REPATRIATED FIRST DRAFT LEAVES

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10280, 15 May 1919, Page 5

REPATRIATED

FIRST DRAFT LEAVES

CIVILIAN INTERNEES AND PRISONERS OF WAR.

Yesterday tho Willochra sailed from Wellington with seven prisoners of war and over four hundred civilian internees' who are being repatriated. The majority of tho civilians were voluntarily repatriated, ■ and a number of them had been released from the internment camps on pjarole. Prior to the arrival of tho men the public were excluded from the Glasgow wharf, and the approaches were guarded by soldiers and civil police. There was no demonstration and the embarkation arrangements, which were under the control oF Captain G, Printer, embarkation officer, were complete. The men on parole reported at Mount Cook in the morning and were conveyed to the steamer by motor-cars, and at 1.35 o’clock in tho afternoon a special train with 242 internees from Featherston arrived at the wharf under an escort of returned soldiers. Tho prisoners, who looked despondent, were detrained in batches of twenty. _ Each man had been provided with a military overcoat, and as be walked up tho gangway his name was checked. Many of, the internees appeared to be glad that they were leaving New Zealand. Ttubmen fronr Narrow Neck camp at Auckland came down by the second Main Trunk express and the carriages they occupied during the, journey reached the wharf at 3 o’clock. Among tho number was Dr Schulte, ex-Governor of Samoa, and his staff; also Count von Luckner and Lieutenant C. T. F. Kiex'ohiss.' Count von Buckner, who wore a naval uniform, had several ribbons on his breast, and he and the other members' of the crew of the Soeadler looked smart, well set-up, and apparently not discouraged to any extent by their internment. The luggage belonging to the internees was taken on to the wharf in railway vans, and it was noticeable that there was a large number of the best quality travelling trunks among the baggage. The Willochra was taken out into the stream at 4.15 o’clock and as the vessel moved off an internee called out, “Good-bye, New Zealand, I hope never see yo uagain.” He was quickly suppressed by his companions, and there was no further incident. There were several women on the vessel, wives of internees, some of, whom were New Zealanders, who had decided to go away with their husbands. There are also women remaining in New Zealand who, when approached, refused to accompany their husbands. The men who are being repatriated are mainly Germans and Jugo-Slavs. The draft is in charge of Major G. R. Blackett, M. 0., and a guard comprising Lieutenant Glass, Staff-Ser-geant-Major Bromley-Smith and 38 other ranks. Captain Childs' is the medical officer on -board, and under him are several members of the Medical Corps. The Willochra will call at Sydney on. her way to England, and will pick up a number of German internees in Anstraia.