THE GERMAN ECAPEES.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 December 1917, Page 4

THE GERMAN ECAPEES.

SIGNALLING AT NIGHT TIME COMMUNICATION WITH THB PIUSOXiiKS. ~•'., Ey Telegraph.—Press Association Auckland, liec. 22. », The evidence by Major Ogbonxt Lillf was continued. Major Price, A.A.C., said that about November 15 information bad 'been re» e-ived that a fceow wua being fitted out with a view to rescuing soruo of the pris> vners. A motor patrol was instituted on November 21. Witness put m &-tetter vriik'ii by Major Sir Robert Walker. Jo Mr. Patterson, be stated tlujt oa eaeli of three nights, November 20, 21, and 22, clear cases of signalling were eUerved on the northern end of Motuihi, l-hough no mesagca could be read. The signals were observed by launches on patrol. The commandant at . Motuihi was informed of these lights, but wi unable to detect anything on the island itself. "I am of opinion, however," the writer stated, "that these signals were made from a cliff on the northern end of (In- island. I was puzzled, as to itben lhe receiving station , for t&twe Hpais iiiiviit be located, and AebmcAntA, oa November 22, to expose Sie .Stan* of Rangitoto and Drunken Bay. Oa entering the latter, and whilst aignaUJng->w»« being observed on Motnihi, p oa previoi\s nights, a bright Hash -was .Waked, op from Kangitoto. Tlie flashes confirmed until my launch was about 50 yards from tb« wharf, and then suddenly ceaaid. H was noticed that tiio fhwhes from Motuihi ceased at the same moment. I made a thorough search "of the-vfiiuiw of the wharf, ibut discovered oab/tto caretaker. No signals were observed on ing nights. There js not the eUgkteet doubt in my mind that coromujiwatioa uas being maintained, and the oaty in? fo jirevent this is to revmove the jnisttaers away from- the edge of the eHfffrtte"•ether." The inquiry was adjourned. CAn»,JN FBANCI6' STOK*. ~ Auckland, Dec. fcs. Captain Francis, of the scow ißa&gi, who gave the first information of the capture of the Moa, states that he left Mayor Island on Saturday at and vat off Mercury Bay when he nlw the scow .VI on. round to. The hunch in which tbo German prisoners had escaped was alongside The Moa. He -knew-dome Germans had escaped from Motuihi sad iioncluded that they had taken posses- ' sion of the Moa. He was four or five miles away at the time, but as far as he could see there was no struggle, Sbortjy afterwards, the Moa sailed arway under j press of canvas, and he at once made for Port Charles to report the occurrence.