RECAPTURED GERMANS.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 January 1918, Page 2

RECAPTURED GERMANS.

LIFE OX TUi: scow. FURTHER DETAILS OK Tilli ESCAPADE. There is still much speculation regarding (ho German prisoner; who escaped from Motiiihi and wore, tcoaplmod mid brought hack last wool- Count von l.iickiicr protested strongly against being taken to Mount Eden, contending Hint this was not in accordance with the articles of war.'and that the authorities had no right to take this course. The fact remains, however, that thev will he held there, until definite arrangements have, been made elsewhere, "HARD LUCK, EH?" . Captain Bourke of the scow Mon, lias ?omc interesting to relate regarding the prisoners while they were in possession of the- Moa. As has already been stated, the Germans treated the crew of the Moa well, and Captain Bourke's verdict is that, the <otmt is a good sport. When the latter and his men first boarded the Moa, Captain Bourke naturally indulged in some language that was not altogether parliamentary, and remarked that, it was d hard luck to he captured in that fashion. Count von Luekner simply smiled and took charge of the scow. The joke was on the Count, however. When he in turn was captured. When he was going over the stern of the scow to go on board the capturing steamer, he turned to Captain Bourke and remarked smilingly: "Hard luck, eh?" Tt was Captain Bourke's turn to smile, and he did.

The Court and i,ie other prisoners spoke freely of the doings of the Germans while they were in charge of the seow. They were very bitter against the English as a nation, blaming them for all their troubles since the outbreak of war. Their animosity, however, did not take any personal form so far as the crew of the Moa were concerned. In addition to other matters the Count mentioned the case of Captain Fryatt, wlio, it will be remembered, was shot by the Germans under circumstances that did not rebound to their credit. He stated that the Germans had no idpa who the man they had shot was till they saw his name in the English papers, and noted the fact that he had 'been presented '.Villi a watch by the King. Following this "they made an inspection of Captain Fryatt's belongings and proved his identity by the watch. A CART AND AN OPEN DOOR. £• the scow Count von Luekner and Lieut. Kirscheiss installed themselves in Captain Bourke's quarters aft, the rest of the Germans being also housed aft. A picture of Lord Kitchener had been placed up by the crew of the seow in the place Where they took their meals. This had been pulled down by the Germans and pictures of Hindenlmrg placed in the captain's quarters instead. The discipline 'between the prisoners appeared to he fairly rigid, and the Count 'was sainted as soon as he appeared on deck in the mornings.

The latter was questioned regarding his escape from the island, and in re]v is reported to have said, "Well, if you supply me with a cart and leave the door wide open, what would you do?'' It ■was stated also by the Germans or. board that they were prepared to escape some seventeen or eighteen days before the actual night of their escape.' and that they got a German cook appointed on the island so that he might assist them in procuring the necessary nrovisions. especially the tinned fowl they only ran the German flag to the masthead when they found that thev had to surrender again to the steamer that effected their capture, and, as already stated, they also hoisted it at the time they took the Moa : that is to say, one of the men held the flag aloft on a. small pole. DAMAGE TO THE MOA. The captain of the Moa, which is now berthed alongside the Leyland-O'Brien Timber Co.'s mill, states that (Ik- vessel has been considerably damaged, and it, is estimated that it will probably cost some £2OO to restore her to her former seaWorthy condition When she left faurangashe had or. board about 80,000 ft of sawn rirati, which was worth, between £SOO and £6oo'. It is estimated that about two-thirds of this Inn been thrown overboard, and, unfortunately, it is the timber of the best quality that has been thrown into the sea. so that the loss to the owners is considerable. When the Germans first started to jettison this timber they were going to throw, over'board a big derrick which had been unshipped and was Ivinjr o>. *-- of the timhor. Captain Bourke, however, saved the situation by remarking that if thev threw this overboard the? would be upable to hoist, the launch 'on board when the weather took up. This argument appealed to the Count, and the derrick wns retained.

A great deal has been said rrsardln* the quantity of water on the seow in

the possession of the prisoners. It j H j„. (cresting to learn that on the seow here wore two 000-gallon tanks forward and one fflO-gallon tank aft. There had 'ill been filled at Omnkoroa. and contained beautifully fresh water obtained from a spring at the latter place.