THE GERMAN ESCAPEES

Taranaki Daily News, 28 December 1917, Page 4

THE GERMAN ESCAPEES

UULES OK WAR OBSERVED. UUCC-I INGENUITY SHOWN II PREPARATIONS. IRIS' CANNON DECIDING IVVCTOB By Telegraph.~Pre3C Association. Auckland, Last NigHU The following statement has been It sued by the naval adviser: The escaped German prisoners, wh< have now, to the credit of the country? been returned to New Zealand, appear to have obeyed carefully the normal rules of war in all their proceedings after escaping from Motuihi. They concealed themselves in one of the numerous small inlets of the islands until suitable craft for their purposes was sighted. Meanwhile they had taken the precaution of proceeding outside the three-mile limit and there swearing in all the escapees as members pf the Kaiser's navy, thus making them all members of the Imperial German forces. ■_ N

When capturing the Moa, which apparently had not heard of the escape prior to sailing from Tauraoga, the Germans approached under the New Zealand flag, but just previously to committing any act of war, the German ensign of a small size was hoisted Apparently the launch Pearl hailed the Moa to heave to, then went alongside, and at once put ten men on board. Her unsuspecting crew, most of whom were below at the moment, were, of course, outnumbered and overpowered. They were told they were civilian prisoners of the Kaiser, and must do as they were told, and they would be recompensed for any loss of pay they suffered while working for Germany. The launch was then taken in tow, and sail made to the northward. Unfortunately for the escapees, the launch foundered in the heavy seas some hours later, thus depriving them of a very useful adjunct and materially assisting in their recapture.

When finally recaptured, the etcapeea were again flying the German flag,'and surrendered as prisoners of war. j, ' The fact that the recapturing ship was efficiently armed undoubtedly led to their surrender, which occurred immediately it was realised that of moderate calibre were available. Had the ship sot been armed, it is probable the escapees would have put up a capable resistance. As a matter of fact, the gun had- to be fired close to the Moa before the order to heave to was obeyed.

Whatever means of attack or defence was possessed by the escapees were thrown overboard before surrender. The prisoners had a sufficiency of provisions and water to last them for a considerable time, but the quality of the former waa not. quite what was necessary. The crew of the scow were well treat* ed up to the time of the recapture, and | were given the same food, etc., as the escapees themselves. In many ways much forethought and ingenuity were shown by the prisoners in their plans and preparations for the escape. SEARCHERS' UNPLEASANT EXPERI. ENCES. Auckland, Last Night. All concerned in searching for the Germans during the' eight daya and nights intervening between their escape and recapture had a most strenuous experience, and in some cases minor mishaps occurred. During a great part of the time in which the various craft were patrolling the sea, scouring the different bays along the coast, or examining islands for traces of the fugitivevs, the weath'er was exceedingly rough. In spite of thiß fact, and of their long hours on duty, the civilian and military searchers, to say nothing of the officers and erewa engaged is the hunt, remained faithfully and cheerfully at their posts. The Court of Enquiry ippointcd to investigate- the cscn.pc of the eleven German prisoners of war is now engaged in preparing its report for submission to (he Minister of Dofcr.cc. THE ENQUIRY. At the Motuihi enquiry Sergt.-Major St. C. Keogh, sergeant-major of the Motuihi detachment, said that with the exception of the crew of Colonel Turner's launch, none of the prisoners of war went to Auckland between the time of the scare and the escape. According W the oliicial diary B. Hansen visited the island on November 21. Witness knew he was the son of a prisoner of war, P. Hanson, and was sixteen years of age. He came to visit his father. The diary also showed that prisoners of war Brackebuach and Krdmann arrived on Nevember 30.

Witness discovered that the prisoners who escaped took away with them 40 fowls and two turkeys. They were prepared in a concentrated form, similar to meat extract. They also took at least 400 yolks of eggs beaten up and preserved in spirit, which they had distilled from jam, the whole preparation haying been placed in sealed tins. About four sealed kerosene tins of boiled water were taken, also flour made into dough. Witness (bought that a quantity of sugar was also taken. The fowls were the property of the prisoners. Witness also discovered that there were 41b or 51b of blasting powder missing from one of the outbuildings belonging to tho farm. The caretaker informed witneus and later Major Schofield, now aeUngconunaiuler of the island, that vliou he took over from tho other narittaker he was not aware there was any blasting powder, but he had used all ho had found to Must some post holes. Witness further discovered that the prisoners took away a supply of bombs made on Motuilii. Continuing, witness said he approached the other prisoners on the island, they said they knew nothing about the escape, and were as much surprised as witness to hear of it. During the day of the escape he did not notice anything unusual in von Luckner's movements. He *a\v him on several occasions about the camp. When the witness and Colonel Turner went down to the wharf they met Sergeant Leslie bringing the cart up. Sergeant Leslie explained that he had found the cart tied up at the wharf. Witness said this was not the first occasion on which cart had been left unattended at that spot, but it had never occurred at such a late hour. The cart wag usually driven by Schmidt, one of the prisoners who pseaped, Schmidt had been spoken to on previous occasions for leaving the curt unattended. - Although it was an un.isual hour for the cart to be at the wharf, witness knew there was coal v> be carted, and hv was therefore not suspicious.