FURTHER PARTICULARS.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 December 1917, Page 3

FURTHER PARTICULARS.

.1 EASY CAPTURE. • AUCKLAND December 21. Advice has been received officially this. evening that tho eleven German prisoners who escaped from Motuihi. on December 13 have been re-captured at the Kermadocs aboard the scow Moa. The crew of the latter are safe. The Pacific cable steamer Iris lei Auckland at noon last Sunday carrying two six-pounder guns and gun crews, and proceeded to make a search of the islands in the vicinity of Mercury 'Bay, off which the capture of tlie Moa by the Germans was observed, armed parties being landed'for I the purposo . By instructions from the Auckland Military Authorities, the Iris had then steamed direct to the Kermadecs, it being considered likely that the Germans would endeavour to obtain food from the provision depot on the island. The Iris reached the group at noon on Wednesday and there met tho Moa on her arrival. It is understood that the capture was effeotecT without bloodshed. The Iris i* now returning to Auckland with thp prisoners aboard. The j original crow is sailing with the Moa j back [Tlie Kermadec Islands are situated to the north, north-east of Auckland about one third of the distance to -the Friendly Islands.] FURTHER, EVIDENCE. AUCKLAND December 21. Thp examination of Colonel Turner j was continued. , Asked why he assumed that the Military Police, should not be armed, witness said that on active service lie had never seen Military Police armed, until he went to Motuihi he had never seen prisoners of war under guard. From his knowledge of prisoners on Motuihi, he considered an attempt to | escape unlikely. When the Seeadler’s j officers came, he did not coasidor t udisposition of the guard; hut concluded that any change would necessitate an increase of the detachment, and eon-. sequently further expenditure against which lie had been previously warned. Mr, McDonald: Had you any misgiving? Wintess : No: as I could not see what the Soeadler officers could do it they did get away. Continuing witness said he thought that his precautions rendered escape by means of his launch impossible. Did it over strike you to place. :• guard on tho wharf . Witness: I could have used 100 men if tho island was to he guarded properly. Although /your launch was lying near the wharf, and the guardroom was some distance away, you did not think it necessary to watch the launch ? Witness: I considered that the idea of prisoners breaking out after they were locked up as out of the question. Itiho question. : ! In cons'equence of four armed men being on duty round the prisoners’ barracks, the escort, and while the men on the launch were unarmed? — Yes

Don’t you think that was a risk? Witness : No ; Because two German prisoners employed on the launch were, with me the whole time I had been on the the island, an T believed them thoroughly reliable. Major-General Robin, Commandant of the Forces, related his conversation with Colonel Turner regarding Motuihi The outcoime o I the conversation on November 20 was the memo written by witness to the Minister of Defence throe days later. This memo was read, together with the notes made on it by the Minister. Referring to the Guards, General Robin wrote in the interests of economy. The hours of a portion of the guard were altered more on to the police system. These guards wore side arms only to obviate the carrying of rifles during tho ordinnry tour of duty.

Arms and ammunition are all safely guarded and are available in emergency. In the Minister’s note (‘The arms were not in my opinion safeguarded when I visited Motuihi’) I presume you refer to a later date? Regarding a visitor on passes General Robin stated that five women, wives of prisoners, visited the island about once a month. He suggested that as they might aonvey verbal messages the passes should ho withdrawn by the Minister . Conijinuing, Colonel Robin stated that during the interview on November 22 Col. Turner expressed himself generally satisfied with the conduct, of the Seoadler prisoners, and did not expect any. trouble. Witness emphasised that economy must not he at the expense of efficiency. •The same day he discussed with Col. Patterson and the Supt. of Police the possible attempt to release prisoners and advised ns to the immediate

institution of launch patrols. Major J. Osborne Lilly, Director of Personal Services, said he saw Cofonel Turner at Motuihi on December Ist. The latter did not ask witness his opinion as to the precautions he ""s taking; but witness impressed on him that the responsibility of guarding the Sceadlcr’s prisoners res Ted with Col. Turner, The enquiry was adjourned.