COURT OF INQUIRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17666, 19 December 1917, Page 6

COURT OF INQUIRY.

PROCEEDINGS OPENED. THE CAMP COMMANDANT EXAMINED. [Per Press Association.] AUCKLAND, December 18. A court of inquiry int.o the escape of eleven men from Motuihi on Thursday evening was formally opened before Colonel C. R. Macdonald (president), Lieutenant-Colonel Neave and Lieuten-ant-C.olonel Gumming. Commissioner O’Donovan and Superintendent Kiely, of the police, were also present. MINISTER’S MEMORANDUM. The president road a memorandum, dated November 27, from the Minister of Defence to the commandant at Motuihi (Lieutenant-Colonel C. Harcourt Turner) as follows: ‘ 1 The Minister of Defence has directed attention to the fact that certain circumstances in connection with the guards of Motuihi Island have caused him some concern. The Minister further states that at the time of his visit the guard was unarmed, and/ (that dn his opinion tho arms wore not kept in a safe place and that the ammunition, though under lock and key, was not guarded. The Minister has directed attention to the fact that ho was not satisfied that there is proper supervision in other matters. ‘lt is desired that you furnish replies to the following questions:— (1) Why was tho guard unarmed at the time of the visit of the Minister? (2) At what time, and for what reason, are members of the guard permitted to leave off their arms? (3) (a) What sentries are posted for duty during tho day? (b) What sentries are posted for duty at night? (c) What arms do such sentries carry at night and during the night? (4) (a) What precaution is taken for tho safe custody of ammunition? (b) What guard is placed over the ammunition? . (6) (a) What supervision is exercised .over incoming goods and parcels for prisoners of ' war ? (b) In what manner are such parcels examined? (c) What precaution is taken to guard against prisoners of war receiving dangerous material which may bo concealed in such parens? . . . (7) What supervision is exercised over goods and parcels received by the farming staff at Motuihi? (8) In what manner is the telephone line between Motuihi Island and Auckland guarded at Motuihi Island ? COMMANDANT’S EVIDENCE.

Colonel Turner, in evidence, stated that he took over tho command of the island about May 9, 1917, and received absolutely no instructions from Captain Winthrop, bis predecessor. 'Hie president: Usually the outgoing officer explains the system followed to his successor. Witness: That did not take place when I actually took over the island. He was not there. Before coming to Auckland I went to headquarters at Wellington and asked to see the files relating to Motuihi. I could find in them nothing relating to the original organisation of the camp or how it was being administered. Witness was afterwards told by Colonel Macdonald that the Coast Defence were managing the camp and that Major Meikle would give the necessary information. Major Meikle referred him to Sergeant-Major Mulholland. Upon arriving in Auckland lie went down to the island to have a look round. Captain Winthrop was in his quarters aud remained there all the time witness was on the island. He found out nothing about the island =tieak about during

this visit, which lasted about an hour and a half. On officially taking over the island he found that there was no establishment laid down, it being apparently left to the commandant to employ the number of men he deemed necessary. The average establishment he had until September last was thirtyfive of all ranks. These were divided into four standing guards, each guard consisting of a lance-corporal and four men. Of tho four standing guards one guard should be on duty, one guard just off duty, one guard next for duty and tho fourth guard finding two men on patr.ol duty and fatigues if necessary. Each guard had always, one man on leave. The guard was on duty for twenty-four hours, the patrol remaining out during the day -time. This was the system existing when he officially took over the command. There were under forty prisoners on the island. The sentry and guard from 8 a.m. until dark was posted on. Tower Hill, from where he could get a view of the north beach and wharf with the road leading to it. He was also m full view of the guard. His beat extended from the kill to the wharf, ten minutes* march. At night there was one sentry posted in front of the guardro.om and his beat extended across the front of the barracks. A patrol 1 of two men was sent out about eight in the morning to patrol the south-eastern end of the island. He did not know definitely what time they returned, but lie thought about lockup time, which varied according to the seasons. , Tho president: Was the guard a f m " odP—Yes. Sentries, guard and patrol were all armed and carried ammunition-

Wero von satisfied with the arrangement? —I was satisfied with it and carried it on with the exception that 1 reduced tho be,at! of the sentry by day oil Tower Hill, confining the beat to tho kill itself. When, however, a launch approached tho wharf his orders were to leavo his beat and go of tho wharf after having hoisted two signal flags to denote to the guard that a boat was approaching. There were no general rules to this effect, but I decided upon the course. I also altered the beat of the night sentry by arranging that onco in every hour the sentry, in company with the corporal of the guard, was to encircle the barracks, also that the corporal of the guard should at intervals of not more than two hours patrol down the avenue. To ■whom did you report respecting the guard arrangements?—To the Ad-jutant-General direct. Did you report on taking over?— N.o. I had not been instructed to do so. Witness, continuing, said that orders to the sentry by day were that no launch was to approach within 300 yards of the island unless approaching the wharf, in which case he was to hoist a flag when the boat was twenty minutes away and a second flag when ten minutes away. He then proceeded to the wharf, remaining while the boat was alongside. In rough weather launches went to the north beach, an- . chorinig 100 or 200 yards from the shore, under the sentry's observation. Periodical visits wero made to the sentries. The orders were that the island must be constantly patrolled to see that no boats approached the island, and to see that no prisoners remained out after hours. Rifles were kept in the soldiers’ barracks, and orders were given that when rifles were in tho guardroom one man must be present and awake. Four men must be in the men’s quarters at the barracks. Six rounds oi ammunition were issued to each man. The quantity in store never was more than 500 rounds, stored in the sergeant-major’s rooms. There were two telephones from tho guardr.oom, one to Auckland and one to Waiheke, the connection being an ordinary overhead one. There was no particular order about guarding it, though the patrol would have it under observation. A connection later was made to the commandant’s house and the farm house. It was possible to communicate with Auckland or Waiheke only through the guardroom annunciator. All parcels and letters for the island were examined. All letters to and from prisoners were censored by the postal censor, with the exception of a few outward in English, winch witness censored. Prisoners had no other communication with Auckland. At one time they were allowed to visit their wives in Auckland, but that was stopped months ago. Visitors to the prisoners had to obtain passes. from the officer commanding the district or himself. Witness had issued very few passes himself. He had always oblected to visitors, on the ground that they might convey letters, messages or small parcels. Ho always hada feeling that they were weakly protected! Witness quoted a specific case of a pass granted by a higher au.Lit/ after Cotonel P.tterso" and witness had refused it. m in terviews husbands and wives were allowed to be alone together. In Pjj** anewou v , r who the visitor iris* Witness said that tiho launch used by him was moored SOO yardj from end of the wharf or about 500 or buu yards from Tower Hill, and » full view from there. The sentry on the mil could have fired at the launch at her moorings. REDUCTION OF GUARD. In July last' witness saw General Robin in Wellington; and was asked whether it would be possible to reduce the guards, as economy was necessary. Subsequently witness arrived at the* conclusion that the only way to reduce tho guards was to reduce 'the standing guards and institute a system of military police patrols, who usually were unarmed. The reduction was from thirty-five to twenty-four men, and tilus was agreed to bv Colonel Patterson, the change being mad© gradually during September. Headquarters wore informed, and tho Director of Personal Some© was at Motuihi in August and know of the contemplated change. Under tho reduced guard tho following arrangements were made and, with two exceptions, were in force when the escape was effected: —Six men were told off for a tour of twenty-four hours’ duty, divided into thr.ee reliefs, each of two men, and working for eigbti hours. One man would be in tho guardroom and tho other patrolling between Tower Hill and the guardroom. The other-four men would be about the barracks. In addition patrol duty was earned out as before, except that the men were unarmed. An extra man was put on wharf duty when a, launch came, and remained while the craft was there. H e was unarmed- One reason for the reduction of guard was that though tho numbers of prisoners increased to over eighty, they were mostly civilians, nearly all from Samoa. Considering the character of the prisoners and what he knew of them, li 0 considered the protection afforded bv military police patrols was ample. The system was in force when the officers of tho Seeadler arrived on October 8 last, The inquiry was adjourned.