THE GERMAN ESCAPEES.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 December 1917, Page 5

THE GERMAN ESCAPEES.

'EVIDENCE AT INQUIRY. WARNING GIVEN,OF ATTEMPT TO ESCAPIS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Yesterday. Continuing his evidence regarding the escape of the German prisoners, Lieut.Colonel Turner said that when the See Adler's officers arrived at Motuihi he received instructions that greater precautions were necessary with respect to these two prisoners than when the Minister of Defence expressed concern about the Guard. Witness stated that in consequence of a conversation with General Robin in July, an alteration was made from the standing guard to military police, in order to "reduce the cost of maintenance. Witness subsequently interviewed Colonel Robin, under instructions. He was questioned about the' launch Pearl and, so far as he remembered, he explained that he was using two German prisoners as engineer and deck hand, as none of witness' detach' ment were capable of working the launch. Witness informed Colonel Robin that one of the visitors to the prisoners was the wife of one of them, who had obtained a pass from a higher authority. Ho diil not consider there was any danger from visits by wives of prisoner.-;. After he returned to the island he received a secret letter from Major Price, warning him that an attempt would be made to assist the prisoners to escape. Witness informed Major Price that his detachment was not strong enough to resist a landing and to guard tlie prisoners as well. Major Price stated that launches would patrol the island and guard the prisoners. Witness took special precautions in guarding the prisoners and ammunition. Ho informed headquarters that he required reinforcements to continue this, but could not remember what reply he received. He put on extra armed men from 11 p.m. till daylight. It was usual for the engineer in the launch to bring ashore the spark plugs when he landed in the dinghy The engineer was a German. On the occasion of tho escape two Germans took the launch to its moorings, as the dinghy would only hold two men. STATEMENT BY MB. MASSEY. Ohakune, December 18. During the function at Ohakune today, the Right Hon. W. F. Massey made particular reference to the escape of the See Adler's crew. Never since the war broke out, he said, had such a regrettable incident occurred, but he must refrain from expressing any opinion respecting their getting away, in view of the proceedings being taken, by which he hoped the blame would be put on the right shoulders. He sincerely hoped the German escapees would be caught. The affair should be a lesson to the people, not only of this, but other countries, to sec that greater precautions were taken in future to ensure a more effective guard being taken over enemy prisoners, so as to prevent any similar recurrence. THE SCOW INCIDENT. *FLEET OF VESSELS PATROLLING. From Our Own Correspondent. Wellington, Dec. 18. The Defence authorities here are disposed this evening to discredit the report from Auckland that the escaped Germans have seized the scow Moa. The chief danger to be apprehended in connection with the Germans is that they will capture a vessel of some sort and get out of New Zealand waters, but it appears there are some reasons for believing that the Moa was accosted not by the prisoners, 'but by one of the launches engaged in tho search. It is understood that a small fleet of vessels, including some fitted to deal with opposition if necessary, are now patrolling the northern coast and examining nooks and corners. An effort is being made to account for all the coastal craft with which the Germans might possibly have got into touch. One scow that was thought to be missing has arrived in Auckland, and a certain schooner carrying a foreign crew has also been located. INDIGNATION IN AUCKLAND. WAS THE ESCAPE PREMEDITATED? A SUGGESTION OF COLLUSION. : Auckland, Dec. 17. Considerable indignation has been aroused in Auckland by the escape, which is a most humiliating incident in view of the apparent ease with which ■the prisoners got away. Of course, there is considerable conjecture as to whether the escape was premeditated, or was made on the spur of a sudden impulse. Jt is supposed, however, that tho details were planned beforehand, leaving only a favorable moment for carrying it out to be selected. For several weeks past the guard wa3 considerably strengthened, and other extra precautions were taken to prevent any escape. Patrol boats were regularly sent out, and telephonic reports were made at regular intervals for weeks. Col. Patterson, 0.D.D., had been communicated, with several times each night, to receive the report, "All's well." The authorities state that the system of patrols was never relaxed.

An indication that the escape was not suddenly conceived is the fact that tho direct telephone wires to Auckland wero short-circuited at a 9pot very difficult ;to find. Three telephone wires ate carried on posts, and to these wires contact wires were led down to metal posts, situated in a dense clump of bush, and exceedingly difficult to detect. It is also the current "earthed." 11» defect was significant that, with one exception namely, von Egidy, tho whole of the those who escaped are seamen. Count von lickner u regarded by the authorities as feeing the prime mover. He has taken with him only such men as are well used to the sea, and versed in seamanship. If the suggestion that there was collusion between the escaped Germans and persons on shore is <wrrect. it is assumed feat the object of the missing men is to commence commerce-raid-ing in the Pacific. It is net definitely known if the men were arm«d, but it is believed that they were. Some of those who wete engaged in the search for the Pearl early on Friday morning are of opinion that the Germans have not gone ontaids the Gulf, liceav.se on the night of the escape a particularly heavy sea was running, and it would have been almost impossible for the launch to have contianod to sea in it. Major Scholfleld, o! Palinentcn Xortli. has been appointed to the charge of Motuihi Camp, viae Col. Harcour* Tur-

ner, who has been relieved of ilia dtrtisa. Major Scholfleld was attached to the 3rd Auckland Mounted Rifles, and wenfcawaf with the Main Body, and has beeirttwp years* on active vervfee, DETAILS OP THE ESCABB. The exact manner in which th» GflN uians effected their escape, and how th* party was collected together, ig ctQl <aknown, for the reason that no one **W the departure of tho launch, either from tlio moorjnn or the island. Th«re an certain fact#, however, on wbkh an a*> sumption can 'be made. On Thursday Lieutenant-Colonel C. Harcoort Turner, commandant of ttie camp, visited Auekland in the launch Petri. The crew of the launch consisted of two Germans—one of whom attended to the engiue—who were selected for tfed work because of the nature of their previous training on the sea. It is vwa| for a guard of two men to accompany the launch wherever it goei, bnt on ThUrsday there was a guard of only one man. Motuihi was reached on the returti journey a few minutes after 0 p.m. The roll-call 'had 'been correctly taken at 6 p.m. sharp, at which hour every one of the prisoners, including the two German* on the launch, was accounted <or. Lieu-tenant-Colonel Turner and the guard were landed on the wharf, which is on the western side of the island. He and the guard proceeded *up the hill to the headland, where afe situated the camp buildings, leaving the two Germans t£ take the launch back to the mooting!, in accordance with the usual costal, and to come back to the wharf in a dinghy, which is always left at the'moor* ings when the launch is away. From the moment of the departure from the wharf of Lieutenant-Oolonel Turner and tin guard_ all knowledge of the movement* of the Germans ceases. There were two other prisoners working on the wharf, carrying coal up to the camp. It i* assumed that these two men embarked on the launch, that the dinobv waa scuttled and the launch taken round a bluff head- - land to the north end of the island to pick up tho remaining member* of the - party. No one saw the launch leaving, ' hut it is considered that it was taken ' up through the Motuihi Passage towacds Cape Colville. ; "