NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, 14 August 1918, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

RETURNS FROM GLAXO CAMP. WELLINGTON, this day. A return of the number of men who passed through the Cl Camp into the ranks of the Expeditionary Force shows that from October, 1917, till Ist June, 1918, the fit men produced numbered 1933; since then this has been increased by 718, making a total of 2651.

GERMANS RECOVERED.

THREE DAYS UNDER HUT FLOOR,

WELLINGTON, Aug 12,

Tho four Germans who disappeared from the internment camp on Somes Island on Friday morning were discovered by the guard at 7.30 a.m. They were found shivering and half-starved not in a carefully screened dug-out or out of the way cave, but in the barbwire enclosure around the main sleeping barracks.

It appears that some time in the early hours of Friday, after the round of inspection of the quarters had been made by tho officer in charge, the men contrived to lift some of the flooring boards underneath their bunks and to squeeze through. Just what preparation was made for the lifting of the boards or how they were replaced is not yet known definitely. The whole escapade is believed to have been engineered to cause a disturbance in the routine of the camp management; for, though tho Germans certainly succeeded in eluding tho guard for three days, they made no attempt to pass the ring of sentries drawn .around the buildiug. Apparently, the men had had no food, or very little, since supper on Thursday, and their sufferings as they lay in their self-imposed prison must have been severe.

As a result of tho escapade the 300 odd prisoners on the island have since Friday morning been kept'far more closely confined than formerly. The* restrictions in, (future are likely to bo more stringent, and various favourite spots on the island, such as the series of dug-outs on tho sunny face of the island, where prisoners passed their leisure or study hours, have been placed out of bounds. The men who escaped from the island on a crazy raft recently had no great difficulty in eluding the sentries by reason of the fact that they were quartered temporarily in tents away from the main building. These tents have now been dismantled, and the men are housed together. It has not yet been decided whether an official inquiry into the cireumistances of the German prisoners' escapade will be necessary. A message has been received that all south lines are down and there is no communication with Chris'tchurch yet. Mr. It. W. Smith wires us as follows: ‘Just to tell you lam leaving for Australia. Expect to be absent for six weeks. During my absence Mr. W. H. Field, Wellington, has kindly consented to' attend to all urgent matters connected with the Wa». marine electorate.” The Huia Hockey Club’s social and dance held in the Three Stars last night was unquestionably one of the most enjoyable that has been held in Taihapc this season. Though the heavy thunderstorm which broke over the town at about 7 p.m. kept many away wlio would otherwise have been present, tho attendance graduallv improved, until at 10 o”clock there were 50 couples on tho floor. All those who were present were out for a good evening’s amusement, to which the splendid condition of the floor very ■materially contributed, and it was well on till the early hours of the morning before the dancers reluctantly quitted. The music provided was in Mr. Upchurch’s usual accomplished manner, assisted by Miss- Eileen JB’ray and J. Sinclair, who played several extras. The supper was all that could bo desired, and the arrangements throughout the evening were characterised by the attention to the wants of the dancers that has become a noted feature of the Huias ’ socials. Mr. Dunbar made an efficient M.C. The committee desire to thank Mrs. Treadwell and Messrs. W. Moloney and L. Daws for valued services rendered.