HOW THEY GOT AWAY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 72, 18 December 1917, Page 6

HOW THEY GOT AWAY

'"DETAILS CAREFULLY PLANNED"

Saturday's Auckland "Star" contains the following account of tho oscapo of the German prisoners from Motuihi Island :— "So far as can bo ascertained tho manner of tho escape of tho prisoners appears to liavo been remarkably simple, and tho very simplicity of the plan has no doubt been a factor in its success. It is stated that two of the prisoners were working on the Commandant's launch, Pearl, and were still on board when tho small dinghy used at tho island got sulfift. Tliero were several guards on the jetty ashore, and in reply to those men the two prisoners on tho launch aro stated to have called out that they would pick up the dinghy, and proceeded to- do so. Instead of taking her directly into tho jetty, however, they sailed round a near-by point of tho island, and there, it is stated, subsequently picked ur> the other eight prisoners. As tho Pearl and the dinghy were the only boats en the island, pursuit was impossible "Tho whole escape appears to have been carefully planned by the prisoners. Tliero is a direct telephone wire to Waiheke, and also one to Auckland. As soon as the escape was made known attempts were made to communicate with the military authorities at Auckland. Communication, however, could not bo established, and it was assumed that the wires had been cut. This led to a long and careful search along the whole length of the line at Motuihi, nnd as it had to be conducted in tho darkness tho task was a difficult one. Ultimately it was discovered that tho telephone wire had been 'earthed.' A contact had been laid beforehand bv tho escapees down the side of one i.f the telephone posts into the earth, thus effectually breaking the circuit. The fault was repaired, nnd at midniaht Jlaior Price, A.A.G., was communicated with. A statement is mixik also in regard to the airing of the abrm that the cimrtl, fiiulinp; th« Wppiione communications cut. attempted to give the alarm by lighting nnnfirps on tho Wand. A watch was kont for answering signals from AucWnmi. Presently rockets were seen shootim' un into the skv, ami the euard concluded that they wore the answering siannl? from th" Defence authorities. It is stated, however, that they were in real'ty rnokets sent up from a firei works fli«nlay at a fair that was Mm» held at ftemuera thnt evening. If thp I statement is correct the mistake, of course, was n pnrfeetly nntural'one. but I it is probablo tlmt it led to a further I rloinv Wire Auckland'was communientrd with, .is it wnq nn.tnrnily concluded that 'the siwals. hnvitig been ! anwor»d. !issis+"nce would be dispatched forthwith. "T m wprli!>t' , l" the alarm was received by Major Price he took steps to at onre organise a search nartv. and fit 1 30 a.m. boats wem dismtched in son rob "if ft° escaped prisoners. IV scproli is toping vigorously pro.spp.ntpd. "The lnuncli Pearl, in which thpv. m!>fln their escape, is a 10-ltnnt lioit. ,15ft. in leiUTth, niul it is_ stated tlwshi linrl ton ensps of bon/.ino on board when the i)ri=oners cot ?,vav with her. An pstimnt-e has li»pn me dp of th". Nt vhicli pbn f< tr!>v«l w li«n lnnd»d with ten moil. It is thnt the oxtra woi"l't on board, onn-hmod wiMi a head wind that was blowing at tlm time, would reduce, her s.ii"ed lo alin>;t fivo knots Tier hour. Fven lit this rate, hmvevpr. it is <-a.lo"lnt»d that if shp '"I'd" straight for tlin open s"lic would have boon nnst Onpn ColvilV before th« alarm reacho'l Auckland and a nursuit was eomnienced. the oscnpr hns hoeoine knnwu thorn hnvp bemi many rumours concernin". th? prisoners and mvstpnous roast.nl vessels. Amon!! others is one that n barque, or schooner, has honn seen stnmlinc in the Oulf from time t* time tliirinc Hip past few weoks nnd has failed to report in Auckland. This vessel Imwpvcr, h?s been satisfactorily accounted for. Other unfounded rumours have gained wide currency, but

thero is nothing to report beyond tho official report that tho escaped men are still at liberty." STILL AT LARGE LATEST REPORT PROM THE NORTH., t>7 Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, December 17. At midnight there was no news of the recapture of the eleven' Germans who escaped from Motuihi on Thursday night.