GERMAN ESCAPEES.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 December 1917, Page 5

GERMAN ESCAPEES.

CAPTURED AT KERMABECS. V ON BOARD THE SCOW. By Telegraph.—l'ross Association. ( Auckland, Last Xiglit. Advice received ollicially this evening states that the eleven German prisoners who escaped from Motuiiii 011 December lit have been recaptured at the Kerniadecs, aboard the scow Moa. The crew of the latter arc safe. .«■ j The Pacific Cable steamer Iris left Auckland at noon last Sunday, carrying two six-pounder guns and gun-crews, and proceeded to make a wiarch of tlje islands in the vicinity of Mercury liny, oil' which the capture of the-Moa by the Germans was observed, armed parties being landed for the purpose. By instructions from the Auckland military authorities, the Iris then steamed direct to the Kennadecs, it being Considered likely tlmt the German* would endeavor io obtain food from the provision depot on the island. The Iris reached the group at 1)0011 011 Wednesday, and there met the Moa on Iter arrival.. It is understood the capture was affected without bloodshed. The Iris is now returning to Auckland with the prisoners aboard, the original crew sailing the Moa back. / THE NEWS CONFIRMED. Wellington, Last Night. Mr. Massey received information tonight that the escaped Germans had been recaptured at the Kermadecs by the Iris, one of the searching vessels. The Iris reached the island ahead of the Germans, and was waiting there when they arrived in the scow Moa. The crew of the Moa were all well. GERMANS AFTER FOOD DEPOT IRIS LIES IN WAIT. PREMIER'S MIND EASY. (From Our Own Correspondent). ■ Wellington, Last Night. The news iof the recapture of the Germans reached the Prime Minister this evening, and lifted from him a load of anxiety. Mr. Massey has regarded this affair with a very great deal oi concern. He realised that if the Germans got away' and secured a suitable vessel, they would undertake another raiding excursion that might cost Britain many ships, and that certainly would hamper communications seriously and impose a fresh burden 011 the Allied navies. The measure taken for the recapture of the Germans would accordingly have been as extensive as the means at the disposal of the Government, would permit.

.The Germans, as a matter of fact, did the obvious thing. They were known to be short of food and water, and they naturally would wish to got away from the neighborhood of New Zealand. They seized the Moa, and so had the means of making a fairly long voyage. The Kermadei; Islands offered them a shipwrecked mariners' depot, water and seclusion, but, unfortunately for them, the Government followed their line of reasoning, and sent the cable steamer Iris to Sunday Island, with instructions to wait there pending further instructions.

The Iris was in communication with New Zealand by wireless, and was able to report lute this afternoon that the Germans had arrived in tins Moa, and had been recaptured without any difficulty. It will take a day or two now to put an end to the search which is proceeding in many other directions. Some of the vessels employed hyStlie Government arc not fitted with wireless. The Iris may reach Auckland on Sunday. *

Arrangements are being made in the meantime for the care of the prisoners, who are not to be allowed a second easy opportunity for escape. [The Kermadeca are a group of volcanic islands in the Pacific, about 000 miles NNE. of New Zealand. Sunday (or Iiaoul) Island is the largest of the group, being twenty miles in circuit, and used to be inhabitatcd by a handful of people. The area of the Kermadecs is about fifteen'square miles,] THE INQUIRY. COMMANDANT'S IMPLICIT TRUST. IN THIi GERMAN GUARDS. Auckland, Last Night. At the Motuihi inquiry, the examination of Colonel Turiier, formerly in charge of the camp, was continued. Asked why he assumed that the military police should be unarmed, witness said on active service he had never seen military police armed until he went to Motuihi. He had never seen prisoners of war under guard. Krom his knowledge of the prisoners on Motuihi he considered an attempt to escape unlikely. When the See Adler officers came he did consider the disposition of the guard, but concluded that any change would necessitate an increase of detachment, and, consequently, further expenditure, against which he had been previously warned. Colonel McDonald: Had you any misgivings?—No, as I could not see what the Sec Adlor officers could do if they did get away. Continuing, witness said he thought that his precautions rendered escape by means of his launch impossible.

Col. McDonald: Did it ever occur to you to place a guard on the wharf?—l could have used 100 men if the island Mas to be guarded properly. Col. McDonald: Although your launch was lying near the wharf, and the guards' room was some distance away, you did not think it necessary to watch the launch'!—l considered that the id.m of prisoners breaking out after lock-up was out of the question. Ct>l. McDonald: In consequence of four armed men being on duty round the prisoners' barracks, the escort, while 011 the launch, was unarmed?—Yea.

Col. McDonald: Don't yo'u think that was a risk? —No, because two German prisoners employed on the launch were with me the whole time I had been on the island, and I believed them thoroughlv reliable.

Major-General Robin, commandant of the forces, related a conversation with Colonel Turner regarding Motuilii. The outcome of the conversation on November 20 was a memorandum written by witness to the Minister of Defence three days later. This memorandum was read, together with notes made on it by the Minister. Referring to the guards, General Robin wrote that, in the interest of economy, the hours of a portion of the guard were altared mere on' th« goliea

system. Those guards wore xideanndl only, to obviate tlio currying of a*riflo. I'm- double ordinary tour of duty. *Tfa* arms and ammunition were ail g'.iardud, and were mailable in an cnftlw gciicy.

The Minister's nolo stated: "Tli« were not, in juy opinion, mifeguiujSßli wlii'ii 1 visitcd/jUotuihi. 1 proaumeTTOul refer to a later <|fele."

ll(>j>ard|iiy visitors on passes, Genet#® Robin stated tlint five women/ jvivesfcof the prisoners, yisited the island ahpnt, once a month. He suggested thatjtasi they might convey verbal pusses should be withdrawn. The Minister's note stated: "I think) all passes should be withdrawn loeui' while. Signed .T.A." Gontimiing, General Robin statedthafc (hiring thu interview on November' 23 Colonel Turner expressed himself a»,geii(■rally satisfied with the conduct of'tie See Adlar prisoners, and did not expect any trouble. Witness emphasised'economy must not be at the expense of «ffieieney. The same day ho discussed with Patterson and the superintendents! police a possible attempt at the reftjtee of the prisoners, and advised as to mediate institution of launch p«t«Jp. Major J. Osborne Lilly, Director ck Personal Services, said he saw CMoraa< Turner at Motuiiii in December. latter did not ask witness' the precautions he was taking,>bufc «st-f ness impressed 011 hint that the XGMfBH sibility of guarding the See AdleitaS* oners rested with Cblonel Turner. The enquiry was (WjjoumedL