COUNT VON LUCKNER

Hokitika Guardian, 30 November 1932, Page 5

COUNT VON LUCKNER

OFFICIAL WELCOME AT TORONTO. MAYOR REFUSES TO PARTICIPATE United Press Association —By Electric . Telegraph—Copyright.) (Bei*>ived .this day ftt 9.30 a.m.) TORONTO, November 29. The Mayor, Mr James Stewart, refuges 4;o participate in the official welcome to Count von Luckner, who is coming to Canada. He s ays that too many citizens in Toronto are suffering from war effects brought about by the Germans.

The story of Count von Luckner’s activities- during the war reads just like a boy’s “thriller.” Th e descendant of a long lin e of German aristocrats, von [Luckner ran away'to sea as-a boy, and followed many, occupations during his early travels round the world. During a visit to Australia be deserted his ship :and joined the Salvation Army. Returning to Germany before 1914 he was given a roving commission, and, (sailing a ship under the Norwegian flag, and manned by Norwegian speaking Germans, he passed through the ■British blockade pi ’the North Sea, after being subjected to a close scrutiny by a British officer who boarded the vessel. The cabin . boy, attired in female -clothes, posing as his wife, turned the scale in his favour aud he wag allowed to pass through.

Von Luckner turned his attention to the Atlantic Sea where lie became the object of keen search by Allied vessels. During his rovings in these waters he captured many vessels, took the crews and passengers aboard, and sank the ships. The passenger* generally comprised the wives °f the captains.

Many thousands tonnage of Allied shipping was sent below ,sea level ; but not one life was lost. Aboard his ship everybody was placed on parole, and the iladies formed social clubs, organising little functions to keep tip the spirits of those men who had fallen victims to the Count’s conflicts. When all the available space was occupied by “visitors,” or when food supplies were running low, the yea’el put into a neutral port, disgorged its prisoners of war, took on supplies and set out again. Finding the Atlantic too warm for him von Luekne 1 ’ then turned <hi-s attention to the Pacific where hi s vest'd later ran ashore on a small- island. Setting out in an open boat with a selected crow he set off to reach some port -where he could capture another vessel, and return to take off "the remainder of his m?n j hut he was unsucces.'-ful and was captured. Brought to New Zealand he wa s interne,] here, but later, managed to escape in the prison command ant’s own launch. He nm;na"ed to rapture a small ship but his freedom was short lived for he was again recaptured and returned to Xev Zealand wher e h e remained a prisoner till the end of the war.