THE GERMAN PRISONERS OF WAR.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1770, 29 December 1917, Page 3

THE GERMAN PRISONERS OF WAR.

HOW THEY WERE CAUGHT.

NAVAL ADVISER’S STATEMENT. '

Auckland, Dee. 27. The following.statement has been issued by the NavaPAdviser;—

“The escaped German prisoners, who have now) to $e credit of-the country, been returned to New Zealand, appear to have obeyed carefully the normal rules of Avar in all their proceedings!. After- escaping from Motuihi They concealed themselves in one of the numerous small inlets of the-island until a suitable craft for their purposes was'sighted. Meanwhile they had taken the precaution of proceeding outside the three-mile limit, and there swearingin all the"escapees as members of the Kaiser’s navy, thus making them all members of the Imperial German forces. When capturing the Moa, which apparently had not heard of the escape before sailing from Tauranga, the Germans approached under the New Zealand flag, but just previously to committing any act of war a German ensign of small size was hoisted. “Apparently the launeh Pearl hailed the Moa to heave to, then went alongside and at once put ten men on board her. The unsuspecting crew, who were mostly below at the moment; were, of course,'outnumbered and overpowered. They were told they were civilian prisoners of the Kaiser, and must do as (hoy were told, and that they would be recompensed for any loss of pay they suffered while working for Germany. The launch was (hen taken in tow and sail made to the I northward. Unfortunately for the escapees, the launch foundered in the heavy seas some hours later, » wr .v refill adjunct and materiafi^J)****! > n o in their recapture. . “When finally recaptured ; be escapees were •■gain hying Ihe Gorman ensign, and surrendered as prisoners of war. The fact that the recapturing ship was efficiently armed undoubtedly led to their surrender, which occurred immediately it was realised that guns of moderate calibre were available. Had the ship not been so armed, it is probable the escapees would have put up a capable resistance, and as a matter of fact a gun had to be fired close to the Moa before the order to heave to was obeyed. Whatever means of attack or defence were possessed by the escapees were thrown overboard before the surrender. . “The prisoners had a sufficiency of provisions and water to last them for some considerable time,, but the quality of the former wns not quite what was necessary. The crew of the scow were well treated ,up to the. time of the recapture, and Avere given the same food, etc., as the escapees themselves. In many Avays much forethought and ingenuity were shown by the prisoners in their plans and preparation for es-, cape.” ~ •,

. A STRENUOUS TIME. Auckland, Dec. 27. All concerned in searching, for the Germans during the eight clays and nights intervening between their escape and recapture had a most strenuous experience, and in some cases minor mishaps occurred 1 . Dnr-. ing a great part of the lime in Avhich various craft Avere patrolling ■ the sea, scouring different bays along the coast, or examining the islands for traces of the fugitives, the weather Avas exceedingly rough. In spire of this fact and of thfe long hours on duty, the civilian and military searchers, to say nothing of the officers and 'crews engaged in the hunt, remained faithfully and cheerfully at their posts. The Court of Enquiry appointed to investigate the escape of the eleven German prisoners of Avar from- the Motuihi Internment Camp is now engaged in preparing a report for submission to the Minister of Defence. •