ADMIRED HIS ENEMY

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 71, 25 March 1937, Page 12

ADMIRED HIS ENEMY

YON LUCKNER'S ESCAPE

WOULD NOT HAVE FIREp

"We had orders to shoot, but. it was not my intention to do so. Knowing what a thorough gentleman' the Count was, and admiring him for his brains, courage, and determination it. was my intention to puncture his boat below the waterline with my machine-guns, put him in the water, and then take him aboard." In these words, Mr. Claude W. Williams, formerly a staff sergeant-major in the New Zealand Permanent Force, and now in the boot repairing trade in Christchurch, recalled some of the circumstances surrounding the much publicised escape of Count Felix yon Luckner from Motuihi Island, in the Hauraki Gulf, during the Great War, states the "Star-Sun."

Mr. Williams is a fervent admirer of Count yon Luckner, and when the "Sea Devil" pays his visit to New Zealand, Mr. Williams intends calling upon him and talking over old times.

In an interview, Mr. Williams said before the Great War he had been a volunteer, • and in 1914 was called up for active service. He was present at the capture of Samoa, and upon his return to New Zealand was placed on the permanent staff at Auckland. Later, he was transferred to the Maori camps at Featherston. and , Tauherenikau.

It was while he was stationed at Auckland that • Staff Sergeant-Major Williams came in contact with the captured German raider. "One day we were informed by, the secret service that Count yon Luckner was planning an escape from Motuihi." said Mr. Williams. "Every night for three weeks 1 was out in an armed , launch, equipped with machine-guns,' patrol- ! ling in the vicinity of Motuihi. We were waiting for the Count to make his dash for freedom. | LANDED MUNITIONS. 1 "One night we put into Motuihi, i landed ammunition, and explained what we were doing. The authorities lon the island did not take us very seriously. Then we were told that it was no longer necessary to continue the patrol. Two days later Courft yon Luckner made his escape in the Pearl." ■ Mr. Williams said he was in charge of one of the armed launches which were sent in pursuit of the escaping raider. These launches travelled up the coast almost to the North Cape, stopping steamers and other launches. They had orders to shoot. In a few days the launches returned to their base and the armed cable steamer Iris was sent in pursuit.

"Count yon Luckner is a gentleman of the first degree," said Mr. Williams. "He is a man who will appeal to all New Zealanders. He had great physical strength and could rip a pack of cards and bend a penny with his hands. He was nevti- known to injure or to harm anyone. A man of iron grit and determination, he was the type that makes an Empire. I am sure that when he comes to New Zealand he will be given a wonderful reception as a friend." Mr. Williams is at present officer in charge of the British Corps of Frontiersmen in Christchurch.