THE GERMAN ESCAPEES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 80, 28 December 1917, Page 8

THE GERMAN ESCAPEES

MUCH FORETHOUGHT AND INGENUITY DISPLAYED SCOW'S CREW WELL TREATED STATEMENT BY NAVAL ADVISER By Telegraph—Press Association./ Auckland, December 27. The following statement has been issued, by the Naval Adviser.:— "I'he "escaped German prisoners, who have now, to the credit of the country, been returned to New Zealand, appear to have obeyed carefully the normal rules of war in all their proceedings. After escapiug from Motuihi they concealed themselves in one of tho numerous small inlets of the islands until a suitable craft for their purposes was sighted. Meanwhile they-had taken the precaution of proceeding outsido the three-mile limit, and there swear-ing-in all the escapees as members of. the Kaiser's navy, thus making them all members of tho Imperial German forces. When capturing the Moa, which apparently had not heard of tho escape before sailing from Tauranga, the Germans approached under the New Zealand flag, but "just previously to committing any act of war a German ensign of small size was hoisted.

"Apparently the launch Pearl hailed the Moa to heave to, then went alongside and at once put ten men on board her. The unsuspecting crew, who were mostly below at the moment, were, of course, outnumbered and overpowered. They wore told they were civilian prisoners of the Kaiser nnd must do as they were told, and that they would be recompensed for any loss of pay they suffered while,working for Germany. The launch was then taken in tow and sail made to the northward. Unfortunately for.the escapees the launch foundered in the heavy seas some hours later, thus depriving them of a very useful adjunct, and materially assisting in their recapture. "When finally recaptured the escapees were again flying the German ensign, and surrendered as prisoners of war. The fact that the recapturing ehipwas efficiently armed undoubtedly led to their surrender, which occurred immediately it was realised that guns of moderate calibre were avnilsibK Had the shin not been so armed, it is probable tho escapees would have put up a capable resistance, an<i as a matter of fact a {hm fhad to be fired closeto the Mm .before the order to heave to was obeved. . Whatever means of attack or defence were possessed by the escnpees wer» thrown overboard befo™ t] le surrender.

"The prisoners hnd a sufficiency of provisions and water to lost them for Rome considerable time, but the quality of tiie former was not nuite wh.it was necessary. The crew, of the scow were well treated np to tho timo of the recapture, and were given the same fnod, etc., as the escapees themselves. Tn many ways pinch forethought and ingenuity were shown by. the prisoners in tlieiV plans and preparations for escape." TRYING TIME FOR SEARCHERS. By Telegraph—Proas Association. Auckland, December 27. All concerned in searching for the Germans duriug the eight days and nights intervening between their escape and recapture had a most strenuous experience, and iu some cases minor mishaps occurred. During a great part of the time in which various craft were patrolling the sea, scouring different bays along the coast, or exi>mining the islands for traces of tlie fugitives; the weather was exceedingly rough. .In spite of this fact and of the long hours on duty, the civilian and military searchers, to say nothing of the officers arid crews, engaged in the hunt, remained faithfully and cheerfully at their posts. The Court of Inquiry appointed to investigate the escape of the eleven German prisoners of war from the Motuihi Internment Camp is now engaged in preparing a report for submission to the Minister of Defence.