GERMAN PRISONERS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 196, 14 May 1919, Page 6

GERMAN PRISONERS

DRAFT TO LEAVE. WELLINGTON TO-DAY SOME INTERNED GERMANS REMAINING The Willochra is duo to leave Wei- ' linglon to-day with about 100 enemy aliens, chietiy Geniians, whose ropatriation has been ordered. The draft indudes soma 240 men from the camp at Peatliorston and a smaller group trom Marrow Neck Camp, Auckland. Aα armed guard will accompany the prisoners ou board the Wiltochra. 'i'ho prisoners of war, including Gorman officials fioni Samoa and the German naval men, headed by Count von Luckner, are being repatriated compulsorily. The conditions of the armistice place them entirely at the disposal of the New Zealand Government, as representing the Imperial Government. Interned German civilians are in a different position. They cannot be repatriated compulsorily until their fate hus been'settled under the Peace Treaty. These- internees have all been, offered free passages to their native Fatherland at the expense of tie New Zealand Government, and those wJio have accepted are' to be members of the ■Willochva'e draft. The interned Germans who did uot consent to repatriation are being retaiued in custody in New Zealand for the present. The disposal of the remaining interned Germans iias received some consideration , already. These men, almost without exception, are enemy aliens, by sympathy as well as nationality. They.vere interned not merely on grounds of iii>Hon< ality, but because they had given indications of being actively hostile in atti- ' tude towards the British Empire. It is no 6ecret that the New Zealand Govern' rnent does not wish to retain ttese elements in the Dominion. If the tniu3 of the Peace Treaty permit, another batch of deportees may leave New Zealand in about four months' time. A military guard is not. likely to be re-" quired, on that occasion. The signing of the Peace Treaty will not involve the release of the interned German civilians remaining in New Zealand. These men will be :etained in military custody pending their final disposal. Some of them want to return to Samoa, where they have business interests. PARTY LEAVES AUCKLAND. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, May 13. A party of 168 prisoners of wa.r v- as dispatcned for Wellington by a special train to-night to join the Winochra, en. :>outa to German}'.. The party comprised 71 Gorman men, three women, and 13 children, and 80 Jugo-Slavs who desire io be repatriated, and one Austrian. Tiie party * includes Dr. Schultz, ex-Governor of Samoa, Count von Luckner.-ond Lieutenant Kircheiss. No crowds gathered to witness the march through Dtyonport, but small boys took an evident relish in counting out the prisoners as they passed.