The Dominion. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1917. THE ENEMY IN OUR MIDST

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 70, 15 December 1917, Page 8

The Dominion. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1917. THE ENEMY IN OUR MIDST

All who have entertained a comfortable belief Uiafc enemy aliens in this country arc kept under adequate control will have their confidence rudely, shaken by, events reported to-day in three of our principal ports. These 'events in themselves are startling, but they should, in one case at least, command at- j tcntio.n above ajl as an exposure and indictment of the inexcusable neglect, that made them possible. Ten prisoners of- war, including' two naval officers, have escaped from Motuihi Island, in Auckland Harbour, in a' launch, and as information stands they are still at large. On top of this, serious shipping fires are reported at Lyttelton and hero in Wellington. In the Lyttelton case fire obtained such a hold in a ship that it was found | necessary to sink her. An outbreak of fire in the bunkers of a ship lying in the local port was suppressed by the strenuous exertions of her officers and crew.- At the moment there is no direct evidence that these unexplained fires were clue to enemy agency, but they wear a suspicious look and will accentuato the. feelings of profound mistrust and uneasiness which will be and ought to bo occasioned in the public mind by the escape of enemy prisoners at Auckland. If there is an explanation of these fires which would rebut and exclude the theory of enemy agency, the Government should hasten to make it known. In regard to the escape of prisoners from Motuihi, no explanation and no palliation is possible. Tho event makes it painfully clear that our authorities have been culpably slack in dealing with at least one aspect of tho enemy alien problem, and certainly gives no ground for confidence that other measures for dealing with the enemy in. our midst have proved effective. The Defence.Ministbu's announcement regarding ■ the cswipo from Motuihi will do doubt be-fol-lowed by ari 'assurance; th'at the per-

Bon or persons primarily responsible will ha forthwith tried by courtmartial. Tho serious responsibility re-sting on the officer in charge of the island is shared by his superiors as well as by his subordinates. It is one of the first demands of the situation that exemplary punishment should be inflicted on those who permitted the prisoners to escape. It is for a properly constituted tribunal to determine who are the- guilty parties, and certainly there should bo no delay in setting the machinery of justice in motion. The facts which meantime command attention are that the escape was only made possible by negligence, and that it may possibly entail the gravest consequences. An energetic pursuit may result in the early recapture of the prisoners. On the other hand, if they escape tho first pursuit it is difficult to say where their adventure may end. It is not impossible that the assistance of confederates has enabled them to obtain a certain amount of equipment as well as a launch, and unless they arc speedily recaptured ships plying on the New Zealand coast in fancied security may find themselves exposed to attack and capture. Considering the initial enterprise shown by the escaping prisoners, it is an open possibility that the last stage of the affair may bo the costly and difficult pursuit of another German raider. These consequences may not arise, but they have been invited by conditions suggesting gross carelessness which made ifc possible for the prisoners to escape. Humiliating as the affair is in its exposuro of the carelessness or neglect of tho military authorities entrusted with the custody of interned aliens and prisoners of war, it will produce one good result if it so rouses public opinion as to induce tho Government to take more seriously than has yet been made apparent the dangers make possible by enemy influence here. The activities of oneniy agents throughout the world have been made tawyri to everyone, and there is no possible reason for believing that New Zealand is free from such dangers. _ It is a most difficult task, but it is plain that more effective measures are- required against the enemy in our midst in all the disguises ho is liable to, assume. The escape from Motuihi emphasises tho necessity, and it is distinctly possible that tho. shipping fires at Lyttelton and Wellington supply further evidence 'to tho same effect. Some time ago, following on shipping fires at Auckland and other events which emphasised the need for action, it was announced that new and rigorous measures had been taken to control enemy aliens and chetkmate enemy conspiracy. We now havo evidence, conclusive in one case- and highly suggestive in others, that these nica*surcs fall short of what is necessary. It is chiefly as an indication that the problem of anticipating and defeating enemy efforts calls for more drastic action than has yet been .taken that the escape from •Motuihi , is calculated to awaken public distrust and uneasiness. Tho Government cannot too speedily re..raqve this impression "by instituting a really firm and drastic policy where enemy aliens are concerned. It must bo prepared to deal not only with those who appear openly in that character, but with all who may reasonably be suspected of intending to act in the interests of (he enemy and are in a position to do so.. The -Government possesses ample powers to so act. That there must bo no more events liko the. escape from Motuihi and that the negligence which made ifc: possible must bo punished as it deserves should go without saying. But a. case .appears also for thoroughly overhauling and supplementing at all "necessary points tho wholo of the organisation created to deal with enemy aliens. After such a lesson as it has now been taught, the Government would invite something more than censure if it left any further scope for enemy action in prison camps or ports, or at any other point.