NO MAN'S ISLAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 258, 21 January 1928, Page 1

NO MAN'S ISLAND

NORWAY RESISTS BRITISH CLAIM DISCOVERED IN 1739 By Cable. — Press Association. — Copy* LONDON. Thursday. An interesting situation has arisen owing to a claim made by Norway to Bouvet Island, which is shown on ih** map as being British, and which is regarded as such by the British Govern ment. It was announced this week that thColontal Office had granted John Rasmussen and Company, of Norway, the right to occupy the island as a whal ing base for 10 years, on the pay men; of a yearly rental and royalties on the whale oil and guano procured. A message from Oslo states that Bouvet Island was occupied by a Nor - wegian expedition on December 12 las' year, and that the Norwegian flag was hoisted as the island hitherto had been regarded by the Norwegian Go\ - ernment as a “no man’s land.” The newspaper “Tidens Tegn” says the Norwegian authorities long ago authorised the Bryde Dahl Whaling Company to occupy the island and to establish a new base for Norwegian whaling. A Colonial Office official says Rouve. Island was discovered in 1739 by the French, who. however, made no use of it. The island was again found Captain Lindsay, in 1808, when be claimed it for Britain.—A. and Bouvet Island Is uninhabited and Is situated in the South Atlantic rTrnwn. tr> or about latitude 54 degrees 96 miujtfN* south, and longitude 3 degrees 4 ml twit* east.