THE MISSING GERMANS.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 December 1917, Page 5

THE MISSING GERMANS.

COURT QF ENQUIRY. ' ' A FREE AND EASY LIFE. By Telegraph.—'Press Association. ■ Auckland, Last Night. At the court of enquiry to-day, Colonel Turner said there was a canteen on the island, where food could be obtained on payment. The man selling food vu a German prisoner named Paulsen. The canteen was actually in the charge of a sergeant-major, and could only be entered through the office. All orders sent to town for supplies for the' canteen were placed before witness, and initialled by him, if approved. Very little actual food was purchased from the canteen, the principal sales being tobacco and cigars. The amount of food kept in the canteen was very limited, and if a prisoner desired, say, ham or tin of fish, it had to be specially ordered from town. Except special fatigues, prisoners' occupations and actions were not under gup-? ervision, except in so far as they were seen by sentries. Under existing conditions it was impossible to place two See Adler's officers in separate confinement without incurring extra expense. The two officers of the See Adler were treated in exactly the same manner as thf Nmainder of first-class prisoners, with the exception that the detachment was reminded that it must particularly keep these men under observation. He placed them under the same conditions as the other first-class prisoners at about the end of October, having obtained from them their words of honor as Qerman officers that every regulation as far as the island was concerned would be complied with. They had not given their parole on November 29. He had the spotting plugs brought ashore in consequent of the information received on IJecemboi 13. He returned to the island at 6 p.m. In addition to ihmself there were in the launch Bugler Wainwright (escort), and the prisoners of war and Paulsen, the latter being the man in charge of the canteen. At the end of the wharf, waiting for them under instructions, were the prisoners of war Fischer and Schmidt, Fischer carried the mail, attd Schmidt acted as carter. Paulsen •wasat the wheel as they came alongside, and he shook his head emphatically at t&e prisoners on the with a peculiar smile. Witness thought this was intended to convey the fact that there waß Do mail. Witness and the bugler landed. The two prisoners immediately took the launch to the moorings. At witness walked along the wharf, Schmidt and Fischar passed, and got into a cart. As was Us custom, witness turned and watched the two prisoners in the launch. Hu saw the launch attached to its moorings, and prisoners unship the dinghy aft. Instead of watching to see them land, as he usually had, lie went into his quarters. The sergeant-major had not met them at the end of the wharf as usual at 7.10. The sergeant-major reported that the dinghy had got adrift, and that the launch had gone after it. Witness went down to the wharf. "I then noticed that the trolley was at the outer end of the wharf, instead of at tho place at which it was when I landed. This aroused my suspicions, as it indicated that something had been taken down the wharf Binee I had gone ashore. I said to the sergeant-major: "Where 5b that count?' I then proceeded to tho bnrracks as fast as I could. I asked the two soldiers at tlie guard room iit they had seen the count lately, and they said: Not since dinner,' which would mean p.m. Witness gave details of interruption to I'm' telephone line, and of measures taken to find out if any men were missing. An old boat on the island, lying on tho beach jiear the old wharf on the morning after the escape, was found stove in. Near the boat were two letters, written by Mellert, one of the escapees, to a farm manager. The date on the letter was No'•nber 25. The text of the first was:; Melrose, farm manager. Dear Sir, —My c"-intry oails, and I have to follow. For two "oars I worked on the farm. I have always done my duty. Wlti this letter I leave all the necessary notes, like milk supply, mutton supply, and the list of tho cows. I hope you wilt have -J difficult 1 - in arranging all under my, succossor*. * 'unrtly ask you to give my] wages 1°- m !her, as I owe Urn*something, an* "> shall pay my canteen blU&i You mi;/" «.ke my saddle anC bridle and y: . of about 30s to Hoffmann, j photogi-c for me. I like to be square with e. ; ;>dy, and I have not got money ( .\ito do all I hope you will not ba\ coo much trouble by my de•niriure,' »d with best wishes to you, I i remain yours, J. Mellert." The t id letter gave detailed 'jfori motion as to the various matters Mellert I'inil lmd'! I%his care. Colo: • tfaHouald: What benrinc was mi the- I ' l —As faT as I can ascertain, she-' i two cases of benzine and two cases of oistillate. That is all that a missing from the island. After the escape a soaled keroser. tin was found full of water, behind the quartan of one •>f the escapees. The tank on the launch would hold two gallons of Water. I do not know how much it actually contained, nor what food was on board. He did not know what food was missing The court was then adjourned.

It'iiVMJABLE FLEET SEARCHING. (From Our Own Correspondent)', Wellington, Dec. i». Although no official announcement has keen made at the timo of writing, there is no longer any room for doubt that the German prisoners who escaped' ifrom Motuihi Island captured tho scow Moa. Quite a formidable fleet is now searching for the escapees, and the authorities have hopes of recapturing them. But the" element of luck must count for a great deal. If Captain Luckner and his men lave found aboard the scow, or have been able to secure, sufficient food for a long voyage, they may be expected to get ; out of New Zealand waters as quickly as possible. The Moa is not a craft that sailors would choose for a long voyage, say to the nearest neutral island in, the Pacific, but the Germans aboard her are skilled seamen. Every day that ptoses without their being taken increase! the probability that they have left the coastal waters. The stable door ig going to bo slammed very hard and locked Very fast now, and if the inquiry now proceeding locates the blame for what hag occurred the offenders will suffer. There is a feeling here that officers entrusted with tho working of a loose system ought not to be required to take nil the blame for the results ol the system.