THE MOTUIHI SENSATION.

Northern Advocate, 29 December 1917, Page 1

THE MOTUIHI SENSATION.

MAIN FACTS. OUTLINED

tiY OFF-OIAI- WARRANT-

VOYAGE AND 1 StJititfiNSEfl.

The following additional particulars concerning the German escapees frOm the time they slipped away from Motuihi until their return under escbr't tb" Auckland have been authorised by Captain' Hall-Thomp-son, naval adviser to the New Zealand Government. Contrary to general belief, the launch Pearl, with the escapees on board, did not cruise about looking for a vessel that would suit their pdrpose: They made straight for the Mercuries, Weil knowing that cbastal Vessels passed close tb th§3e islands, and that if a Vessel had not been warned her capture would not be such a difficult matter in view of the fact that Count yon Luckner and liis men were in possession of a means of offence and defence, stated in the evidence at the" Court of Inquiry to have been manufactured on the island of Motuihi. Arrived at the Mercuries, the escaped prisoners waited in an inlet for the appearance of a Vessel, and on Sunday nlOrning sighted the scow Moa and the scow Rangi shortly before 8 o'clock: They" waited untii the Moa, which ed to be the better of the two ScbwS, was close enough, and then made straight for her. The launch Was still carrying the New Zealand flag, and was sighted by some of the crew of the Moa while she was yet some distance away. As the latter had not been warned before leaving Tauranga that the prisoners had escaped they were naturally not suspicious that anything Was wrong, and made no attempt to keep away from the launch or in any" way to prevent her coming alongside. The remainder of the crew, who had been below at breakfast, had by this time come on deck. As soon as the launch came alongside one of the Germans hoisted the German flag, and the captain and crew of the scow were ordered to surrender. The order was backed up by arms in the hand of Count yon Luckner and one of the men at the back of him, while still another of the-Germans held in his hands two either real or sham bombs ready to throw.' In view of the fact that the captain and crew of the scow were unarmed they could do nothing but surrender with the best grace possible. Even had they known that the launch was in the hands of the Germans it is doubtful if they could have done much as they were not armed, and there was only a fourknot breeze blowing at the time, so that sailing away from the launch was out of the question. # AN ADAPTABLE GANG. As soon us the Germans came on board they at once assumed command, and the crew of the scow ware ordered to ma'.e sail, one of the Garmans taking the helm. As showing the thoroughness of their preparations before making good their escape, they were even in possession of an instrument for ascertaining their position, which, apparently, they had found the means of manufacturing. With this and the aid of a watch, used as a choronometer, they were able to navigate the scow comparatively accurately to the Kcrmadecs. The Germans wore the German uniform, even the planter from Samoa having been sworn in in neutral waters, and provided with the uniform of a petty officer. Count yon Luckner and Lieut. Kirscheiss both wore a uniform of khaki, with German badges on their caps. Members of the crew state that the Germans were very quick at picking up the method of working the scow, and that after two or three days they were able to work her as well as the men themselves. They experienced heavy weather all the way to the Kermadecs, and because of this they lost the launch. They could not swing her on board, and consequently she was swamped by the seas. A portion of the cargo of timber was thrown overboard to relieve the vessel, and make her easier to handle. The chance, of a recapture did not look altogether too rosy from the point of view of the crew of the scow, but they did not altogether lose hope, and during the night some of them managed to surreptitiously drop some pieces of timber overboard, one at least of which had the name "Moa" roughly written upon it. This was done in the hope that it would afford a clue to the direction that had been taken by the scow since her capture by the Germans. BROUGHT TO BOOK. The scow arrived at the Ker madecs,, where food was stored, before there was any sign of pursuit, and at once commenced to get th- 1 stores on the island on board. A quantity of these stores had already been placed on board when a pursuing vessel was sighted. The German flag was hoisted, and an attempt was made to sail away before the fast approaching steamer could get un. Apparently the Germans be-' Heved that the guns shown on were only dummies, and though': that they had a chance of running for it. A shot fired across their quarter, however, quickly disillusioned them, and orders were given by the Count to heave to. They were hailed by the steamer, and agreed to surrender.

It was decided that the scow should be taken in tow on the trip back, and with this object in view a cable was run from the steamer around the former's mast. Heaw weather was experienced the wdiole way back until they arrived within shelter of the land, and on two occasions they had to heave-to and on two other occasions were compelled to stop 5" order to adjust the towlines. The crew of the scow state that they were well treated by the Germans, and that they were assured by the. Count that they would be irnid while thov worked under the German Government. The ordv 'hHg to which exception wis H'-o:i w.'h; the fact that the csrt:>.in of the scow was compelled to. take his meals in the forecastle with the rest of the crew.