THE GERMAN ESCAPEES.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 December 1917, Page 1

THE GERMAN ESCAPEES.

HOW THEY WERE RECAPTURED. THE OFFICIAL ACCOUNT. [per press association.—copyright.] WELLINGTON December 26. The following is officially announced :

On the evening of December 13th., 1017, eleven German prisoners of war, under the leadership of Commander von Luckner lately in command of the German raider Seeadler made their escape from Motuihi island, Auckland harbour, in a motor launch named Pearl,' attached to the island. From the motor boat they transferred to the sailing scow Moa, which was seized in the Bay of Plenty, and in her they left the New Zealand Coast.

They were recaptured on the evening of December 21st in the vicinity of the Kermadee islands by an armed vessel despatched by the New Zealand Govcrnlrnrn to those waters for the purpose and they arrived this afternoon in Auckland ,where they were at once landed.

The crew of the Moa, consisting ol five men and a boy, were still on board their vessel when the prisoners wore recaptured, and stated that they had been well treated in every way by the Germans. The Moa herself was towed back to Auckland by the capturing vessel, and has suffered no serious damage as the result of her experiences. The motor boat Pearl, which was being towed by the Moa, was lost in the heavy weather experienced after leaving the New Zealand coast.

'Pile officer in command of tlie capturing vessel, in his report, states: At about noon on December 21st. tlie Moa’s masts wore sighted about fifteen miles away. As soon as she saw that she was being chased, she stood away to the westward under a press of canvas, and hoisted tlie German naval ensign, but we overhauled her in about an hour and a half. As she; paid no attention to my signal to stop, I fired a shot across her, when she immediately shortened sail and stopped. The German captain in response to my verbal order, came on hoard in his own boat, and formally surrendered and the German ensign on tlie Mon was hauled down.

The remainder of the escapees were then removed by an armed escort. They had a fair amount of provisions with them, and plenty of water, hut they had thrown overboard such arms as they possessed as soon as they saw their capture to he inevitable. My arrival at Auckland was delayed by having to tow the Moa and by continuous heavy westerly weather, which necessitated the ship heaving to for a considerable time.

TO GIVE EVIDENCE. WELLINGTON December 27. The German prisoners who escaped from Motuilii and were recaptured " ill be called as witnesses before the Motuihi Cbminissiou of Inquiry.