ECHO OF LUCKNER’S EXPLOIT

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1918, 21 December 1918, Page 2

ECHO OF LUCKNER’S EXPLOIT

A CLAIM BY OWNERS OF THE MOA. Auckland, Dee. IS, The owners of the scow Moa, (he Leylaml-O’Brien Timber Company, Ltd., are petitioning Parliament fur relief for the loss sustained through the forcible seizure of the vessel by Count von Luekner and other Berman prisoners of war who escaped from Moluihi Island last December. The petition states that Von Luekner and his men jettisoned a portion of the cargo of timber, valued at £304 3s lOd, a coil of wire rope, valued at £53 2s sd, and 45 fathoms of cable, valued at £59 10s Bd. It is also claimed that upon inspection in Auckland after recapture it was ascertained that the vessel had been severely strained, to rectify which the owner had to expend £285 10s sd. The sura of £405, it is claimed, was lost by the owners as the result of dislocation of their business through the temporary loss of the Moa. The petitioners point out that the prisoners of war were interned by the Government, and state that the Commandant of the internment camp allowed them, without reasonable excuse, to escape.