GERMAN FUGITIVES.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 27 December 1917, Page 3

GERMAN FUGITIVES.

Full Details of Capture. SCOW ELSIE FIRED AT CAPTURED LAUNCH, AND THE MASTER OF THE ONEROA PREPARED TO RECEIVE BOARDERS.

Tlie news of the re-capture of the eleven German prisoners of war reached Auckland by wireless about 8 o'clock on Friday night from tlie steamer which made the capture. The message was brief, but to the point. It stated (says the Auckland "Star" of Saturday) that the reached the Kermadecs on Wednesday and was in waiting when the scow Moa, which, had been captured by the escapees last Saturday night, hove in sight yesterday, about noon, flying the German flag. She put in at the Islands, and surrendered on the appearance of the steamer. The message added that the original crew of the Moa, live men and a boy, were all well, and that tlie was on her way back to Auckland with the German prisoners aboard. THE GERMANS WANTED FOOD. The whole direction of the search was re-shaped by the military authorities by the advice received on Sunday morning last that the master of the scow Rang) had witnessed what looked like the capture of the scow Moa near Mercury Bay. It was decided that the escapees having got possession of a sea-going i vessel, iiad the one great neeed of provisions to overcome, and that their object would be to raid one of the outlying shipwreck depots. Patrols were despatched to watch the mainland depots, and the cable steamer was fitted out to search the islands outside the Gulf. The Permanent Artillery performed a fine job in fitting two sixpound guns on the within five hours, and the steamer left Auckland about noon on Sunday. She proceeded to the islands off the Coromandel Peninsula, which were searched without trace of the fugutives being found, ana then steamed for the provision depots at the Kermadec Islands. AN ADVENTUROUS TRIP. The escapecs must have had an adventurous time, both in the Hauraki Gulf and later. They got away in the launch Pearl about 7.30 p.m. on Thursday, and possibly sheltered at one of , the islands in the gulf during the daylight hours of Friday. On Friday night abo-nt 11 o 'clock, a launch of the description of the Pearl was observed to be edging close to the auxiliary scow Elsie, bound from Auckland to Waipu, when the scow, nas off Kawau Island, and as no reply was given to the lookout's hail from the scow, the master of the scow fired a rifle shot across the bows of the launch, which then sheered off. On Thursday last the dinghy, ot the launch Pearl was picked up in the locality, so that it seemed certain that the Germans had cruised about the neighbourhood. Probably because ot this, cnccranter, they slanted away towards Mercury Bay, where they met the scow Moa, which they captured, most likely by some wile which succeeded through the cres' of the scow being unaware of the escape. SCOW CAPTAIN'S STATEMENT.

To Captain J. Francis, of the scow Rangi, which belongs to Messrs Winstone, Limited, belongs the credit of pointing out the direction taken by the Germans after they captured the Moa.

Now that the escapees have been securcd, Capt. Francis is in a position to relate his share in the affair, and it will be admitted that he acted with considerable forethought, and, what u-as of equal importance, promptitude. CAPTURE OF THE MOA. "We were sailing up from Mayor Island, having left that place on Saturday week at G p.m.,'' said the master of the Rangi. "When oil Mcrcury Bay I saw the scow Moa round to at S p.m. The launch in which the German prisoners had escaped was alongside of the Moa. A mistake was published previously that I.was not aware the Germans had escaped from Motuihi. That is quite incorrect, as the master of the Pelican, who had come to tow the Wailcanini from Mayor Island to Tauranga, told me how they had got away, so I knew when I saw the launch alongside the Moa that they liad captured that scow. We were four or five miles away at the tinue, but as far as I could see there was no struggle. Of course, It is quite possible the launch went alongside and some cxcuse was made to enable the Germans to get on board, and then the numbers, coupled with the surprise, would explain how the vessel could be secured without any struggle on the part of the master and crew. Shortly afterwards, she sailed away under a press of canvas, and I at once made for Port Charles to report the whereabouts of the Germans, and the capture of the scow. "The postmaster at Port Charles (Mr Stewart) came out in a launch to warn us about the escape of the Germans. I at once told him of the - capture of the Moa, and as the was then seen coming round Cape Colville, J went in the postmaster's launch to that steamer, told the captain what had occurred and the direction the Moa had gone. The at once followed full steam ahead. ATTEMPTED CAPTURE OF STEAMEK. Captain John M. Jackson, mastcr_ of the steamer Oneroa, tells an interesting story of a somewhat sensational occurrence that occurred early on the morning of Sunday last. At about five minutes to 2 a.m., when the steamer was off Gull Point near Arkle's Bay, a liail was received from a launch resembling the Pearl. Captain Jackson, who had left Auckland at midnight knew of the I escape of the German prisoners, and he was therefore suspicious of the launch, and had prepared for a possible encounter by taking three service rifles and a fair amount of ammunition. The launch approached the steamer, and Captain Jackson hailed those on board, but got no answer. The were served out to the four men constituting the crew of the Oneroa, and they took up stations in readiness - to give the escapees a fitting reception. Although the steamer did not slow down, the launch drew alongside, and someone called out in English asking the name of the steamer. Captain Jackson answered that it was the Oneroa, bound for Silverdale, and asked who they were, but got no answer. He could see only four men on the launch, but assumed that the others were out of sight. The launch then sheered off in the darkness. The speed of the launch was superior to that of the steamer, which was therefore unable to give chase. There were five men aboard the Oneroa, including the captain.