GERMAN RUNAWAYS.

Taihape Daily Times, 21 August 1918, Page 5

GERMAN RUNAWAYS.

THE SAMOAN INCIDENT A recent arrival from Samoa fur* uislicd some further details to tliQ Auckland “Star'’ regarding the at-, tempt of three Germans to escape from Apia, to which reference was made in last evening’s issue of the "Star. ” "Captain Steffenay,” he said, "was always considered a naturalised citizen of the United States. Prior to the ■war he was master of a steamer. It was later found that the captain was a naturalised American, and the Administrator, Colonel Logan, stopped him going to sea. He was not interned with! the German prisoners, but had to re-: port himself at fixed times at headquarters. Captain Steffenay was allowed some freedom, being in charge of the Solomon Island boys. That gave him charge of some stores, but benzine was under the care of Customs officers^ The captain had to be indoors each, night at G p.m., the same as other Germans. It was this that no doubt made him decide to escape. He utilised the trust placed in him to secure stores intended for the Solomon islanders under his charge. When the launch arrived from Mulifaua with the meat, Captain Steffenay had got young Graff, the son of a German hotelkeeper, to join him, also another German who was a carpenter* These three, with three Solomon Is-* landers, under the captain’s’ orders, took possession of the launch, and stocked it with eight month’s stores and 120 cases of benzine. The launch' left from a place near the Customs House, and just across the water lies Sogi Sogi, where German prisoners are interned. Seeing the launch go out with Captain Steffenay and the Solomon Islanders on it, the sentries at Sogi Sogi took no notice, but unfortunately for the runaways the engine! of the launch broke down, which led to their capture. Captain Richardson and Lieutenant Lusk took such energetic measures when the escape was reported that the prisoners had' very little chance of escaping,.. .Lieutenant •Lusk promptly went across to Savaii,\ so whichever way the launch headed the* Germans were sure of being captured. What about the Revenue ? How is the £1,000,000 at : present received through the Traffic to be- made up and where arc we to get the £300,000 annual payment involved in the £4,500,000 to Be paid to secure immediate Prohibition? The answer is 5imp1e—£4,757,085 was the amount of last year’s Drink Bill. Two thirds of this sum if diverted into legitimate trade channels, drapery, boots, furnishings, etc. would produce on au average'.;of 20 per -cent, customs duty, £635,000. The saving in the annual cost of Police Charitable Aid, Old Age; Pensions, Mental Hospital, etc., is, on a low estimate, £650,000 to £700,000. The loss is therefore made up without taking into' account the other third of the Drink Bill or the indirect cost of the trade in loss of efficiency and of life, etc., which is at least-equal to the direct cost of £4,757,085. —(Advt.)