was born, it will be remembered that one of the con- ditions laid down by the Province of British Columbia in entering the Confederation (which province of that time was isolated from the rest of Canada' by the imposing barrier formed by the Rocky Meun- tain chain) was the construction of a railway to establish the communi- tion necessary for a centralized government to be of effect. This task was undertaken by the organi zation knOWE as the Canadian Pacise Railway, and within five years of the time the Company undertook the task, it was com- pleted.
Seeking Trade,
Then came the problem of find- ing traffic of sufficient value to pay the huge investment. cutlay in the years of construction.. With the foresight that has always been an outstanding characteristic of this organization, the Canadian Pacific. sought this much-needed traffic, both in passengers and freight, from the markets of Japan, newly. opened to Western Commerce, and China, which already had a con siderable trade with Europe. Look ing ahead to the time when the trans-Canadian route would become the beaten trail from Europe to the Orient, the Canadian Pacific re plied to the calling of tenders by the British Government for mail contact from the British Isles to Hong Kong, by offering to carry. British mail from Halifax, or Quebec, to Hong Kong in 28 days Ghours during the summer, and 35 days 6 hours during the winter, under penalty of these times being exceeded.
Mall Contracts: "n
A subsidy of £45,000 was to be paid annually by the British Gov. ernment, and £16,000 by the Canadian Government. The Com-" pany
was to construct vessels. specially designed for this service. The offer was accepted and the con- tract awarded to the Canadian Pacific, which immediately ordered. the three famous Empresses, the Japan, the India, and the China," to replace the Abyssinia, Parthia, and Batavia.
Owing to the great success of this venture, in 1900 it was decided: to strengthen the cargo side" of the Pacific service, and accordingly the "Monteagle," a ship of approxi mately 5,500 tons, was added to the Three flect of passenger ship.
Canadian years previously the Pacific bad entered the trans Atlantic shipping world with a fleet of fast passenger ships, so that the last link was forged in the chain of transportation reaching from. Liverpool to Hong Kong under one management. P
Rapid
Development
The development of the Canadian Pacific, both on the Atlantic as well as the Pacific Ocean, from 1900
machines, ice-cream potato-peelera, ⠀ dish-washers, knife-to the present day has been ond
the statiofiary sculls without barking grinders, broad-alicers, horse" and also on the camel's" one's knuckles and shins. hump. These beasts are electrically controlled, and when the current is switched on the horse," which is
Pacific Properly saddled and has crupper and stirrups, proceeds to emulate the movement of a horse in motion,
Ocean, voyage from Yokohania
i
to Vancouver is usually a matter
of nine days, and during that and gives the rider a real and
ning days dainty and delicious pleasant sensation of horse-back foods delight the palate, easy and riding. The speed can be increas- ed from "atwalk to a trot, from a comfortable lounges, restful draw ing-rooms, smoking rooms, and trot to a canter, and from a canter card-rooms all combine to tempt to à gallop; but the "hores " the idle hours with their attrac always a gentle beast and nover
throws his rider.
tions. However, the well-equipped gymunsium on these Canadian
camel" machine is as horse." The
Pacific liters offer to the passen popular as the
ger the best opportunities for keep" camel" functions in a similar ing in the pink of physical con- manner to the horse, but performs dition.
the rolling motion peculiar to the
The & Fonrose of Scotlan
came usually works : overtime when the Round the World and Mediterranean Cruise Empreses are nearing Egypt, the Indies especially, being anxious to accus-
of the biggest ships afloat, the Empress of Australia," the most luxurious liner on the North At lantic, have splendidly, efficient gymnasiums, and the Empress of Lom themselves to riding on the "France"? is similarly equipped hump of a camel.
Captain S. Routi
sharpeners, silver-polishers, coffee- grinders, and the myriad other in- struments that are now part and parcel of the art of cooking. A The new Canadian Pacific liner Empress of Japan" in nearly the last word in clectrical cook ing Not quite the last word, however, for the Canadian Pacific also has ander construction a mam- moth liner for its Atlantic service and, with typical, Candian eff- ciency is embodying in that ship all che latest device
Kitchens capable of preparing food for 1,200 passengers that can be confined to the necessarily re tricted space of a liner's hull must, of course, be the last word in plan- ning and efficiency, the start to- wards which is gained by the ab- soluto elimination of galley bunker- ing of coal through the substitution. of electricity.
In addition to the space require- ment there is the aspect of scienti Le food preparation to be con- sidered. Renders of the lusciously illustrated advertisements matipally-known flour millers BTB alifamiliar with the moderneracino which demands exact and even. temperatures. Such constant heats are assured by electric cooking.
of such extraordinary magnitude in such a comparatively short space of time, that what the ultimate development of this line will be it. is impossible to say. Every time Mr. Edward Beatty, President of the Company, visita England there, is intense excitement among ship-- builders, for the event usually pre- endes something well worth record ing. The outcome of such a visit? by Mr. Beatty in 1928 was the order for two new great steamers of the Empress class, one for the Pacific service and one for the Atlantic 0/0 The tender for the transpacific liner went to the Fairfield Yard, which has been responsible for the Empress of Russia, Asia, and Canada. In design she was to ba an improved Empress of Canada, capable of a speed of 21 Inats across the Pacific in any circum- stances.
Thus, during the fall of 1929, there was launched the new, Empress of Japan." The people of Britain, have already had a chance to see her, and marvel at her magni- officence; Canadians and Americans bad the opportunity when the liner concluded her maiçen voyüğün koul Liverpool to Quebec on June 2), and the people of China will have the same opportunity at the beginning of August, when the newest White Empress of the Canadian Pacie fect makes her initial appearance at the ports of Hong Kong and Shanghai, in the great Far Eastern Republic of China.
Taking it by and large, the kit chen of a modern passenger liner is almost as intricate as the fire- control room of a battleship and it is probably even more carefully planned