RECAPTURED.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1768, 22 December 1917, Page 3

RECAPTURED.

THE GERMAN ESCAPEES. INTERECPTED AT THE KERMADECS. News reached the Prime Minister . last night that the escaped German * - prisoners .had been recaptured. They were taken atr the Kermadee Islands, which they had reached in the scow \ Moa, seized by them last Sunday, after an adventurous voyage of 600 miles in severe weather. It had occurred to the authorities in New Zealand that as the Germans had no large supply of food and water on the scow they might hiake for thei Kermadecs, with the intention of raiding the depot that is maintained there for the use of possible shipwrecked mariners. Accordingly a steamer was 'dispatched to the islands. She saw nothing of the scow during the run, and was waiting there when the Moa appeared, y£he recapture appears to have been, effected without difficulty, all the advantage in armament and man-power being on the side of the steamer. The news reached New Zealand by wireless. The steamer is now on the way back to AuckJand with' the. prisoners. /T'- The original crew of the scow were still aboard when the recapture was effected. It is presumed that they are navigating the Moa back to New Zealand. They are re- , ported to be all well. They were the prisoners of the escaped Germans during the voyage to the island. The Kermadee Islands are about GOO miles from Auckland, and rather more than half way to Tonga, but 100 niiles eastward of the direct steam route to that island. They are volcanic in origin, with high hills, ami are for the most part covered with forest. They are seldom visited by ships, though Sunday Island, the largest of the group, has an area of over 7,000 acres, with rich soil and a pleasant climate. The Germans escaped from Motu- - ihi Island, in Auckland harbour, at about 6 o’clock on the evening of Thursday, the 13th inst., and so were free for just on a week. A MESSAGE FROM THE NORTH. Auckland, Dec. 21. Advice was received officially this evening that the eleven German prisoners who escaped from Motuihi on December J3th have been recapturoil at the Kermadecs, aboard the scoa?* Moa. The crew of the latter vessel are safe. A special steamer left Auckland at noon last Sunday, carrying two six-pounder guns and gun crews, and proceeded to make a search of .•the islands in the vicinity of Mer- . cury.Bay, off which the capture of , the Moa by the Germans was observed, armed parties being landed for the purpose, by instructions " from the Auckland military authorities. The steamer then steamed ► direct to (lie Kermadecs, it being !, considered likely that the Germans would endeavour to obtain food from the provision depot on the island. The steamer reached the group at noon on Wednesday,‘and there met the Moa on.her arrival. It is understood that the capture was effected without bloodshed. The Government and the Naval authorities are to be congratulated on the success which has attended their efforts. Under the censorship, details of the measures taken for the recapture of the escaped men are not allowed. It is gratifying to know that the possibilities of a serious menace to shipping in the Pacific has been removed.