DASH FOR LIBERTY

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2454, 6 May 1915, Page 7

DASH FOR LIBERTY

9 ' ' GERMAN PRISONERS ESCAPE RECAPTURED AT ORONGORONGA A bold', but unsuccessful, dash for liberty was made by two German prisoners interned on Somes Island on Tuesday evening. Taking advantage of the darkness the pair secured a rowing boat, and with the aid of impromptu paddles were able to mako good their escape!—for the time being. Immediately the escape was discovered Forts Kelburn, Dorset, and Ballance, and the Coast Defence Supply Department were communicated with and men sent to patrol the shores from Seatoun. to Lowry_ Bay. Meanwhile, a, launch had been dispatched, from. Somes. Island and members of the island guard landed at various points between Pencarrow- and Lowry Bay. This guard had landed even before, the escapees had njade theiy passage across the. harbour;' Owing to the extensive coast line, however, the prisoners were able to get ashore, ua-.. observed. The Boat Discovered. The boat in which they' made their escape, however, was found near Dav'a, Bay, by members of the guard, shortly; after midnight. On this discovery a. chain' was formed' to driVe in' the 'escapees to Palliser Bay route and before* daylight a cordon of horsemen, under command of Lieutenant, Rogers, weix> on the. scene. The. railway- authorities ■were also, communicated; with, go, tl'j'at the prisoners could not escape this All the of the search were,_ directed by Sonies Island, w/jiich J;?' 8 . ,n . touch with all telephones j-ft tho Wamui-o-raata district.

Movements of the Cermans., Meanwhile,, as was found l laW, the prisoners, after haying, spent, tie night J n the bush, moved on to Oroufroronsjo, and on arriving at Mr. Eric Pfrcfdifor'd's Estates, they. approached the.' manager, Mr. Hansen, to see if they/ could get work. Mr. Hansen, however, had already been furnished with a. .full description of the escapees and /'immediately recopnised them- as, such.. He (Jinlomatically informed the lwsn that they would be engaged at cutting wood. When no saw they were employed and under surveillance he got into touch Tnth the search, parties. The forces ar- i rived shortly before 3' p.m. and from 1 behind a shed observed the two Germans hard at work. The surprise of the two escapees was 'beyond description when the guard walked up to them and arrested them. The' two were taken hack to the Island footsore, weary, and broken in spirit. The escapees are named Rediger and Kuskie, the former, before he was inV as ? Norwegian, *hile Kuskie had previously passed himself off as H. J. Mortimer The j ?? s the recapture were carefully assistance was rendered by_ the civic police. It is said m finely difficult to keep +£; i° Ve l i Prisoners quartered on the island, and on a dark nfeht exthe BC , atiere d pos'ition of the buildings and the close proximity of a dense plantation.