MOTUIHI AFFAIR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 114, 31 January 1918, Page 6

MOTUIHI AFFAIR

THE TURNER COURT-MARTIAL EVIDENCE OF SOLDIERS COLONEL PATERSON IN THE WITNESS-BOX. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, January 30. Tho Court-Martial investigating the charges against Lieutenant-Colonel Harcourt Turner in connection with the escapo.of Germans from Motuihi Island resumed this morning. The Crown Prosecutor (Captain Baldwin), in opening the case, alluded to the alternative charge, that Colonel Turner, without reasonable excuse, allowed prisoners to escape. What was alleged, ho said, was that by some reckless 0 omission he allowed them to get away. The definition of negligence was doing something that no reasonable maii°would do. Colonel Turner stated that his practice was to. tell the Germans to bring the sparking plugs from the motor-launch to his office. Apparently lie was oblivious to all movements of the prisoners, and knew nothing until they brought the sparking plugs. He left them free and uncontrolled. Major L. Lilly gave evidence that Colonel Turner in his report on the escape of the prisoners stated that He usually personally looked to sec if tho launch was made fast to tho moorings, but on this occasion he had not done so. It had been his practice to tell the prisoners to bring the sparking plugs to l)im. On this occasion he omitted to do so. He. also omitted to see tho launch made fast at the moorings. Cross-examined, witness stated he was not in charge of the prisoners, though it was his duty to deal. with them. As to prisoner Erdman, witness said he knew the Minister had forbidden his transfer to Motuihi, yet he sent him there. The instructions for the transfer emanated from Colonel Hall-Thompson. Sergt.-Major St. Clair Keogh, in charge of the guard at Motuihi, states that the sparking-plug was first taken out of the launch Pearl at witness's suggestion. His reason for making the suggestion was that an anonymous warning had been found on the floor of the orderly room on the morning of November 29 last. The warning was printed on a piece of cardboard, enclosed in a. wrapping of brown paper. On the outside it was marked "Important," but was addressed to Lieut.folonel Turner and witness. The notice read, "Loock your launch. There is proviant benzin, and sail for runaway to-day. Don't mention this." Witness believed it was a hoax, but he mentioned to Colonel Turner that it might be advisable to remove the snarking-nlug. Ho inquired from one of the guard if he were tho author of the warning, but no other inquiry was made as to the authorship. No surprise visits were made to the quarters of the Sea Adler's men. There Svere stated times for insnection. There were on the island sheds where prisoners could do carpentering and other work. Some of the men did metal work, but onlv one of the escapees ever did it. Prisoners still on the island continued to do metal work. It was known that several first-class mechanics were included among the Gcrr-ns. Cornnral John William Shaw, of t to Motuihi guard, said he checked the prisoners at 5.45 i).m. on the day of the escape.' * The total number was then complete. At that time the sentry should have been on tho tower lull. Ho saw the sentry entering th" barrack enclosure about 6.15 p.m. There was no fixed rule regarding the time the sentry was to remain on duty nt tower hill 'He used his own discretion: It was urn'" l for him to retur" nhmtt fi.3o pm The prisoners would have no difficulty in obtaining the sparkingplues as two pumps on tho island were worked bv benzine engines with sparking-plugs- Colonel Turner s launch was overhauled by the prisoners The benzine engines referred to were at present, being worked by prisoners. , , , Francis Wainwright, bugter, who was escort on the launch on a visit to Auckland on the day ot the escape, said that Freund and Paulson, while at Devonport, were not out ot ms "'Captain W. Bourke, master of the scow Moa, said that when that vessel was captured the Germans took on board a quantity of provisions, a rifle, a sword, a large number ot tools, a sextant, photographic material, a camera batteries, and a wireless plant. The provisions included eggs,-oatmeal} flour, small tins of biscuits, a little tinned meat, 201b. oatmeal, cocoa, fowls, and 30 or 401b. rice. They also had what the Germans declared to be three bombs. No water was brought on board. They also had ten benzine tins, sealed, but witness could not say if they contained benzine.- . Colonel Paterson,. O.C. Auckland district, stated that when a scare was raised in November last he told Colonel Turner about the matter, but did not tell him in a general way of what steps were being taken. to checkmate any escape. Ikforo leaving for Wellington on December 11 be told Colonel Turner he was concerned about the launch Pearl He said that Colonel Turner should be careful to put the engine of the launch out of action. Colonel Turner said that that was always done when the launch was left at its moorings. At Colonel Turner's request a letter had been sent from witness's office to Headquarters, Wellington, asking about increasing the guard during the time of the scare, hut up to the timo of the escape no reply had been received. On November 26, 1.917, witress wrote to Headquarters, Wellington, recommending that the strength of the guard would be increased to 30 rank and file; that Von Luckner and Kerscheiss would be removed to some place by themselves, as they were -..m----terprisiiig individuals who' would be better separated from the other prisoners; and also expressing the opinion that it would be expedient to prohibit any aliens, male or female, from visiting prisoners on the island. Witness knew of no instance in which Colonel Turner dealt directly with district headquarters. Witness had never given Cotoncl Turner a direct i order. Witness was satisfied with the I conduct of affairs at Motuihi. As to | the time of tho arrival of the See I Adler's officers and men (luring the scare period, Colonel Turner had never said to witness that he was unable to carry on unless he was reinforced. Tlie inquiry stands adjourned* till tomorrow.