MOTUIHI AFFAIR
RESPONSIBILITY OF COLONEL PATERSON AND MAJOR LILLY. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, February 4. Tho Court of Inquiry to determine tho responsibility of Colonel Paterson and Major Osbu'riie Lilly in respect of the escape of" the German prisoners from Motuihi opened to-day. Dr. Bamford represented Colonel Patersou, and Mr. V. R. Meredith appeared for Major Lilly.
Colonel Mac Donald, Director of Infantry, gave evidence that ho was in the General Staff Office in Auckland when the Motuihi detachment was first established. It was then under charge of the officer commanding the district, but owing to pressure of work the control was handed to tho Coast Delenco Commander. It was understood that the officer commanding the district could intervefle if any matter connected with the camp did not meet with his approval. He did so intervene on occasions. Headquarters, Wellington, sent letters and orders direct to the Camp Commandant. When tho first prisoners arrived a telegram was received by District Headquarters that a guard was to be established by tho District Headquarters, tho number for a guard to be confirmed by Headquarters, AVellington. Tho original letter of instructions to Colonel Turner was prepared by Colonel Pilkington, the Adutant-Goneral. It contained a paragraph yhicli was struck out at Headquarters, AVellington, to the effect that all administrative correspondence was to be addressed through District Headquarters. According to Colonel Turner's instrucwitness held that the officer commanding tho district was not responsible for the safeguard of prisoners. Dr. Bamford produced a letter by Colonel Paterson to General Robin on November 26 last, in which lie recommended that the strength of the guard bo increased, and that two naval officers recently interned be removed to some nlace by themselves, as they were enterprising individuals; further, that aliens be prohibited from visiting prisoners
Colonel Turner gave evidenco supplementary to that in the first Court of Inquiry. He said lie was responsibly for Colonel Paterson's letter asking for an increased guard. He had made a verbal request to Major Sir Robert Walker when Colonel Pilkingtou gave him his letter of instructions, and before cancelling tlio paragraph regarding correspondence Colonel Pilkington consulted General Robin.' An officer in the room at the time stated that commandants of internment camps in England communicated direct with the War Office. Witness never considered that he was under District Headquarters. He invariably wrote to tho Adjutant-General, AVellington, on all matters of administration, though ho always sent a copy to District Headquarters for their informatwn. _ He never expected orders from District Headquarters regarding prisoners. He considered all matters regarding tho safeguard of prisoners to be arranged between himself and Headquarters, AA'ellington.
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Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 113, 5 February 1918, Page 6
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437MOTUIHI AFFAIR Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 113, 5 February 1918, Page 6
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