PRISONERS OF WAR FROM SAMOA

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2280, 14 October 1914, Page 6

PRISONERS OF WAR FROM SAMOA

NAVUA AT AUCKLAND GERMAN CRUISERS APPEAR AT APIA AN EXCITING HOUR (By Telerranh-Presa Association.) Auckland, October 13. The isavua has arrived from Apia. She brought nineteen prisoners of war, including three German wireless operators, threo German civilians, and three German cadets. The latter belonged to tho German Elsass at Pago Pago. They, had heard that Apia had been retaken by German cruisers, and they deserted and sailed ninety miles in an open boat, only to walk, on landing, into the arms of the New Zealandors' harbour guard at Apia, They wore welcomed as prisoners of war. Two of the civilians (who trdyelled as saloon passengers) owo their presence in New Zealand to an. escapado in which the Gorman cruisers Gneisenau and Scharnhorst were concerned. Tho Enemy's Cruisers. These vessels caused a great stir of excitement in Apia on tbo morning of September 15. When, at daylight, they anchored outside the reefs, which prevent the entrance of such large.vessels, a British force was promptly ordered to entrench behind the defending shore guns, and wheii tho cruisers turned their broadsides on to Apia it was thought a bombardment was to follow. The white settlement was within rango of the cruisers' guns. They wore about three thousand yards off, but the shore guns were not equal to reaching the vessels. However, the visitors steamed away about an hour and a half later ( thus ending the tense period which their tactics had caused. " "Wo realise, of'course," said, one of the New Zealanders who roturned this morning, "that cruisers were hardly likely to bombard Apia, 'because they would have been destroying property.of their follow Germans. All the same, our nerves tingled for an hour or so while we wero awaiting attack. 1 don't think they would have done us much harm, because we were splendidly entrenched." Indiscreet Planters. > The next move of the cruisers* waa. apparently a visit to another part of the island, some miles from Apia. While lying off one of the small harbours, 'which is not frequently used, they were sighted by some German planters, who decided to communicate with them.' Accordingly two of the civilians Trent out in a little boat aud boarded the cruisers. On their return to 6hore they informed some of the British officers that , the German Admiral had undertaken not to bombard Apia, in deference to a certain request Which they had made, but the utterances of these planters were considered to be rather too indiscreet. This, coupled with tho fact of their unoficial visit to the German cruisers, decided the authorities in orderinc their removal to New Zealand. Another planter and three German wireless operators wcro also sent away for diplomatic reasons.

Describing the capture of the German cadets at Apia, the ■ "Star's" correspondent says the harbourmaster had eightod on incoming oraft, and with an, armed guard went off in a cutter to investigate: 'The cadets realised too late that they,had •unwittingly sailed right into the. arn(s of the, enemy. They were taken to the landing under escort, after which they became prisoners,, of war. They accepted their position philosophically, as they . have done throughout. They came to Auckland as second-<;las6 'passengers. They aro stalwart in physique and jovial in manner. Their fellow passengers state , that they were exceedingly orderly on the voyage> and when opportunity .offered made themselves pleasingly agreeable. They left for Wellington under escort by the midday express. Tho Prisoners. The names of three German planters who came by the Navua are George ■William Hagedorn and Bruno Borchardt (these two went out to the cruisers), and Kheinhold .Hofmann. .Th9 < three wireless operators are Carl Grnn,' Otto Braund, and Otto Ruckschus. They were accompanied by a free passenger, Mrs. Gantz, wife of Dr. Gantz, who is already a prisoner of war in New Zealand. Mrs. Gantz hopes' to be allowed to Tejoin her husband.. The prisoners proceed to Wellington under tiie guard which accompanied them on the Navua, consisting of Lieutenant Kenny; Sergeant-Major Blacklin, and'"eighteen men, inoluding sis Army reservists. ■;'. ' Garrison "All Well." Letters have been received in Auckland from members of the Expeditionary Force at Samoa,' stating that the men are all well. None of the men complain of the eye trouble which was believed to be. affecting them, and they say. that they have- been remarkably free from epidemics or any sickness. One significant item contained: in the ; correspondence is that :sliortly_ after Samoa was occupied several sticks of dynamite, connected with an electric wire, were discovered under tho wiveless station. , Generally speaking, the men are in good health and spirits, and all of them expect to be sent to tho Continent as soon as they are relieved.