MOTUIHI ESCAPEES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 9212, 5 February 1918, Page 3

MOTUIHI ESCAPEES.

RESPONSIBILITY OF OFFICERS. AN INQUIRY OPENED. AUCKLAND, February 4. The Court of Inquiry to determine tho responsibility of Colonel Patterson and Major Osborno Lilly in respect of the escape of German prisoners from Motuihi, opened to-day. Dr. , Bam ford represented Colonel Patterson, and Mr Meredith appeared for Major Lilly. Colonel Mac Donald, Director of Infantry, gave evidence that he was General Staff Officer in Auckland when the Motuihi detachment first was established. It then was under charge of the Officer Commanding, the District, but owing to pressure of work (Control was handed over to tho Coast Defence Commander. It was understood that the Officer Commanding the District could intervene if any matter connected with the camp did not meet with his approval. He did ,so intervene on occasions. Headquarters, Wellington, sent letters and orders direct to the Camp Commandant. When the first prisoners arrived a'telegram was received by District Headquarters that a guard was to be established by the district, the number of the guard to be confirmed ,by Headquarters, Wellington.' The original letter of instructions to Colpnel Turner, prepared by Colonel Pilkington, then Adjutant-General, contained a paragraph which was struck out at Headquarters, Wellington, to the effect that all administrative correspondence was to be addressed through District Headquarters. According to Colonel Turner's instructions, witness considered that the Officer Commanding the District was not responsible for the safeguard of prisoners.

Dr. Bamford produced a letter by .Colonel Patterson to General Robiii on November 26 last, in which he recommended that the strength of the guard should bo increased and tho two naval officers recently interned should be removed to some place by themselves, as they were enterprising individuals; further, that aliens should be prohibited from visiting the prisoners. Colonel Turner; gave evidence supplementary to that at the first Court of Inquiry. He was responsible for Colonel Patterson's letter asking for an increased guard. Pie had made a verbal request to Major Sir Robert Walker when Colonel Pilkington gave him his letter of instructions, and before the cancelling of the paragraph regarding correspondence. Colonel Pilkington consulted General Robin. An officer in the room at the time stated that the commandants of internment camps in England communicated direct with_ the War Office. Witness never considered that he was under District Headquarters. He invariably wrote to the Adjutant-Gen-eral, Wellington, on all matters of administration, though he always sent a copy to District Headquarters for their information. He never expected orders from District Headquarters. Regarding tho prisoners, he considered that all matters regarding the safeguard of prisoners were to be arranged between himself and headquarters, Wellington.