SEA DEVIL SAILS AGAIN

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 57, 23 March 1937, Page 5

SEA DEVIL SAILS AGAIN

Count von Luckner Cotningto New Zealand N'AZl PROPAGANDIST (Received 23., 8.45 a.m.) BERLlN, March 22. Count Felix vbfi Lnckner (who was a pfisoner of war in New Zealand) BailS

in his new motorship "Sea Devil,'* beginniiig i!i April, 1 oa a Voyage of pro- ; paganda for German ideals. Be will visit Australia and New Zealand. His equipment inclndes a wireless

receii^ttg and send- CwmtvpnLttekner ing station and a SOund film appafatus. There will be a crew of 15 and pfovisiona for six months. Count Felix von Luckner, or the "Sea Devil," as he was known after his famotts exploits in the Seeadler, has lived a Iife Of atifring adventure. At ah early age he ran away from home to serve. before the mast on a succession of aailihg vessels. In the Gfeat War he soon won promotion in the navy. When volunteers were called- to run the blockade he was chosen, being the only officer in the German fleet who could* handle a sailing vessel. *■ After making 'a daring escape through tlie blockade he liarried and sank eountless enemy vessels, until he was captured eventually at Fiji. He was brought to New Zealand and interned at Motuihi. His escape from the island was typical of his daring. Under cover of rehearsing for a play, he and his confederates forming their plans and prepared everything they would need to take with them on. a long sea voyage. On the night set for the escape Count von Luckner set fire to one of the hay ricks on the island, and under cover of the ensuing confusion and excitement the prisoners escaped in the launch Pearl. They captured the bcow Moa and then set out for the Eermadec Islands, followed by every New Zoaland vessel that could join in the pur* suit. Losing time through a severe gale « the" escapees Were re-CaptUred- Count • yon _ Luckner was brought back to Mo- - , *$uiht} and Was again making plans to Wso&pe when the Armistice Was Bigned, Count von Luckner was reported to * have been drowned at sea on Jtily 20, 1932, when the training ship Niore capsized in tjje Baltic, but the l'eport proved incorreet as he was not on board the vessel at the time- He has frequently made plau# to visit New Zealand.