WAR PRISONERS ESCAPE

Evening Star, Issue 16559, 19 October 1917, Page 6

WAR PRISONERS ESCAPE

RESOURCEFUL GERMANS. LONDON, September 26. Twenty-four German officers, prisoners of war, escaped from a war prisoners' camp in Leicestershire. Nine were recaptured before very long. The escapees tunnelled under a wire surrounding the compound. Apparently the guards were unaware of the escape until a policemtn caught sight of one of the men. All the escapes carried a larce supply of tinned meat and biscuits, also a map showing the road to the coast. The prison-breakers includo Lieutenant Thekn and also Lieutenant Lehmann, Thelen's companion, who had escasod before. Both were recaptured. Lieutenant Thelon had escaped on three previous occasions—from Donington Hall in September, 1915, from Maidenhead Camp in February, 1916, and from Chelmsford Gaol on or about May 26. In the lastnamed case his cell was apparently locked and barred on Saturday night, and a warder saw Thelon and a companion, peacefully asleep at intervals throughout tho night. In reality, two dummies occupied the beds, of which the heads were made from mattresses. Dummy padlocks made from cardboard, had been used to replace the locks, which had been picked Ihelen had also picked the locks of the corridor and the gate in tho gaol yard Finally, he and his companion climbed the gaol wall, and reached the open country. Cyclists who set out in pursuit found them hiding in a stream, with the water up to their chins. Thelen was recaptured.

EMDEN'S CAPTAIN RECAPTURED. LONDON, September 27. Among the 24 officers who escaped from a camp in Leicestershire was Captain Muller, of the Emden. He has been recaptured. He had a compass, money and food enough for 48 hours in a big kit-bag Muller was dressed in civilian clothes. He was discovered by children who "were blackberrying in Tolerton Wood. They informed the police. Mnller made three attempts to re-escape, which were frustrated. Nine of the escapees have been recaptured. Several had nearly a hundredweight of food and clothing. The subterranean tunnel by which they escaped is 40 yards longr-