THE FUGITIVE WAR PRISONERS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 71, 17 December 1917, Page 6

THE FUGITIVE WAR PRISONERS

STILL AT LARGE

OFFICIAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ESCAPEES

COURT OF INQUIRY

By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, December 16. Particulars of the cscapo of tho Germans from iUotuilii island show that tho Camp Commandant on Thursday visited Auckland in tho launch, on which was a crew of two Germans, olio of whom attended to tho engines, Usually a guard ot two accompanied Uie launch, but on this occasion -hero was only one guard. On returning to tho island the Commandant, and tho guard went ashore, leaving the two Germans to take tho launch to tho moorings about a stone's Wiw from the jetty. On the jetty wero two other Hermans bringing up coal. -No other person was lett on the wharf. the launch was not seen again. The official description of the Germans who escaped is given as uider :- Count von Uickner, aged J4, live foot ten inches in height, clean snaven, speaks broken English, walks rtiflly. \on Luckncr was wearing a blue uniform and khaki cap with German naval "lieutenant Kerchiess, height 5 feet 7 inches, talks first-class English, uearini* sailor's uniform. °-on Egidy, height 6ft. /in., noops slightly, beard and moustache. Insignificant looking, i, . . Freund', wireless operator, neigut st. Sin., stout, clean shaven, iwr blue eyes. Hardly understands Jihglisli. Plain clothes. . Guinn, wireless operator, tall, c can shaven, very dark complexion, sightly nl Erdmann, aged 30, height Oft. Sin., fair, brown eyes, talks good luiglisu. He was wearing a sailor's uniform. The following were wearing naval 23, height, 6ft, 'thS, aged 23, 6ft. 10in., black hair, brown eyes. , , . Mellert, aged 23, sft. Bin., brown hair, blue eyes, clean shaven; very strong. Paulsen, aged 24, very light brown hair, blue oyes, clean shaven, talks English well; might pass for m lingUS SI, aged 23, sft. Win., ** nrown hair, brown eyes, clean shaven; hardly talks English. The fugitives have riot yet been recaptured.

COLONEL TURNER SUSPENDED ottot-makhal set up. Tho Minister of Defence stated last evening that the German prisoners who escaped from Motnihi Island tod not then been captured. Colonel Harcourt Turner, who v. as in command at the internment vamp at the ITmo of tho escape, has been suspended, and Major Schofield a returned officer, has been sent up to take his Pl Colonel C. R. M'Donald, an imperial officer, well known in Trcnthain and. Sheraton Cnmps; Colonel Neaye, an Imperial officer; and LieutenautjColScnmn.in ß . a returned office, ha« been instructed to proceed to Auckland to hold an inquiry into tlw attair. GENERAL VANDER VENTER DECORATED fiREWED A KNIGHT COMMANDER OF THE BATH. (Rcc. December 16, 5.5 p.m.) London, December 15. Offlcial.-Gcncral Von dnr Venter has been created a Knight Commander of the Bath.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reu-°[Gcncral Van der Venter _ vas in charge of the operations m tat Africa.]