WAR LECTURE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3, 2 September 1915, Page 8

WAR LECTURE.

CAPTURED BY THE GERMANS. < The Town Hall was well filled last evening when Mr John Clegg, of Dunedin, delivered a very interesting lecture on his experience of a trip around the world, during which time he was for a. period a captive on a German cruiser and collier. Mr Clegg is touring New Zealand relating his experiences, and donating the proceeds of his meetings to the various War Funds. Every penny received for admission is given to funds as Mr Clegg is paying his own expenses. The Mayor of Stratford, Mr J. W. Roon, occupied the chair, and briefly introduced Mr Clegg.

Mr Clegg said the idea of his touring New Zealand had been suggested to him by friends, and up to the present he had raised £250 for the various relief funds. The lecture was illustrated by very interesting lantern slides. Amougst the portraits screened were tfhose of Lord Roberts. Lord Kitchener, Sir John French, Lord Chns. Beresford, Sir Edward Grey, King of the Belgians, and the Russian Czar. Mr Clegg said that while in England, he met people who favoured peace, and in his opinion they woje n curse to the British Empire. Ho was sure the people of Russia would not sheath the sword again until the “mad dogs of Europe have been chained up.” Mr Clegg described the feeling of the British public at the declaration of war. The first indication was taken as a scare, and it was thought that it was “only another German scare,” and would pass over When war broke out, Mr Clegg decided to return home, but on visiting th e Bank of New Zealand in London, he could only get £5 worth of gold out of every £IOO wanted. There was no gold to be had. Mr Clegg had two hulies as travelling companions, and having so little ready money about him, he found it hard to alwavs procure food and the necessaries of life. When the party arrived in Paris from London, it was decided to journey to Marseilles—where they hoped to meet a steamer sailing for America—but the military authorities had commandeered the railways. After some experiences in passing the guard at the railway station, the party caught a troop train bound for Marseilles, and they expected to bo put off at any moment. No food was procurable, and it was not advisable to leave the train, as it would have been impossible to getj back again. They were on the train about two days. The party was in Nice when Germany declared war on France, and they got out of the country by the only train going to the Italian frontier. The steamer Duca Degli Abruzzi was taken from Genoa to Rio do Janero. The steerage quarters, the only ones available, were very dirty, and the passengers slept on deck, and had a very modest breakfast of bread and water each morning while on the voyage. When near Gibraltar, an English torpedo boat sailed under the ship’s bows, but when it was noticed that the Italian flag was flying at the masthead, no notice was taken.

On arriving at Rio de Janero the party transferred thoir luggage on to the Indian Prince and sailed for New York. A few days out, a light was noticed on the horizon, and when it drew near, it proved to he the Kronz Prinz Wilhelm. Passengers and crew were taken on board the German ship, and the captain read a notice to say the ship would he blown up in fifteen minutes. On an inspection being made, it was found that the Indian Prince contained 250 tons of coal, so the sinking was delayed till it was transferred. The officers treated the pris,oners with every courtesy, and the women behaved “as well as our boys in the trenches” said Mr Clegg. The captives were allotted first-class cabins, and were given first-class food. English roast mutton and ice cream were also supplied one night for dinner.

After some days on the Kronz Prinz, the prisoners were told to get ready to he transferred on to the German collier Ebernberg. On arriving on board, the Captain said he was sorry, but the quarters would not be quite so comfortable as those on the big “brodder.” The first officer gave up his cabin to the ladies, of which there were three, and the second officer allotted his to the gentlemen—two Americans and Mr Clegg. The officers were very kind taihe prisoners while on board the ship. The captives were taken to Rio do Janeiro, where Mr Clegg and his party arrived exactly five weeks after starting out from that port in tlie Indian Prince. Another start was made in the Tennyson, and South America, was reached in safety. After touring America, Mr Clegg and his party set sail from San Francisco for Sydney in the Ventura, and later arrived hack in Dunedin safe and sound. At the conclusion of the address, Mr Roon proposed a. hearty vote of thanks to Mr Clegg, and it was carried by acclamation

Mr Boon said the proceeds derived from the night’s entertainment were going to help the queen carnival at Elth am, and so the money would ho kept in the Taranaki district. A vote of thanks to the Chairman and three cheese for the Allies concluded the meeting.