THE ,OTUIHI INQUIRY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 74, 20 December 1917, Page 8

THE ,OTUIHI INQUIRY

GUARD ARRANGEMENTS

COLONEL TURNER GIVES DETAILS

AN ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE EXPECTED

THE TRANSFER OF ERDMAN

DEFENCE MINISTER DEEMS IT INADVISABLE. ■ By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, December 19. Continuing his evidenco before the Court of Inquiry this morning, Liout.Colonel Turner stated that he had been slightly mistaken yesterday when ho stated that tho average strength of tho detachment on the island before reduction was 35. It was really between 32 and 33. He had been called up for the inquiry at short notice. Ho haa been under the impression that the inquiry proper would not commence till to-day, and consequently ho had not been prepared, and he had only been able to get his adviser late last night. His military reputation was at stake. He held that he had already been prejudiced by the public and Press, and that time'should be given him to consult Ins adviser, who had not yet arrived. This was asreed .to by the Court. Continuin?rwitness gave evidenco regarding the detail of the detachment on the island. The men were all trained men, and available for duty in case of alarm or other necessity. Of the whole detachment an average of five men were alwavs on leave. When the reduction was made, the detachment was employed as under Eight were employed as police and patrols, there were two police on leave, and two spare men in case of sickness or other emergency; there was also one each sergeant-major, aunrtcrmaster-sereennt, orderly-room clerk, supolv corporal, c/irporal. cook, officers' orderly, N.C.O.'s, messmaii, bugler, and carpentei. The See Adler's Officers. With regard to the arrival of the two See Adlor's officers, they were confined to the barracks yard and avenue. This precaution was adopted in order to keep the men under close surveillance until be had time to decide what liberty the men mi<*bt be given. He also warned the whole detachment that greater precautions were necessary. He made no report to a higher authority regarding these men, as they had been sent to him and lie had to do tho best _ lie could. When they arrived lie received a letter from the Director of Personal Services saving that these two prisoners required extra surveillance.

Sir James Allen's Visit, On November 10, 1917, tho Minister of Defence visited tho island. During the visit witness pointed out to the Minister that tho men comprising tlio guard were of the C 2 class, ana therefore not of the same strong physimie a« the prisoners. While going the. rounds the Minister interviewed von Luckner, and the latter asked for the transfer of his four men from Somes Island, or at least that he might have the leading seaman (Erdman) as orderly. After leaving the prisoners the Minister remarked to witness that he did not think the transfer advisable. A few days _ later however, Erdman arrived at the island. On tlie following day witness went to Auckland, and was directed by t oloncl Patterson to see the Minister (it Defence, who had expressed concern regarding the fact that the detachment was unarmed. He wanted to know also Tvhere the. rifles were kept. Witness explained the reasons, statins that in consequence of a conversation with Major-General Robin in July, an alteration from the standing cuard I o military police had been made, in order to reduce the cost of maintenance for the island Witness told the Minister he had just prepared a statement regardinn- the reduced cost. The second footnote on this statement read :— J lie nominal strength of the guard up to August 1 was 35., This has been reduced to 24. with a system of police patrols in place of standing (inards Cmtimiinp. witness stated '.hat the Minister did not suggest anv alteration in the system at that time.

An Interview with General Robin,

Under instruction witness came to District Headquarters to interview Major-General Rohin. A number of questions were asked by the General regarding the system of protection, about the censoring of all parcels and letters to prisoners, and the ronsoriiirr of anv parcels sent to the Government Agricultural Depot on the island. Witness was also questioned about the launch Pearl, and as far as lie could remember lie explained that lifi nwis using two German prisoner,s as engineer and deckhand, as there was no one. in witness's detachment capable of working tbo launch. Witness a.so explained that the use of the launch led to certain economy, and that ?n escort of two soldiers was usually provided comprising either himself or two i of the men. The General also inquired about visitors to the prisoners, and witness informed him that the rro visitor ho'objected to most was the wife of one of the interned men, v.-ho had obtained a Pass from a higher authority. He did not consider there was any danger whatever from 'he visits of wives" of the other prisoners. In witness's opinion, the General was apprrhensive regarding the See Wller. Colonel Patterson was present during the internet, .it whjrh the uoncrnl j emphasised the necessity for rcononiv. Before returning to the island, (oloncl Patterson informed him that on account of some information about some ccow= he was going to send r-ome iaunches to natrol Motuihi lut they would not call at the island. Oil the following evening- at nine o'oMr he met a launch at the whnrf, and nfoinr Price, A.A.0., w i> o ™ t ' lP '"'"eh. handed him a secret letter, which nnlv contained details about the patrol launches. Witness asked Maior Trice what it was all about, and the latter replied that from information he had received, it was supposed that there would be an attempt to assist the prisnners to escape. Witness remarked to Major Price that his detachment was not strong enough to resist a landing, and to guard the prisoners in their quarters as well. Major Price stated that the launches would patrol the island if witness would look t.ftar the prisoners. He stated further that his own launch could receive a signal when wituess had his dispositions arranged. Tho signal was to be the waving of a hurricane lamp, and Major 1 rice would reply with one long Hash. Witness posted four men and a corporal at tho guard room, six men and a corporal at; tho ni"ht quarters, a sergeant and six, men across the narrow neck by the olu wharf, and a corporal, cook, and two men in charge of the barracks. Ho had the chest of spare rifles taken mt<> the bush and hidden. All the ammunition on the island was issued to the men, On tho following day they went back to normal conditions. Witness was told that the patrols were to be continued that night and he placed half a detachment wider arms. Except that the men on the narrow neck were taken off (half the detachment was sleeping fully dressed and armed) tho samo 'programme was earned out on

tlio day following. On this _ day lie rang up Headquarters and liilorinci. them that if this weru to bo continued ho must ho reinforced at once. Witness himself and the non-commissioned officers had been up all night for two nights running, and had to carry om day duties as well. Witness could not remember what reply he received, but as a reside lio ceased to tako extra precautions, but ho put on two extra armed men from 11 n.ui. till daylight. These men wore to patrol the cliffs, and at the back of the prisoners' barracks. As a result he did not have sufficient men for patrol work during tho da) • At the same time, visits were made t> the southern portions of tho island voluntarily by men not on duty, and now and thou by witness. Oil November 2S two men were sent by District Headquarters, on loan, loi patrol purposes, but their conduct wai: such that ho did not consider them suitable, and he returned them to town next morning as far as he could remember. During the scare, a systor of telephone messages to Auckland was introduced under Colonel Patterson s instructions. Tho latter was to be rung up from the puard room at midmgnc every night when he gave instructions as to what other hours he was to bo run" Tip at during the jiiglit. ilui was°done to test communications. Ilia . telephone was in sucli constant use i during the day and evening,, bccaiiwi. there were eifdit other places beyon I Motuihi connected with the line, tha .t. special communications were not col 1sidered necessary. Theso. general Arrangements were now carried on as a normal procedure.

How the Cormans Were Left on 1 :he Launch.

The safety of the launch was assured by tho removal of the sparking pfr'ugs and castings when they went ash ore. These were removed by the engm .eer, who was a German prisoner, lhis man would bring them to witness's quarters. The man did uot follow in amediately, as the dinghy would hold two and the escort and witness la mded on the Vharf first. Tho two Ger mans took the launch to the mooring s because the dinghy would only hold., two. Usually witness remained and ko| jt the launch in. view till the dinghy ' came ashore. Almost invariably when witness returned from Auckland tl te ser-geant-major would meet him it tiuwliarf, accompauicd by a N.C.Oi. The prisoners, when tlicy landed from the dinghy, would take the sparkin; f plugs and paddles Tip to witness's quarters, leaving the dinghy on the ber.ieh. h would bo passible for the two "lieu not. to be under observation from • the tmie they left the dinghy. The ' sparking plugs were kept in a draws, r in witness's room. This drawer l.vas not locked, but only the orderly knew where they were kept.

Tho Rifles and Ammunition, Spare rilles were kept in aji. arm chest under a bed in the orderly corporal's room. This room was_ loij fed during the day, and was occupied orderly corporal and anotj ler"'man at night. Tho ammunition ivq s kept locked in tho sergeant-major's room. Witness allowed the police to < iarry revolvers, and he believed then) were sufficient to arm all those on duty in the daytime. Thero were 110, rifles in tho guard room. In the eveui} of someone making for, the launch iir, an attempt to get away with it, wit; A ess was of opinion that it would t-ai:c ten minutes before the men could be ; ; ired upon provided the prisoners took the most favourable route. In that t imo the launch could be at least a niilo nway from tho island. The inquiry adjournal in order that a visit might be paid in; the island.

THE ESCAPED I 'RISONERS SEARCH STILL PROCEEDING. It is understood t hat information which has reached the; authorities confirms tho report that the escaped German prisoners captni ed the scow Moa somo days ago. Tho! present whereabouts of the"~Moa is ijnknown. It is assumed that if tho C' trmans had suffi-cient-food they woulfi get out to sea as quickly as possible. A long voyage il'in scow like the Moa would he regs J'ded by most seamen as hazardous. The weather in tho north has been bad during tho last few days, and experts express an opinion that if the Germe.Tis are running for one of the Pacific ; islands they are facing big risks. The number of vessels engaged in the search is being increased.