MOTUIHI AFFAIR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 115, 1 February 1918, Page 6

MOTUIHI AFFAIR

THE TURNER COURT-MARTIAL GENERAL ROBIN GIVES EVIDENCE DEFENCE OPENED By Telejraph—Press Association. Auckland, January 31. The court-martial of Licut.-Colonel Harcourt Turner resumed to-day. Captain Mellow, Assistant Director of Supplies and Transport for tho Auckland district, said that ho was in charge of the troops on a ship which went in pursuit of the escaped prisoners. He had thirteen men and a N.C.O. They sighted the Moa- at about 11 a.m. under Curtis Island on December 31. She was then some fifteen or sixteen miles away, and about noon they signalled to her to heaveto. When she was signalled t<l heavotoj the Moa hoisted the .German flag. He produced in Court a piece of white calico on which various markings had been carefully painted. A sliot was fired across the scow's quarter, and she immediately hove-to. Count von Luckner was taken on board and searched. He had £17 in pold on him, half Eui'lish and half German. A boat was put"off, the scow boarded, and the men "sent on board the capturing ship. The Germans had a fairly full kit, a quantity of tools, and a wireless installation', capable of receiving up to 500 miles. The wireless operator _o.n the capturing shin stated that the plant was complete with the exception of a couple of crystals which one of the men had in a matchbox. The escapees had also in their possession two maps (one of the West Indies and the other of Europe), and a rough chart on draughtsman's paper, showing the Kcrmadecs and one or two other islands. The only explosive that could be found was one round of .303 ammunition. There was also a camera, and a number of photographs. The tools were fitter's tools, and included electrical apparatus. In addition to tho provisions they brought with them, they had about two-thirds of the stores on Curtis Island. "Witness arrived at this estimate because he had inspected tho stores on this island the day prior to the capture. Altogether, the prisoners had about £120 in fiold distributed among them. By Major Pullon: Witness' did not know definitely whether tho tins contained benzine, but they did not appear to have been tampered with. Do you know where these electrical appliances were made? Witness: No. Do you not know that they came from Samoa?—" No." Do you not know that they were part of a big wireless installation there?— "No." Major Lilly, recalled, produced the file of correspondence from Motuilii to Headquarters for the year 1917. There was no application on this from Colonel Turner for an increase of tho guard. He took it that the responsibility for the guard lay with Colonel Turner and District Headquarters. Witness had distinctly impressed upon Colonel Turner that " tho prisoners were in his keeping, 1. and that it was his "pigeon." Witness put in a. letter from Colonel Tumor to the A.G., Wellington, following on a. visit xo tho island of the Minieter of Defence. In this Cnloncl Turner stated that he had waited on t, G.0.C., who had stated that in his opinion it should bo possible to reduce the strength of the guard, and directed him to consult the O.C. district, Auckland. At that time the strength was 35 of all ranks, which provided details necessary for an armed guard. By Major Pullen: The adjutant-gen-eral knew that witness was coming to Auckland when he visited Motuilii. Major Pullen: And yet you claim to have no control over Colonel Turner? Witness: That is so. You came up as staff officer of the G.O.C.P— "Yps." And you still "contend that you have no control r over Colonel Turner? — "Ws, I do." The president: In instructions to Colonel Turner it was stated that he must apply to District 'Headquarters for requisition and guard. In view of that, would you be surprised to findj." request for an increase of the guard on your file? Witness: Yes, I would. Major Price, A.A.G., Auckland, was called. The prosecutor,, at the request of counsel for Colonel Turner, stated that tho procedure was that the A.G. would forward a copy of the correspondence with Colonel Turner with a note: "For your information." Correspondence was really direct between the A.G. and Colonel Turner. Mr. Tole: Why did Colonel Paterson write to Headquarters, Wellington asking that the guard ho increased? Witness: It was only a recommendation made because of the arrival of the See Adler officers. This closed the prosecution. The Case for the Defence, Major Pullen, for Colonel Turner, said that he would raise four points. Firstly, it was unusual for a judge advocate-general to appear, as, though he was an honourable and upright man, he could not be absolutely impartial, inasmuch as without doubt he had been consulted before tho court was constituted. Therefore, counsel contended the Court was not properly constituted. Secondly, the Court had not been properly called together. The order convening the court-martial w : as signed by General Eobin, one of four officers mentioned as a result of the Court of Inquiry. Further, tho chargesheet was not signed by the Adjutant-General, who was Colonel Turner's commanding officer. Counsel further argued that if the charge had emanated from tho inquiry it should have been investigated by Colonel Turner's commanding officer. This had not been done. He also contended that Colonel Turner committed no military offence. The charge had been brought under Section 20, SubScction 2, of the Army Act, which did: not make provision for dealing with a lieutenant-colonel or a commandant of an internment camp. .Section 20 applied to no senior officers. After argument the Court retired to consider the points raised, and on resuming announced that it disallowed ' all the objections. '■ Major Pullen called General Robin, ' who stated ho had ordered the courtI martial. He did not know who cancelled the order of the Defence Minister that Erdmann was not to he sent to Motuilii. When witness visited Mo- . tuihi during the scare he did not disi cuss the scare with Colonel Turner. Ha [ did not know of tho existence of Colonel Turner's. request for ten more . men and a- subaltern, which had been forwarded to Genoral Headquarters by ' District Headquarters. Colonel Tur- • ner's commanding officer was the O.C. District. Any detachment in the dis- " trict was under the control of the O.C. District. Witness remembered meeting Colonel Tumor in Wellington, and they discussed matters of economy. , Colonel Turner was referred to tho 0.0. District to see what economy could he 1 effected. At that time witness cousid--1 eral that the guard was amply suffi- ' cient. Military policemen should havo ' been able to guard the prisoners on 1 the island. He did not suggest to Colonel Turner that he should reduce the guard; only that he should con* B sider" the matter. The proper channel for communicating with Colonel Tur-

nor, as Commandant of Motuilii, was the O.C. District. He was not aware of any orders Colonel. Turner had had to the contrary. Witness knew in November that Colonel Turner had had a private- launch. Ho suggested to Colonel Turner that he should always take caro that the launch's engines were put out of action when he was not using tho launch. To Sir. Tolo: The discussion regarding economy was purely suggestive. He directed Colonel Turner to consult Colonel Paterson. Colonel Turner never informed him that the guard was insufficient. AVitness would have supported Colonel Paterson. if he, as O.C. District, had increased the guard. The Court adjourned till to-morrow.