ESCAPE FROM CUSTODY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3327, 19 December 1917, Page 44

ESCAPE FROM CUSTODY.

PRISONERS OF WAR AT

LARGE

LAUNCH AND DINGHY COMMANDEERED.

AUCKLAND, December 14. - Ten German prisoners effected their escape from *the internment camp at Motuihi Island about 6.30 last evening.

They included Lieutenant-commander Felix von Luckner (commander of the German raider See Adler), Lieutenant Kirscheiss (navigating lieutenant on the See Adler), a man named Erdmann (a member of the Sec Adler's crew), a plantation owner named von Egidy (formerly of Samoa), two wireless operators, and four naval cadets (who were captured at Samoa shortly after the outbreak of the war). Vcn Luckner, Kirscheiss, and Erdmann were captured in a launch at Waikanga Island, in the Pacific, several weeks ago by a party of Fiji constabulary on board the steamer Am rah. With three other members of the crew, they were brought to New Zealand.

"The details so far obtainable show that the whole of the Germans were accounted for at the usual roll call at 6 p.m. yesterday, but soon afterwards the launch Pearl, used by the camp commandant, disappeared. It is believed that two Germans secured possession of the launch and a dinghy, and picked up the other eight at another pomt, where they wero waiting to embark. The Pearl and the dinghy were the only boats available, and pursuit by the guard was impossible. . There is a direct telephone wire to Wa-i----heke and one to Auckland, and attempts were made to telephone to the military authorities air Auckland, but communication could not be established owing to the breaking of the circuit. The fault was repaired, " and about midnight Major -Price, A.A.G., was communicatee! with, and he took immediate steps to organise a search party. At 1.30 a.m. four boats were despatched to search for the escapees. Two of the vessels were armed with machine guns, and the crews were also armed. They consisted of detachments of the Garrison Artillery and the Auckland Wharf Guard'. A thorough search was made m the vicinity of. Motuihi Island as far as Cape Colville. Kawau, Waiwera, Waiheke, and the passages between the various islands. All the passing vessels:-were intercepted, but no trace of the escapees could be found. Though it is believed that the Pearl had sufficient petrol to run for several hours, there was not a great deal of food on board. Throughout the whole of to-day a large fleet of boats was engaged in the search. WELLINGTON, December IS. The- Minister of Defence states that 11 prisoners .of war escaped from Motuihi Mand. and not 10, as originally intimated. The officer commanding at Motuihi will be suspended at once and a full inquiry held. POPULAR INDIGNATION. TELEPHONE WIRES CUT. (Fbom Ouh Own Cohresfondbnt.) WELLINGTON. December 15. Popular indignation" about the escape of the Germans from Motuihi is going to demand very nnuch more than the suspension of the commanding officer (Lieutenantcolonel. Harcourt Turner), and_ this affair has not happened, without warning. It has been said for a long time that these higher grade prisoners at Motuihi have enjoyed privileges to which no prisoners of war should be entitledj and the discipline on the island has never been as stringent as it- should- have been. The men got a,way in a launch kept at. the island by the officer, commanding. This boat has been before referred- to. as a source of danger, and now the danger has; materialised. No launcn is kept at Somes Island. If communication with the shore is needed a boat goes oft from the shore to the island, and comes back to the shore again. This launch was kept moored at the island. Reference has been made before to the fact that insufficient guard has .been kept on the telephone wire—the first thing that fugitives would attempt to destroy. Theso inen cut the wire, and so obtained a start of some hours.

The affair is the more unexplainable, having regard to the- ':lass of prisoners detained at Motuihi. This man von Luckner had ahead}' been on a most daring venture, before ho came there, and he was the sort of man who would be. sure to do his best to escape. As a matter of fact, he is a clierr.fui typo of seafarer, of whom we might be proud enough if he- were on our side—a man who will give his pursuers a lively chase.

The party has not tried to get. away from the New Zealand coast in a. motor launch ; that would be a folly of which no sailor would bo guilty. Their aim will be to get hold of another thip—a sailer for preference^ —and. make off in that.

As it Happens that almost any hour of the day or night defenceless small sailers are moving in the Hauraki Gulf, it is to bo assumed that the chief anxiety of the authorities is to prevent these Germans from getting a seaworthy boat and making for the open sea.

AUCKLAND, December 16.

Particulars of the escape of the Germans from Motuihi show, that the camp commandant on Thursday visited Auckland in a launch on which was a crew of two Germans, one of whom attended Lo the engines. Usually a guard of two accompanies this launch, but on this occasion there was only one guard. On returning to the island the commandant and guard went ashore, leaving tho two Germans to take the launch to its moorings, about a stone's throw from the jetty. On the jetty were two other Germans bringing up coal. No other person was on tho wharf. The launch was not seen again. Tho official description of the escapees is given as follows: — Count von Luckner: 34, sft Win. clean shaven; speaks broken English, and walks stiffly; wearing a blue uniform, khaki cap, with German naval badge. Lieutenant Kerehciss: sft Tin; talks firstclass English; wearing sailor's uniform. Von Egidy: sft 7in , stoops slightly; wore

beard and moustache; insignificant lookhig. Freund (wireless engineer): sft sin, stout, clean shaven, fair blue eyes; can hardly understand English; plain clothes. Guinn (wirdes* operator), tall, clean shaven, very dark complexion; slightly made.

Erdmann; Aged 30. sft Sin, fair, brown eyes; talks good English; attired in sailor's uniform.

The following wore wearing naval cadet uniform: —Von Zatorski, aged 23. 6ft, blue eyes; Schmidt, aged, 23. sft l'Oin, black hair, brown eyes; Mellert, aged 23. sft Sin, brown hair, blue eyes, clean shaven; very strong.Paulsen, aged 24, very light brown hair, blue eyes, clean shaven ; talks English well, might pass for an Englishman; Khohn, aged 23, sft lOin, dark brown hair, brown eyes, clean shaven ; hardly talks English. The fugitives have not yet been recaptured.