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GERMANS ESCAPE FROM SPAIN

DARING EXPLOIT IN SMALL BOAT

CAPTURED IN CHANNEL

The daring exploit of twenty Germans who put to sea from Vigo, Spain, in a small sailing boat, and after a month of battling with stormy wrather and heavy seas while endeavouring to reach the Belgian coast were captured by a British destroyer, is described in the Spanish journal "El Liberal." The party consisted of eleven German, officers interned in Pamplona, 195 miles north-east of Madrid, and nine others, including four officers of the Goeben, a naval doctor, a law student, and two sailors —none of whom was interned — and a sergeant interned at Alcala de Henares, 17 miles north-east of Madrid.

According to statements made by the Germans in the vessel which captured them the scheme for escape from Spain was organised in August, Lieutenant Carl Koch being the prime mover. From Pamplona lie got in touch with the GernicAVico-Consul at Vigo, who promised all possible support and put him into communication with the officers of two German vessels, which have sheltered in the bay since the beginning of the war. Through Spanish intermediaries the little sailing ship Virgen del Socorro was purchased. Lieutenant Koch, who obtained a pass to journey some twenty miles away, travelled with several companions by motor-car and.train to Vigo on October 5, while Sergeant Dietrich Gratschuss, in company with others, travelled from Alcala on October 2. •

To allay suspicions the Virgen del Socorro made a voyage to sea and returned to Vigo on October s'or 6, and moorpd alongside the German steamship Wehrt. The fugitives, who had scattered' themselves over the hotels and lodging-houses, set out one by one for the Wehrt, and immediately began transhipping provisions and stores from her to the Virgen del Socorro. At 2 a.m. cn October 7 this work was: competed, the little vessel was towed outside the bay, and then, under full sail, turned her prow .to the north-west. Tne little vessel was painted! white—a ruse, it was thought, to disarm suspicion. She was so small that all the 20 men could not he on deck at the same time.

It was a perilous voyage, and for long days the little boat was the plaything of the waves. The suffering of those on-hoard in the terrible weather encountered was intense. On October 24 they found themselves some distance west of Bantry, in the south of Ireland. There the storm increased! in violence, and the ship, battered by seas, seemed likely to founder. After a consultation it was decided to abandon the original plan of going round the British Isles, and the ship made for the Channel in the hope of making ifie Belgian or Dutch coasts. After six terrible d'ays the coast of Cornwall was sighted, and- on November 4 the Germans found themselves in sight of the Island of Lundy, at the entrance to the Bristol Channel. From there, proceeding slowly, they contrived to circle the Scilly Islands, turning by the Lizard on November 6. The daring adventure nearly succeeded l , for the little ship eluded the patrols until on November 8 the Ramsgate examiners came into the picture, when the Germans were practically within sight of the Belgian coast. Throughout the whole of her journey the Virgen del Sooorro had flown the Dutch flag, but when challenged by the English patrol vessel the Germain white ensign was displayed. She was brought to Ramsgate, where the captives were landed. Under escort the prisoners were taken to a restaurant on the sea front, but the proprietor, although a heavy sufferer through the war, refused' to provide food for the enemies. Eventually they were taken to the sailors' home and given food. Their vessel is still at Ramsgate.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19170322.2.48

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3034, 22 March 1917, Page 6

Word count
Tapeke kupu
621

GERMANS ESCAPE FROM SPAIN Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3034, 22 March 1917, Page 6

GERMANS ESCAPE FROM SPAIN Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3034, 22 March 1917, Page 6

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