"THE SHIRASE FARCE."

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1045, 7 February 1911, Page 8

"THE SHIRASE FARCE."

JAPANESE EXPEDITION TO SOUTH . rOLE. News has come, to hand of tho Japanese expedition to tho South Pole, a brief referonco to which appeared in our rnblo news .1 few weeks ago. The expedition has been littcd out, and is ■ commanded by Lieutenant Shirnse, who has secured for his purposo tho - 300-toii schooner, the Kai-nan-marn, which, interpreted, means "boat to opon the south." After a somewhat theatrical farewell, .including tho practice of some old Shinto rites, tho vessel clcarcd Tokio on November 29, and was to proceed to Hawaii,' eu rotito to Wellington, which -port Lieutenant Shirnse evidently intends to make his "leaping place." Tho intention is to make a base in Antarctica, between King Edward Land and M'Mnrdo Bay. and tako advantage cf tho most favourablo season to inako a dash for tho pole. One Yokohama~newspaper mnkes fun-of tho expedition 'in an article headed "Tho Shiraso Fnrcc," stating that the vessel was totally unfitted the proposed work, and thero was every reason to helicv-a that tho' authorities would condemn tho vessel as unseaworthy. 'five only arrangement made, to meet the gales and heavy seas of tho Antarctic was the building up of the bulwarks and deckhouses with light, unseasoned timber, which would bo swept nway by tho first big sea shipped. Providing tho Kai-uan-maru has weathered tho storm so far, sho should bo showing up hero at any time.