WAR CRIMINAL ESCAPES

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 49, 21 November 1921, Page 5

WAR CRIMINAL ESCAPES

CONCERNED IN SINKING OF A HOSPITAL SHIP. (Rec. November 20, 5.5 p.m.) Berlin, November 18. Boldt, one of two submarine officers sentenced early in July to four years imprisonment on a charge of murder in connection with the sinking of the hospital ship Llandovery Castle, has escaped from prison.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn[Tho Llahdovery Castle was torpedoed on June 27, 1918, 100 miles from land and nearly 300 miles from the prohibited area. Of 258 people on board, 23-1 lost their lives. Boldt and Dithmar, two officers of the submarine which sank the hospital ship, were charged at the Leipzig Court with murder, and were sentenced to four years’ imprisonment without hard labour. It was explained that they were subordinate officers, Commander Patzig having absconded. During the trial Mr. Chapman, an officer of the Llandovery Castle, gave evidence that the submarine turned a big gun on his lifeboat in order to force him to abandon an effort to rescue men struggling in the water. When Patzig fired his revolver it was necessary to abandon the drowning men. The submarine then headed straight for the boat twice, evidently bent on destroying all evidence of the sinking of the hospital ship. Mr. Chapman hoisted a sail, and slipped away in the darkness. German bluejackets reluctantly gave evidence than some of them t-ried to persuade Commander Patzig not to sink the Llandovery Castle. iLater, Patzig went on deck with the accused. The rest of the crew were told to remain below. It was common talk among the crew that the lifeboats were sunk by shellfire, the officers manning the guns. Later, Patzig asked the crew to say nothing about what had occurred. He accepted full responsibility.]