JAPANESE IN ANTARCTICA.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1019, 7 January 1911, Page 15

JAPANESE IN ANTARCTICA.

SHALL SCHOONER. WITH 15 MEN. A. cablegram from Yokohama, published' by ths "Now York Herjikl" (European edition), in (November announced the departure of Lieut. Shirase's expedition to tho Antarctic, on board tho schooner Ivainan -Marii. It is added that, "111 the opinion of foreign experts,, the preparations were wholly inadequate, and the expedition is foredoomed to failure, possibly - disaster."—"Central News." Lieutenant,Shirase, who belongs to the •Vi'inv Reserve, is forty-six years ot age. He intends to make his foolhardy attempt in a small schooner ot' only 150 toils, which 110 purchased cheaply at Hakodate. The vessel is fitted ivith auxiliary steam power. Tho crew will number iiftceu. '. - . j Tho lieutenants plan is to sail first to Australia unci thence to King hdwanl Vll's 13ay. Hero ho will leave the schooner im the ice, and with five men and sledges will make a dash for the Pole. Lieutenant Shivaso has had considerable experience in the Antarctic. He was the so]o survivor of Lieutenant Gunti's expedition to the Kurilo Islands in 1893. He passed two terrible years 011 the island of Sheneshu, and all his companions died of:cold and starvation. Eventually he was rescued by a Japanese warship.