HUNS ESCAPE FROM SPAIN.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1685, 13 March 1917, Page 1

HUNS ESCAPE FROM SPAIN.

DARING EXPLOIT. CAPTURED IN CHANNEL. The daring exploit of twenty Germans who pul to sea from Vigo (Spain) in a small sailing boat., and after a. month of battling with stormy weather and heavy seas while endeavouring to reach the Belgian (-oast, were eaptured by a British destroyer, is described in the Spanish journal El Liberal. The party consisted of eleven German officers interned in Pamjilona, 105 miles north-east of ' Madrid, and nine others, including I lour officers of (be Goeben, a naval ' doctor, a law student, and two sailors—none of whom wore interned — and a sergeant: interned at Alcala de Henaves, 17 miles north-east of Madrid. According to statements made by (he Germans in the vessel which captured them, the scheme of escape from Spain was organised in August, Lieutenant Carl Koch being the prime mover. From Pamplona he got in touch with the German Vice-Consul at Vigo, who promised all possible support and put him into communication with the officers of two German vessels which have' sheltered in the buy since the beginning of the war. Through Spanish intermediaries the little sailing ship Virgen del Socorro was purchased. Lieutenant Koch, who obtained a pass to journey some twenty miles away, travelled with several companions by motor ear and train to Vigo on October sth, while Sergeant Dietrich Graisehuss, in company with others, travelled from Alcala on October 2nd. To allay suspicions the Virgen del Socorro made a voyage to sea and returned to Vigo on October sth or (iih, and moored alongside the German steamship Welirt. The fugitives, who had scattered themselves over the hotels and lodginghouses, set out one hy one tor the Welirl, and immediately began transhipping provisions and stores from her to the Virgen del Socorro. At 2 a.m. on October 7th this work was completed, the little vessel was towed outside the hay, and then, under full sail, turned her prow lo the north-wesl. The little vessel was painted white a ruse, it was thought, lo disarm suspicion. She was so small that all the 20 men could not be ou dec*k at the same time. GERMAN FLAG. ]( was a perilous voyage, and for long days the little boat was Ihe plaything of (he waves. The suffering of those on board iitthe terrible weather encountered was intense. On October 24th they found themselves some distance west of Bantry, in the south of Ireland. There the storm increased in violence, and the ship, battered by seas, seemed likely to founder. After a consultation, it was decided to abandon the original plan of going round the British Isles, and the ship made for the Channel in the hope of making the Belgian or Dutch coasts. After six terrible days the coast of Cornwall was sighted, and on November 4th the Germans found themselves in sight of the island of Lundy, at the entrance to the Bristol Channel. From there, proceeding slowly, they contrived to circle the Sciily Islands, turning hy the Lizard on November 6th.