The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-07-04
From the Chicago Tribune.

FROM the chicago Tribune.
NN HILE the whole world is filed
wv with amazement. and even con-
w sternation, at the victorious
arms of Japan alike on land and sea, few
people give a thought to the wonderful
powder known as "shmose," after its
ingenious and expert chemist-inventor
which has wrought such terrifice havoc
among the hosts of imperial Russia.
As all the world knows, every nation
has its own pet rifle for the army, and
its peculiar theories about naval ordnance
also Germany swears by its Mauser. we
have our Lee Enfield, and SO on. Sim
ilarly every nation has it's own thigh ex-
plosive," the British cordite, the French
melinite, etc. In all cases the various
government chemists pursue their inves-
legations and experiments in absolute Sec
recy.
As in all other departments of Japan's
Wonderful work, an all but impenetrable
veil of secrecy has been drawn over the
Investigations and even the personality of
her chemist in explosives. DR.. Clan
Shimose He was born in the very hum
blest circumstances in the province of
Hiroshima some forty-seven years ago,
when railways and regular steamers were
practically unknown in the island empire.
And yet as a youth Shmose determined
to make his way to the capital, al
though it is over 4s0 miles from his native
village In Hiroshima to Toxic.
But even in those days of obscurty
IL Ia
about for openings for his ability. He
was wondering what destiny had map
ped out for him. and had, however, a
craze for "bettering himself that would
have done credit to a conscientious city
clerk. He became skilful in the print
ing office that it suddenly occurred to
him he might get employment from the
government in this way, and at length
after many demonstrations of his ability
he was given, on trisl, responsible po-
sition in the government printing works
| In Toxic.
| 1t was at this stage of his career that
| Shimose turned his thoughts to inven-
| ton. and, naturally enough. he began
operations in connection with his own EN-
| rloyment. After many experiments he
| succeeded in producing the curious ink
which Is now used in Japan for bank
notes and paper money generally and
which renders forgery and alteration
practically. impossible. The secret like
| all productions of the ablest counter
| feiters were instantly detected.
| 1t was while employed in the gov
eminent printing work that Shimose turn
| ed his attention to naval and military
implements of all kinds offensive and
| defensive. He was brought into contact
with naval and military officers, both
foreign and native, and began to discuss
eagerly with them the components of the
various high explosives used throughout
| the world
| He soon saw that most of the smoke
| less powders of the world-and, indeed
also the Japanese service powder in use
at that time, and known as men kaya-
lsu" had been adopted by the Chinese gov
eminent as kind of compromise, and II
| certainly possessed the best qualities and
| fewest defects of all the best powders OF
| Great Britain, France, Germany and Rus
sa Unfortunately, when dry the slight
| est conclusion was apt to set 1t off, ano
1t was found absolutely necessary by the
then war chemist of Japan to add al