THE MOTUIHI INCIDENT

Otago Witness, Issue 3339, 13 March 1918, Page 20

THE MOTUIHI INCIDENT

COLONEL PATTERSON EXONERATED. MISCONCEPTION OF DUTY BY MAJOR OSBURNE-LILLY. (Fhom Obr Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, March 8. The following statement regarding the judges of. the second court of inquiry on liie Motuihi affair lias been made by the Minister of Defence. 'the court was asked to report: 1. Whether the commandant of Motuihi Island was directly responsible to Headquarters, Wellington, or to District Headquarters, Auckland, for the custody of prisoners of war. 2. Whether it was the duty of Colonel Gr. W. S. Patterson to ensure that proper precautions were taken to guard the prisoners on Motuihi Island. 3. Whether Major Usburne-Lilly was aware of the inadequacy of the precautions for safeguarding the prisoners; and, if so, whether ho took reasonable steps to rer medy the inadequacy. The court reported that the letter of appointment of Lieutenant-colonel Turner was extremely vague as to the iseue before the court, and that the letter from. Headquarters, Wellington, to Headquarters, Auckland, referring to the appointment was also vague as regards the issue before the court, although clear on other matters not before the court. The court reports that the whole question as regards safe custody hinges' on the interpretation of the words in the letter of appointment of Colonel Turner : " For guard and requisitions other than supplies you will deal direct with District Headquarters, Auckland. You will communicate direct with Headquarters, New Zealand Military" Forces, regarding prisoners of war." In the opinion of the court the instructions meant that District Headquarters, Auckland were to provide the personnel of the guard, but had nothing to do with the strength, of the guard or with matters of safe custody. The court in the report states: " What the intention of the original letter of appointment really was as regards the safe custody of prisoners of war at Motuihi, it is impossible for the court to tell Nothing ever actually occurred to test the chain of responsibility for safe custody until the arrival of the See Adler men. From this point onwards all action as regards safe custody was taken by Headquarters, Wellington, direct with the commandant, Motuihi. The court, however, adds that the files show that the provisions of the original letter of appointment were, as regards other matters, followed out in most cases, though a good deal of irregularity took place in the' method of communication. This irregularity does not apply to the correspondence originated by the commandant at Motuihi. While the court is not satisfied that the district took a sufficient interest in all matters relating to the island, yet from the whole of the evidence adduced it is of opinion that on this issue the commandant at Motuihi Island was directly responsible to Headquarters, Wellington, for the custody of prisoners of war. The court reports that in its opinion it was not the duty of Colonel Patterson to ensure that proper precautions were taken to guard the prisoners at Motuihi Island. The court reports that in its opinion Major Osburne-Lilly was aware of the inadequacy of the precautions for safeguarding the prisoners; that it was his duty as staff officer to take steps to remedy such inadequacy; that he did take reasonable steps to remedy the inadequacy, but tha/trhe failed in his duty as a staff' officer in not bringing the fact of the launch being at the island to the knowledge of higher authority. Ho did, however, take such steps as were in his opinion necessary to see that the launch was in a safe condition while at the. island. His failure was due to a misconception of the duty cast -upon him. Steps have been taken to point out to Major Osburnc-Liliy the court's q£>inion as to his misconception of duty. I have examined tha reports of the boards of inquiry with the evidence, a-nd from my own knowledge of the circumstances have coma to the following conclusion : 1. Major-general Sir A. Robin did not realise that the officer commanding the Auckland District considered Motuihi to be under General Headquarters, and not under the O.C. District, 2. He comirt'itted an error of judgment in (a) that he was too much improAud by the outside scare, and did not give duo weight to the warning about the conditions existing at Motuihi; and (b) that he did not visit Motuihi in person to satisfy himself that adequate precautions were taken to safeguard the prisoners on the island, Theee conclusions have been submitted to Major-general Sir A. Robin, and. I do not consider further action necessary.