THE GERMAN ESCAPEES

Taranaki Daily News, 27 December 1917, Page 4

THE GERMAN ESCAPEES

ARRIVAL OF Xlll3 VICSSW& •HOW TUB CAPTURK WAS ACCOMPLISHED. ' GERMANS STOPPED BY BIUTISB FIRE. By Telegraph.—Fr»»a Association. Wellington, Last Night. I The following is officially announced! On the evening of the 13th Dewmboi', WIT, eleven German prisoners of itfw, under tho leadership Commander von Luckner, lately in command of the German raider See Adler, made their e*eap* from Motuihi Island, Auckland n&rbor, in a motor launch named the Pearl, attached to the island. From the motor boat they transferred to the eailiDfeeow Moa, which was seized in'the Boy of Plenty. In her they left the Jfcw Ze»• land coast. They were recaptured on the evening of December 21 in the Tieioity of Kermadec Island*, by an armed, vessel despatched by tie New Zealand Government to those waters for theponxye, and they arrived this afternoon' at AxfA.' land, where they were at once landed. The crew of the Moa, cooaistiag of five men an& a boy, were still on feoard their vessel when recaptured, and sfet* they have (been well treated lk mn way by the Germans. The Moa henuu was towed back to Auckland by ffee capturing vessel, and im «aßK*4m> serious damage m the result of her «•. periencea.

The motor boat iPearl, vAioh wtt being towed by 'the Moa, was tat in the heavy matter experieneeA'rftsf tile New Zealand const.

The officer in command of it* capturing vessel, in Ms .report, stated that at about nopnvtt December SB the Mm's masts were sighted about fifteen atita I away. As mob as she saw that »h« WU being chased she stood away to tib* westward under a pnse of canvas, and tainted the German naval eaaigm, but ws overhauled her in about anlicMtr tad a half.

As she paid no attention to my signal j to stop, I fired a shot across her, whsn she immediately shortened sail and stopped. i

The German captain, in rebponsa to my . veAal order. oama oa -boaiidi in-Us own boat and formally surrendered. The German ensign wae then,hauled down in the Moa.

The remainder of the eecapees were then removed by an armed escort. Tiny had a fair amount of provision) Witii them and .plenty of water, .but they tyul thrown overboard sueh arms as they upsesaed as soon as they saw their capture to he inevitable. f My arrival at Auckland was delayed by Having to tow the Moa, jand by continuous heavy westerly weather, which the ship* heaving to for a ooifeiderable time. ATTEMPTED CAPTURE OF A I STEAMER. ENCOUNTER WITH THE ONEROA. Captain John M. Jackson, master of the steamer Qneroa, tells an interesting story of a somewhat sensational oeeur.rence that occurred early on the Morning of Sunday of last week. At about five minutes to 2 a.m., when the steams* was off Gull Point, near Arkle's Bay, a hail was received from a launch resembling the Pearl. Captain Jackson,' who had left Auckland at midnight, kpew of the escape of the German prisoners, and he was therefore suspicious of the launch, and had prepared for a possible encounter by taking three Service' Hflee and a fair amount of ammunition. The launch approached the steamer, and Caputs Jackson hailed thoße on board, hut (Ot 110 answer. The rifles were served m to the four men constituting the eatsr of the Oneroa, and they took up frictions in readiness to give tie saciam a fitting reception. Afthoughlhe er did not slow down, the launeb drilr alongside, and someone celled out ta English, asking the name «f til# MuuMt* Captain Jackson answered that she wm the Oneroa, bound for S3verdale, and asked who they we/re, bat got bo aaswsr. He could see only four men on the launch, but assumed that the others were out at sight. Hie launch then sheered «ff in the darkness. The speed of thelwrnoh was superior to that of the steaaoer, which was therefore ifeable tta sive chase. There were five metr aboard tfc* Oneroa; including the captain. Captain Jaekson says that the launch was a small vessel, answering to tba description of the Pearl, and be beliefts that she was that vessel, though these was just a possibility that she may ba?e been on» of the patrol feunebss. He did not _ risk of ifcriaf on her.—"Aucki«».. """*