ESCAPED PRISONERS OF WAR.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1766, 18 December 1917, Page 3

ESCAPED PRISONERS OF WAR.

F PERSONAL DESCRIPTIONS. WAS THE ESCAPE PREMEDI- \ TATEDf ENQUIRY TO BE HELD. 1 Auckland, Dec. 16. B Particulars of the escape of the (Carmans from Motuihi Island show the Camp Commandant on f Thursday visited Auckland in the K launch, on which was a crew of two | Germans, ,one of whom attended to i the engines. Usually a guard of two i accompanied the launch, but on this occasion there was only one guard. On returning to the island the ComHfe mandant and the guard went ashore, leaving the two Germans to the launch to the moorings a Hwout a stone’s throw from the jetty. the jetty were two other Germans bringing up coal. No other person was left on the wharf. The launch was not seen again. The official description of the Germans who escaped is given as under: — Count von Lnckner, aged 34, sft. . lOin. in height, clean shaven, speaks 1 broken English, walks stiffly'. Von Luckner was wearing a blue uniform and khaki cap with German naval badge. Lt. Kcrchiess, height sft. Tin., talks,,, first-class English, wearing sailor’s uniform. Von Egidy, height sft. Tin., stoops slightly, beard and moustache. Insignificant looking. Freund, wireless operator, height sft. sin., stout, clean shaven, fair blue -eyes. Hardly understands English. Plain clothes. Quinn, wireless operator, tall, i clean shaven, very dark complexion, slightly made. Erdmann, aged 30, height sft. J~Y- Bin., fair, brown eyes, talks good ' English. He was wearing a sailor’s Hr The following were wearing naval cadet uniforms; — Yon Zatorski, aged 23, height oft.,. blur. eyes. Schmidt, aged 23, sft. 10in., black hair, brown eyes. Mellert, aged 23, sft. Sin., brown hair, blue eyes, clean shaven; very strong. Paulsen, aged 24, very light brown hair, blue eyes, clean shaven, talks English well; might, pass for an Englishman. Ehohn, aged 23, sft. lOin., dark brown hair, brown eyes, (dean shaven; hardly talks English. The fugitives have not yet been u* recaptured. '"■■•.s’ ~ I Considerable indignation has been aroused by the escape of prisoners m', from Motuihi, which is a ,most hu- ■ miliaiing incident in view of the apparent ease with -which the prisoners got away. There is considerable conjecture , as to whether the escape was protheditated, or was made on the spur of a sudden impulse. It is supposed, however, that the details were planned beforehand, leaving only a 4'avourablo moment for carrying it out to be selected. For several weeks past I lie guard was considerstrengthened, and other extra ' precautions were taken to prevent any escape. Patrol boats were regularly sent i.ut, and telephonic reports were made at regular intervals for weeks. Col. Patterson, 0.D.D., had been communicated with several times each night to receive the report, “all’s well.” The authorities state tliat the system of patrols was never relaxed. An indication that the escape was not suddenly conceived is fhe fact that the direct telephone wires to Auckland were short-circuited at a spot very difficult to find. Three telephone wires are carried on posts, and to these wires contact wires were led down to metal posts, situated in a dense plump of bush, and the cur? r rent “earthed.” The defect was exceedingly difficult to detect. It is also significant that, with one ex? ception, namely, von Egidy, (ho whole of those who escaped are seamen. Count von Luckner is regarded by the authorities as being the prime mover. He has taken with him such men only as are well used to the sen, and versed in seamanship. If the suggestion that there was collusion between the escaped Germans and persons on shore is correct, it is assumed that the object of the missing men is to commence commerce-raiding in the Pacific. It is not definitely known if the men wore armed, but it is be-, lieved that they were. Some of those who were engaged in the search for the Pearl early on Friday morning arc of opinion that the Germans have not gone outside the. Gulf, because on the night of the esenpe®a particularly heavy sou was running, and it would have been almost impossible for the launch to * have continued to sea in it. y Major Scbollield has been appointed to the charge of Motuihi Camp, vice Col. Harcourt Turner, who has been relieved of his duties. Major Scholfield was attached to the 3rd Auckland Mounted Rifles, and went away with the Main Body, and has been two years on active service. Col. C. R. M’Donald, an Imperial officer, well known in Trentham and Featherstou Camps; Lt.-Col. Neave, an Imperial officer; and Lt.-Col. Gumming, a returned officer, have been instructed to proceed (o Aitck- > lopd to hold ait enquiry into the affair. - ESCAPEES' STILL AT. LARGE. Auckland, Dec. If. At midnight there was no news of the recapture of the eleven Germans tyhb escaped from Motuihi on if jiqrsday flight,