GERMAN PRISONERS OF WAR.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1771, 3 January 1918, Page 3

GERMAN PRISONERS OF WAR.

. AND RIPA ISLAND. Dunedin, Yesterday. Interviewed, Sir Janies Allen, Minister of'Defence, said that Count von Luckner would be placed on Ripa Island, if he was not there already. THE TRUTH ABOUT THE GOLD. Auckland, Yesterday. The Star to-day publishes the following“ There has been considerable speculation regarding gold found in the possession of the German prisoners who escaped from Motuihi Island when they were recaptured. Count von Luckner had about £I,OOO when he left Germany -—in German gold. He succeeded in changing a portion into gold. When the disaster overtook the Seeadler he divided the money among two parties, each taking £SOO. Thus he had £SOO in his possession when he was first captured. This was taken from him by the authorities, and is still in their possession. There is still to be explained the £123 odd found in the possession of the prisoners when they were recaptured. There ■is little doubt that this money was supplied by Von Egidy, the Samoan planter. The money was in gold, in addition to which there was about £2O in New Zealand notes and silver and about 138 German marks. This money Von Egidy did not carry on his person. He had placed it among the clothes in his trunk, and although the authorities searched him the .only cash they discovered on him was £3 or £4, found in his pockets, when he was sent to New Zealand the money came with him in the trunk and remained there, as far as can he gathered, during the seven months that he was interned on Bomes Island. When he was transferred to Auckland his trunk, still containing (he money, was sent with him. When the escape was planned Von Egidy handed this money over to the Count, and the latter divided it among the party till they got away, when they handed it back to Von Luckner, who put it into a bag for safe beeping. When the Count saw that recapture was inevitable he again distributed the money — £42 in English gold, and the remainder' (£80) la German gold.”