THE GERMAN ESCAPEES.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 December 1917, Page 5

THE GERMAN ESCAPEES.

NARRATIVE OF THEIR IWINOS,' "YOU LEFT THE DOOR OPEN!* PRISONERS IN MT. EDEN GAO&, By Telegraph.—Press Aasociatiaß. n uv x. Auckland, Last Night Publication of the ioflowiflg is authorised by the Navsl Adviser: Leaving Motuihi on the evening of December ,13, the Qemifins mado dixwfr round to Mercury Islands, reaching fN, ' group in twelve faoura. Count von Luck- x uer posted a look-out on the'jhigh Mtland of Red Mercury Island, the eastern most of the group. This man discovered the approach of the scows Moa Rangi. Von Luckner immediately,' decidcd to seize the Moa, allowing ytfca Rangi to pass the launch, which steered for the Moa. The crew -Mm scow watched the approach of the without alarm, not knowing of • cape. Only one man was seen it' ■£/> stern of the launch. He was "fat kMtf Immediately the launch ran akaqJSb the remaining members of the peared. They were armed wfth viSm - appeared to be bombs. The Moa WH boarded, and the crew informed < £i they were civilian prisoners of tbe 3W ser. The Germans had a band-madeaaMoi ' tical instrument for ascertaining Oih position, and also a rough dart WtA out of two old maps taken from>m«HM The Germans took foil duueg^ Moa, but made the scow's crew wodbfti vessel. The Germans had soflktentrSGwjd to last two or three weeks.

Land was sighted on. the TrmrniMySfrl December 21. five Germans' went a&tgt in a dinghy, and returned with aHH of provisions from the depot. BwdtjK was ashore for a second load vboMi steamer was sighted. The GfflfonS ashore were signalled to re tun to ijjfii Moa, which was put under way wtfbill sails set, in a westerly direction. On December 21 the steamer seat fa search for the Germans was steamtig towards Curtis Island, and was fifteen to the north of that island 'whin the <Moa was sighted in in TiTi Ttiilrfpfl cove. As soon as the Germans saw tie steamer, the Moa was directed on '■ course to the west under foil pres* <iS sail. The signal "Heave to or I was hoisted on the steamer, bat f%a Moa's course was not altered. She then stopped by a shot across her bow , Von Luckner remarked? to tfce^aptOQßi l "You left the door open. Tom "mrmrt blame me for walking out." Prior to any of the board the steamer, they were ohaentpl to throw in the sea*a number of wtajupt Shortly after their arrival on MfedßM day the recaptured men werecoßWywMM the Mt. Eden gaol. Their ftrture WW sition has not yet been dedQed daQnwl ly, but it is unlikely that t&ty hack to Motuihi ■ ii' Von Luckner and weM-eMtb dressed i&.khaki uniform, and mkjbb rafljW caps. Von Egidy, who wan tapßedmN plantation owner in Samoa, <s■» "JthH in with the other members of fibo fIMU and supplied with tbg tmifonaiiafjtfWWl potty officer. ( SOJOURNING M? a i (From Our Own 1 Wellington, Dec: ! It is understood that the reuapfaailij German prisoners of war are ' in the Mt. Eden gaol. Their position has not yet been deoiikd DpM definitely. It is unlikely in any owj that they all go back to MotoihL Qandt. Island is regarded as a confinement. The Germans csmwt pndj eriy be punished for their attarf; a escape, but the authoritiea in land are entitled to take special |igwßjj> tions for the future, and tbese tions may involve Borne etiwtaato* A duction of the privileges joyed by the Germans. #j