AUSSIES CREATE SENSATION.

Taihape Daily Times, 17 October 1919, Page 5

AUSSIES CREATE SENSATION.

...._..u....._. A ‘SIX PRISONERS JUMP FROM MOVING TRAIN. : LONDON, Oct. 15. Six soldier prisoners escaped from a moving train between Basingstoke. and Winchester after overpowering, handcuffing and gagging their escort. The Australians were being taken to Winchester Prison from France underxi guard of three men. Near Basingstoke the Australians suddenly attacked the guards and, in addition to hanclcuffing them, Wound their puttieg, around their heads-. As the train slowed down approaching Micheldevei-V they jumped ‘off and disappeared. in the darkness. The miseries of the escort were not relieved until the train reached VVinchcster_ When discovered the men were hardly able to speak. The nilitary police institutd a motorcar search, but the. prisoners are still un_captu:~ed. HOW ESCAPE WAS MANAGED. ’ USE OF BLOOD-HOUNDS . 'SU7GrGESTE‘D. _ R-eceiV_ed 8.45 a.m. . LONDON, Oct. 16. According to latest details regarding the escape of six prisoner soldiers‘ from 3. moving train between Basing stoke and Winches'tcr, it appears only only one prisoner, Gunner J. Arthurs, was actually a m:e.mbe_r of the A.I.F. The others were ‘attached to various British units, though they may have been born in Australia, as Winchester Camp is used for Dominion soldiers who joined up with the B'ritish army and had chosen to be repa,tria'tcd. The names are: Drummer Deppard, Privates J. Black, F. Marriott, Sappcrs W. Montgomery, and J. Reynolds. One was recaptured during the night. The police are on the track ‘of the -other three. The aifray commenced by the prisoners quietly unfastening their htandcuffs with a key, seizing‘ 21. biiybnot. from the guard, and threatening to stab an escort who gave the alarm. The _othcr prisoners joined. in, and seized i the guards’ rifles. Bloodh-ounds may be ‘ used to scour the Woods if the prisoners ‘iare not traced quickly. l