THE GERMAN ESCAPEES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 14492, 2 January 1918, Page 3

THE GERMAN ESCAPEES.

LIFE ON THE SCOW MOA. SOME PERSONAL DETAILS. There is still much speculation regarding the German prisoners who escaped from Motuihi and were recaptured and brought back last week (says the Auckland Star-, lt is common knowledge, of course, that these prisoners J are now held at the Mount Eden, gaol j till arrangements are made to hold them elsewhere. In view of the circumstances it is hardly likely that they will again be interned at Motuihi, as," though apparently they cannot be punished for* their attempt. at escape, the authorities are, nevertheless, justified in taking such steps as they consider necessary to prevent a similar occurrence in ' the future. Count von Luckner protested strongly against being taken to Mount Eden, -contending that this was not in accordance with the articles of war, and that the authorities had no right to take this course.- The fact -remains, however, that they will be held there until definite arrangements have been made elsewhere. I Captain Bourke,'- of the scow Moa, has borne interesting experiences to relate regarding the prisoners while they were in possession pf the Moa. As has already beeri stated, the. Germans treated the crew of the Moa well, and Captain Bourke's verdict is that the Count is. a good sport. When the latter and his men first boarded the Moa, Captain Bourke naturally indulged in some language that was ftot altogether parliamentary, and remarked that it. was d hard luck to be captured in that fashion. Count von Luckner simply smiled and took charge of the scow. Tlie joke was on the Count, however, when he in turn was captured. When he was going over the stern of the scow to go on board the capturing steamer, he turned to Captain Bourke and remarked smilingly, "Hard luck, eh?" It was Captain Bourke's turn to smile, and he 'did. Tlie Count and the other prisoners spoke freely of the doings of the Germans while- they were in charge of the scow. Tliey. were very bitter against the English a. a nation, blaming them for all their troubles since the outbreak of war. This animosity, however, did riot take any personal foi'm so far as the crew of the Moa were concerned. In addition tp othei\ matters the Count mentioned the case of Captain Fryatt, who, it will be remembered, was shot by the Germans' under cirfcumstances that did not redound "to their credit. He stated that the Germans ha4 no idea i who the man they had shot was till ' they ' saw his name in the English papers, and noted the fact that he had been presented with a watch by the King. Following this they made an in'..pcction of Captain Fryatt's belongings, ! and • proved his identity by the watch. On the scow Count von Luckner and "Client. Kirscheiss installed themselves in Captain Bourke's quarters aft, the rest of the Germans being also housed aft. A picture of of Lord Kitchener had been placed up by the crew of the scow in the place where they took their meals. This had been pulled down by the Germans, and pictures of Hindenburg [placed in -the captain's quarters instead. | The discipline between the prisoners appeared to be fairly rigid, and the Count was saluted as soon as he appeared on deck in the mornings. The latter was questioned regarding his escape from the island, ; and in reply is reported to have said: "Well, if you supply me with a cart and leave the door wide open what would you do?" It was stated* also by the Germans on board tliat they were prepared to escape some 17 or 18 days before the actual night of their escape, and that they got a German cook appointed! on the island so that he might assist them in procuring the necessary provisions, especially the tinned fowl' They only ran the/German flag to the masthead .when they^ found that they had to. sul'i-endler again. to the steamer that effected their. -saptu_e ; - and", as already stated, ithey also hoisted it.at the time they toot theV-VMoa ; " thktj is to say, one pf the*'men.%eld the. flag aloft on a small .-pole. •-.,'• The captain of the Moa* .which is now berthed alongside" the Leyland-O'Brien Timber Co.'s mill, states that the vessel has been -considerably damaged, and it is estimated that it will probably cost Some £200 to restore her to her former seaworthy condition. When she left l Tauranga she had on hoard about , 80,000ft. of swan rimu, which was worth between £500 and £600. It is estimated that about two-thirds of this has been thrown overboard, and, unfortunately, it is the timber of the best quality that has. been thrown into the sea, so that the loss to the owners is considerable. When the Germans first started to jettison this timber they were going to , throw overboard a big derrick which had been unshipped ana was lying on top of the timber. Captain Bourke, however' saved the situation by remarking that if., they threw this overboard they would-be unable to hoist the launch •oii board A when the weather took up. This argument appealed to the* Count, and' the 'derrick was retained. A great deal has been said regarding the quantity of water on the scow in the possession of the prisoners. It is investing to learn that on the scow there were two 600-gallon tanks forward, and one 400-gallofi tank aft. These had all beeri filled "[sib. Omakoroa, and con-j tained "beautt'fully fresh water obtainedfrom a .spring at the latter place. (•Per Prffift Afwocintion.") 1 "'" DUNEDIN,- this day. ' I - -Interviewed, Sir James Allen said that von Luckner would be placed on Ripa; 'island, Lyttelton harbor, if not there'! already.