NOT CAUGHT YET

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 November 1941, Page 6

NOT CAUGHT YET

GERMANS WHO ESCAPED FROM SOMES ISLAND WIDESPREAD SEARCH ORGANISED. ABSCONDERS MAY HAVE BEEN ASSISTED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The three German internees who escaped from Somes Island internment station are still at liberty, evading the widespread efforts of police and military to recapture them. Every police officer in the North Island is on the lookout for them. It is considered unlikely that they would have been able to get south because of the strict surveillance exercised over the express steamers.

The fact of their escape being undetected from at least roll call, 10 p.m., Wednesday, to reveille, 6 a.m., Thursday, gave them up to eight hours’ start on their present pursuers. If they had made contact with accomplices or sympathisers on making land at Petone, they could have received great assistance in making a getaway. As all aliens, their whereabouts and movements, are constantly known to the police, it would be a dangerous move for any to shelter these German escapees and equally unwise for the latter to make contact with alien friends directly. There would have been no lack of opportunity for the escapees, to plan their escape, as the internees are given a virtual parole of the island during the afternoons: It is not impossible that they may have been able to communicate with accomplices outside. This fact has not been overlooked by _ the authorities, and recent visitors to the island to see any of the escapees have been closely questioned. The last occasion on which visitors were at the island was on Wednesday, the day of .'the escape. Conversations . between visitors and internees. Tn foreign languages are forbidden, as is the handing over of messages. It is not impossible, however, for the latter to have occurred. PUBLIC MAY HELP IF MEN ARE IN HIDING. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This -Day. There is no word yet of the whereabouts of the men who escaped from Somes Island. If the men are in hiding, it is the public'themselves who are most likely to bring about the capture, and any suspicious circumstances or movements should be reported.