ESCAPED GERMANS.

Taihape Daily Times, 29 December 1917, Page 4

ESCAPED GERMANS.

THE CREW’S STORY.

HOW THE MCA W T AS CAPTURED.

Since the recapture and arrival ia Auckland of the prisoners who escaped from Motuihi Island, the following additional particulars regarding the capture of the scow Moa have, been authorised by Captain Hall-Thompson. Contrary to general belief the launch Pearl, with the escapees on board did not cruise about looking for a vessel that would suit their purpose. They made straight for the Mercuries, well knowing that coastal vesels passed close to these islands, and that if a vessel had not been warned her capture would not be such: a difficult mat—j.; ter in view of the fact that Count von Luckner and his men were in possession of means of offence and defence, stated in the evidence at the Court of Inquiry to have been manufactured on the island at Motuihi.

Arrived at the Mercuries, the escaped prisoners rvaited in an inlet for the appearance of a vessel, and on Sunday morning sighted the scow Moa and the scow Rang! shortly before S’ o’clock. They waited until the Moa, which appeared to be the better of thetwo scows, was close enough, and then, made straight for her. The launch wasp still carrying the New Zealand flag,, and was sighted by some of the crew of the Moa while she was yet some-, distance away. As the latter had not been warned before leaving Tauranga. that the prisoners, had escaped they were naturally not suspicious that anything was wrong, and made no attempt' to keep away from the launch or in any way to prevent her coming alongside. The remainder of the crew, • who had been below at breakfast, had by this time come on deck. As soon as the launch came alongside one of the Ger- - mans hoisted the German flag, and the captain and crew of the scow were ordered to surrender. The order was backed up by arms in the hands of Count von Luckner ■and one of the men at the back of him, while still another of the Germans held in his hand two either real or sham bombs ready to throw. In view of the fact that the 1 captain and crew of the scow were unarmed they could do nothing but surrender with the best grace possible. Even -.had they known that the launch.®", was ;in” the hands of the Gentians-it HA •’ ■■ doubtful'-if they could have done'ffitfchP •> .as' they “were not armed, •only* anfstir ktfotr breezebblovriiig at-the : 'b ; .time, - so’-that ’sailing' away- from ; • launch-was out of the question. tv ‘- i 0

•“ A READY MADE SEXTANT ( As soon as the Germans came on S( hoard they at once assumed command,, and the crew of the scow were ordered ■ j On i unto make sail, one of the Gormans tak- , . . • ij •!'.[ ing the helm. As showing the thoroughness of their preparations, before making good their escape, they were in, possession of an instrument for ascer»_ taining their position, which, apparently, they had found the means of manufacturing. With this and the aid of .a watch, used as a chronometer, they !ji? were able to navigate the seow T comparatively accurately to the Kermadecs, The Germans wore the German uniform even the planter from Samoa having been sworn in in neutral waters, and provided with a uniform of a petty officer. Count von Luckner and Lieut, Kirsehciss both wore a uniform of khaki, with Gorman badges on their caps. Members of the crew state that the Germans were very quick at picking up the method of working the scow, and after tw r o or three days they were able to work her as well as the men They experienced fieavy weather all the way to the Kermandecs —and because of this they lost the launch. They could not swing her ott uS board, and consequently she was swamped by the seas. A portion of the cargo of timber w r as thrown overboard to relieve the vessel, and made her easier to handle. The chances of a recapture did not look altogther too rosy from the point of view of the men of the scow, but they did not altogether lose hope, and during the night some of them managed to surreptitiously drop some pices of timber overborad, one at least of which had the name “Moa” roughly written on it. This was done in the hope that it would afford a clue to the direction that had been takea' by the scow since her capture by the Germans. CAPTURE AT THE KERMADECS. The scow arrived at the Kermadecs, where food was stored before there was any signs of pusuit, and at once commenced to get the stores on the island on board. A quantity of these stores had already been placed on board when a pursuing vessel was sighted. The German flag was hoisted, and an attempt was made to sail away beforo the fast approaching steamer could get up. Apparently the Germans believed that the guns shown on board were only dummies, and thought thejjfc had a chance by running for it. A fired across their, quarter, however, quickly disillusioned them, and orders were given by the Count to heave to. They were hailed by the steamer, and agreed to surrender.

w. It was decided that.tins seo'w should, ;|P)e taken in tow on the trip back, and with this object’ in View a cable, was Tun from the steamer around the formeVs mast. Heavy weather was experienced the whole way back until they arrived within shelter of the land, and On two occasions they had to heave to, and on two other occasions were compelled to stop in order to adjust the tow-lines. The crew of the scow state that they were well treated by the Germans, and that they were assured by the Count that they would be paid while they worked under the German Government. The only thing to which exception was taken was the fact that the captain of the scow was compelled to take his meals in the forecsatle with the rest of the crew.

THRILLING EXPERIENCE. An interesting story of their experiences is told by the members of the crew of the scow Moa. It appears that the Moa left Omokoroa about 10 o’clock on the morning of Saturday, December 15, for Auckland, with a ’'Cargo of timber. All. went well until about 8 a.m. on the Sunday, when they off Mercury Bay. At this time fthe skipper, Captain Burke, was on deck, and noticed a motor launch flying the New Zealand flag, a man on board in uniform waving the scow to stop. The launch at this time Was astern of of the Moa, flying the German flag, and about twenty minutes later drew alongside, and an officer and ten men jumped aboard the scow. The officer was Count von Luckner, and he immediately said, “You are prisoners of war to Germany, ” and then hoisted the German flag on the Moa, pulling down the one that was flying. Captain Burke knew nothing of the escape of the prisoners at the time, and was natvurally thunderstruck at this surprise boarding. The Count and one other when they boarded the scow were armed and a third man held a bomb ready in each hand. The crew of the scow, being without any arms at all, were helpless in the face of these odds, and without more ado the Count told . the captain and crew that they would have to work the ship and obey orders, and that they would get treated accordingly. Under orders from the Count the ship was then turned about, and her head set in a different direction. They sailed on this course for five; days, -and then .sighted; land onFriday, the about HOo'clock in. the morn-; ing. .and;; five: of thoi> Germans: went ashore.? in- > . the ;and returned with stores-from .We island.,. These r. stores, were:. - taken. aboard the scow, and the . dinghy returned for another load, but while she was absent a' steamer hove in sight, and the Germans ashore were signalled to return to the scow immediately. • Upon the dinghy being hoisted the scow was put'under way with all sails set, the 1 order given to steer west. The steamer rapidly overhauled her, however, and after a chase of about 20 minutes fired a shot across the scqw’s bows as an order to heave to. The scow heaving to, the other vessel steamed up within hailing distance, and ordered the German captain to appear on board at once. HOISTING THE GERMAN FLAG Von Luckner and two other Germans then left in the dinghy for the steamer. A boat from the steamer with an armed cd guard then boarded the Moa and took charge of the remaining Germans, while the scow was taken in tow for Auckland. While captives aboard, their own vessel the crow of the scow appeared to have received good treatment at the hands of tueir captors, receiving an equal share of the food available. The launch Pearl, which was taken jn tow after the Germans boarded the Moa, was lost in heavy weather, while about •4i/,uuU feet oi timber, representing half naa to oe tnrown overboard iLr Lire oaicty of the vessel. OVERHAULING THE SCOW The seaman wiio was steering the scow at the time they first sighted the launch off Mercury Bay said she was about two miles off, and he saw a man on board waving something in nis hand as a signal. As he could not understand . what tue signal meant he called the

captain, who was at breakfast. The ix.ua, which ;.aa sailing very slowly at at the time, was quickly overhauled by the iaunen, ana when the Germans sprang aboard the Count drew his sword, aociared the ship captured, and warned the crew that their treatment would depend on their behaviour. He then ordered tne crew, including Captain Hume, to take up their quarters forward. The Germans and the crew of the iiiua dined together in watches throughout the voyage, while the Germans gave the snip s boy some sweets and cnOeblates which tney had brought a .i ay with' them on the Pearl.

when the cap caring steamer overliuiilea the hi a a, sue was first signalled to' stop. No notice was taken of this Signal, and then a shell was fired, and fell so close to them that the Count ■VV k: 'mt immfejgtely gave orders to heave to. The captain of the steamer then hailed them, asking, where their ship was from. "Von Luekncr replied, “Prom 'Auckland.” The steamer's captain then asked if there were any Germans on

beard, and he jVas- answered “Yes, ” The next hail was a peremptory order for von Luckner, to repair aboard the steamer at once. A STORE OF GOLD Another member of the crew said that when the launch was approaching the scow she was flying the New Zealand flag, and that when the Gemrans jumped aboard they were all dressed in uniform. This member said that after the scow was captured by the Germans he felt awfuly upset. The Count thereupon clapped him on the back, told ’him n ot to worry, and said he would be all right, at the same time producing a seven pound salt bag half full of sovereigns. It seems that one member of the scow’s crew got struck on the head by the boom when she was being made fast to the steamer after the capture. The steamer’s doctor dressed the wound, and he is now fairly right again.