DASH FOR LIBERTY

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2705, 26 February 1916, Page 3

DASH FOR LIBERTY

INTERNED OFFICERS ESCAPE

Captain John Thomson, of the motor ship Columbia, which recently arrived lit Sydney from Copenhagen, talked jnterestiiigly of tho internment of the oiew of tho British submarine El 3, which grounded oil the Danish coast last August (says the "Sun"). "The men," ..aid the mariner, "were taken to tho Copenhagen Arsenal and given very comfortable .quarters and a certain amount of freedom...They had not been long ; in the barracks when the Minister of Marine gave them permission to visit the city, accepting their word of honour as a bond that they would not attempt to cscape. 1 After bc-iiig released on those conditions the crew took part in many' sccial functions, and were quits enthusiastic about their treatment. After being at tho barracks for a couple t>f months, during which time the- men worked repairing their submarine, _ Lieut-Commander Lay ton notified the' authorities that his word of honour not to break away would bo withdrawn in -18 hours. On receipt of the commander's note a double watch was- kept on the British crew's sleeping apartments, but nevertheless some of them attempted to escape, but only one succeeded. That; was Licut.-Commandcr Layton. The other officers were caught just as they wero leaving the barracks." l Sentries Tricked. Having oxhausted his own knowledge of the facts, Captain Thomson translated an account of tho escape lrom tho Danish newspaper "Politiken." It was to the effect- that although every precaution had been taken, tho LieutCommander had managed to outwit the sentry and make good his escape. Each timo that Layton walked' from the barracks to the submarine he was accompanied by a Danish officer, and on the night of his disappearance had been with a naval man until he reached his quarters. Ho retired at 9.30, saying that he did not feel too well, and that he would take a draught. From the timo ho closed tho door ho was not seen again by the guards. It was evident that tho naval man had left his room hy way of tho window, dropping a good distance to the ground. The correspondent of tho "Politiken" who inquired into the matter said that Layton must have studied carefuly the workings and surroundings of the barracks bo enable him .to get clear away. At 10 p.m., when all in the arsenal retire, there is a wild rush to the barracks, and generally a lot of excitement, and it must have been about that time that the*dasli for freedom was made. Layton either jumped over the fenco on the shore side or dived into the water and swam away; but it was all so well carried out that nobody was alarmed.

Tho lieutenant-commander,when ho planned the dash so thoroughly outwitted the Danish officers that even when thoy looked into the room thev did not know that he had gone. Before leaving he had made a dummy man, with the use of two pillows, and i'aid it in position on the bed, covering it with a blanket. It was on the second occasion that a call was' made at his room that the trick was discovered, and then an alarm was sounded. I '.ie officers of the Danish police were informed, but they they searched day and night no trace of the man could be found. Fearing that he would get away by using a small rowboat, , tho searchlights wero played right along the coastline, but witTioui success. The conclusion arrived at by the Danish naval authorities is that a boat must havo beon used, bcoauso it is considered impossible * for the sailorman to have gone overland and not be recognised. The other members of the crew of tho submarine who attempted to get away were discovered by a sentry in the act of scaling a wall, but were able to scramble over to an earthwork, which had been thrown up for use as a fort. Thero they gave themselves up and were taken back to the barracks, and placed under a strong guard. They refused to give any information concerning either their commander or themselves. Tho result was that they were deprived of all privileges and kept- within the barrack square.

Messrs. E. Johnston and Co. advertise that tho auction sale of furniture advertised to take place at No. Cornwall Street, Island Buy, at 1(1.11(1 o'clock this moruint' will not be held.