Show what maru means the word ilard attached to the name of every japanese merchant ship and commonly accepted as meaning ship lias no especial meaning according to captain of alio japanese hudson maru recently captured and released by n german raider in the south atlantic captain said that the word Is alio llio survival of a japanese custom centuries old lie explained the origin as follows there aie two opinions as to how the custom originated one of the stories Is that in ancient times the japanese attached marn to the name of anything highly prized it was first applied to a ships name about 2000 years ago when the empress jingo sent an expedition to korea she added the word to the name atthe help that transported the troops to korea nver since then has been part of the name of every steamship or sailing vessel it Is never used with the name of war phlp fishing gazette |