COUNT VON LUCKNER

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 200, 13 May 1918, Page 4

COUNT VON LUCKNER

, 0 HIS ANTECEDENTS AND CAREER. Interest in the recont history of Motuihi Island will livo in the history—aud especially in the war history—of Now Zealand. Small matters relating to the dramatic attempted escape of the German prisoners continue to lie revived, and, while eonio of the stories cannot bo given much credence, other particulars are at least sufficient to form free topics of conversation.

An. Auckland ''Star" reporter has been given by Mr. W. B. Leyland, who woe Interested in the escape of the Germans in so far as the capture of .his firm' 6 boat, the Moa, was concerned, an account of e. conversation he had with Von Luckner on the eteamer which had Tecaphired the Moa. Count von Lucknor began to talk freely of hie antecedents and career.

He said his mother was an English woman, her name before she married Von Luckner's father being Lady Barrington. He also said she was a distant relation to Queen Victoria, Von Lucknow claimed to have been in the battle of Heligoland, where he -was wounded badly. In the latter action tho IT.M.S. Now Zealand pumpwi shells at the rate of 15 in tho same number of seconds into hie chip, which was blown clean out of the water, and then eank. After he wns hurled into the sea a British destroyer hove to, obviously to pick him up, but, eeein? a mine, sheered qff, and Von Luckner had the luck to bo rescued by a German destroyer shortly afterwards. He wns removed to n hospital, whero ho remained for a lengthy period.

_ While the Count proved himself sin intorcstinc conversationalist, lit. Leyland sot the impression that Von L'jckner was inclined fo talk rather freely. Mr. Loyland noticed that an ardent and keen man in the adventure wae Lieutenant Kirchiese, who probably had more to <lo with the escape than he was creoV ited for.

At the present time it is practically impossible to get direct information to verify the Count's clnim to connection with the Royal Family, but it is felt that the placing on record of hie- statements in tho matter will he of ptfMic interest.