REPATRIATED

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10281, 16 May 1919, Page 4

REPATRIATED

GERMANS AND ATJSTRIANS WHO

HAVE GONE,

The Wiliochra, which bailed from Wellington on Wednesday night, had on board 426 enemy aliens who are being repatriated. The prisoners of war included 304 Germans (277 of whom were male adults, 8 women, and 19 children) and 122 Austrians (including a woman- and child.)

In the first place there /were 279 male Germans, ' but two of them, on being examined by''the medical > officer on hoard, were found not to be in a condition to make the voyage, and they wero ' consequently lauded and sent to hospital. Enemy aliens who desired to leave New Zealand voluntarily were accepted right up to, the time the Willochra sailed, and three'men and a woman presented themselves at the ship's'side Provision had been made,,-by the Defence authorities ~fD_r_>'wapauts to be issued in order to''place law arrivals under arrest (it.was necessary to carrj out this formality so that the appli cants could be sent away under contro; as prisoners of war), and represents tives from the Public Trust Office weiv present to take charge of estates, if so desired, under the War Regulations Four of the ■German prisoners o* war made application to be repatri ated in England, where their wire." and families reside. Thex'.'iheii--. were sent forward, and the Imperial an thorities have been asked to decide ths question. . .There was nothing knowD against the internees who were removed from overseas vessels in accord ance with the general policy that all enemy .alien subjects on ships were to be interned.

The two combatant prisoners of war (Count Felix Alexander von Luoknef and Lieutenant C. F: F. Kircheissj and Dr Shultz, as "they' f ; Va&e'd;' up tho gangway, saluted'Major G.'ll; Blacket, M.C., officer m charge of the guard, and the salute was returned.

A few days prior to leaving New Zealand uniforms were received from Germany for Count von Luckner and Lieutenant Kircheiss.

It is not generally known that Count von Luckner, in addition to Ins exploits on the Seeadler, claims to have taken part in the Jutland engagement. ' ",-.' ''■'_' ~,.;.