ESCAPED GERMANS.

Taihape Daily Times, 20 December 1917, Page 5

ESCAPED GERMANS.

COURT OF INQUIRY LIEUT.-COLONEL TURNER'S EVIDENCE Lieut.-Colonel Turner gave evidence as to the constitution, strength, and arming of the guard on Motuihi. On the arrival of the two Seeadler's officers they were confined to the barrack yard and avenue. Th§ precaution was adoped in order to keep the men under close surveillance until he had time to decide what liberty the men might be given. He also warned the whole of the "detachment that greater precautions were necessary. He made no report to higher authority regarding these men, as they had been sent to hi mand he had to do the best he could. When they arrived he received a letter from the director of personal services saying that these two prisoners required extra surveillance. On Tuesday, October 9, he was ordered to send two prisoners to Wellington. In order to catch the train it was necesary to send them in the only motor launch available, namely, the Pearl, which was his boat. This was the only opportunity of being in his boat or near it up to the time of their escape. The prisoners were returned to the island three days later.

A MINISTERIAL TRANSFER On November 10, 1917, the Minister •of Defence visited the island. During the visit witness pointed out to him that the men comprising the guard were of the C2 Class, and therefore not of the same strong physique "as~"the prisoners. While going the rounds the Minister interviewed Count von Luckner, and the latter asked for the transfer of his four men from Somes Island, .or at least that he might have his leading seaman (Erdmann) as an orderly. After leaving the prisoners, the Minister remarked that he did not think the transfer advisable. A few days later, however, Erdmann arrived at the island, having been sent up from Somes* Island. On the following day witness went to Auckland, and was directed by Colonel Patterson to see the Minister of Defence, who had expressed concern regarding the fact that the detachment was unarmed. He wanted to know also where the rifles were kept. Witness explained the reasons, stating that in consequence of a -conversation with General Robin in July the alteration from the standing guard to military police had been made in order to reduce the cost of the maintenance for the island. Witness told the Minister that he had just prepared a statement regarding the reduced cost. The second footnote on this statement read as follows: "The nominal strength of the guard up to August 1 was. 35. This has. been reduced to 24 with a system of police patrols in the place of standing guards. The Minister did not suggest any alteration of the system at that time.

HIGH AUTHORITY GIVES PASSES. Under instruction witness interviewed General Robin.- A number of questions were asked by the General regarding tie system of proTection, about tbe censoring of all parcels and letters to prisoners, and also about the censoring of any parcels sent to the Government agricultural depot on tbe island. Witness was also questioned about the launch Pearl, and as far as he could remember, he explained to him that he was using two German prisoners as engineer and deckhand, as no one in -his (witness's) detachment was capable of working the launch. The General also inquired about visitors to the prisoners, and witness informed him that the one visitor he objected to most was a lady, the wife of one of the interned men, who had obtained a pass from a higher authority. He did not consider that there was any danger whatever from the visits of the wives of other prisoners.

The witness detailed arrangements made with Colonel Patterson and Major Price about special precautions. Major Price said, from information received it was supposed that there would be an attempt, to assist the prisoners to escape. Witness remarked to Major Price that his detachment was not strong enough to resist a landing and to guard the prisoners in their quarters as well. Major Price stated that the launches would patrol the island if witness would look after the prisoners. He stated further that his own launch could receive a signal when witness had his dispositions arranged. He had the chest of spare rifles taken into the bush and hidden. All the ammunition on the island was issued to the men. The following day they went back to the normal conditions

WATERFRONT RUMDURS. HAVE THEY BEEN CAUGHT? REPORTED WIRELESS MESSAGES Although no authoritative information is available to-day, respecting the pursuit of the escaped Germans from Motuihi Island, numerous rumours are afloat on the subject, some

i wildly imaginative and a few within ' the bounds of at least reasonable speculation. Among the reports which are being persistently circulated among shipping folk is one that a I vessel lying in Auckland harbour received a wireless message last night ; stating that a certain vessel had picked up the captain of the scoW Moa in a small boat some distance east of the North Cap~e. Another report, is that this , same! vessel interrupted a wireless mesH sage stating that the steamer in question had captured the Germari escapees 145 miles to the eastward of Cape Maria Van Dieman. It should be remarked that neither of these reported messages is officially confirmed, the authorities, on the contrary, denying having received any information whatever respecting the fugitives. A vessel which recently arrived at Auckland reports having seen a scow, about 30 miles .off Cuvier Island on Sunday, and that attention was at-. tracted to the scow from the fact that the crew appeared to be engaged in heaving timber overboard. Just before we went to, ; press we received information from a reliable ' source that there was absolutely no truth in the rumour that any such wireless message had been received in . Auckland. —"Auckland Star." COUNT AS KITCHEN BOY.

AN INTERESTING REMINISCENCE It is rather singular that at the present time there should be in Auckland a French chef who actually hall Count von Luckner under him as a kitchen boy in Adelaide. This is M. Alex Faure, proprietor of the "Saratoga" French fish delicacy s-hop in 3ymonds Street. M. Faure showed a representative of this paper his discharge certificate from Larg's Pier Hotel, Adelaide, dated 1904, and signed by E. Alexander. M. Faure said: "I was chef when Von Luckner was. kitchen boy. It happened this way. The barmaid was a German, and sTTe got Von Luckner the job of kitchen boy. Of course I did not know he was a count at that time. The barmaid said to me, 'Don't be hard on this boy. He knows nothing,.but be good to him.' : It was quite true he knew nothing of his work, but I could see he was a gentleman. After peeling potatoes or doing any dirty job he was very careful to clean his nails and -have a bath in the middle of the day. I should think he was about 17 years old at that time, and rather ef-feminate-looking. It was the German barmaid who asked me to find something for the lad to do. He left about three weeks afterwards. Now comes the peculiar part of the affair. Two or three weeks later I was in Adelaide, and there I saw my old kitchen boy. He was always a gentleman, but this time he was dressed as one, the cut of his clothes being faultless. Although an enemy, I still say he is a gentleman, and would shake hands with him now if they got -him."

MR. MASSEY.S COMMENTS

LESSON TOR NEW ZEALAND At the welcome extended to the Prim© Minister on Tuesday by Ohakune residents, Mr Massey referred to the escape of the German prisoners fro Motuihi. "I am not going to find fault with anybody or speak what I felt a few days ago," said Mr. Massey, "as an inquiry will be field, and the officers have already left for Auckland, but what I do. say is this: It is the most regrettable thing that has occurred since the war began, aricl I hope the blame will be placed on the right shoulders. I cannot tell all that I know, as the matter is to some extent subjudice." He hoped the matter would be a lesson to the people and the Government of New Zealand, and every people and government as well. In New Zealand greater precautions would have to be taken to prevent a recurrence of such a happening. t