TEH SEEADLER'S CREW.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14985, 12 August 1919, Page 6

TEH SEEADLER'S CREW.

: — ♦ ' FATE $F THE LUTECE: SUNK AT EASTER, ISLAND. ! It will be remembered that when the German raider Seeadler was wrecked on the Island of Mopiha towards the end of 1917, the crew escaped m the Tahiti schooner Lutece, which had been - sent to the island upon one of her periodical visits to convey supplies for the laborers there. The captain and crew of the Lutece were put ashore on Mopiha and the captured vessel sailed away with the Germans aboard (writes the Rarotonga correspondent of Auckland Star). . . Since that date many conflicting re--1 ports have been circulated regarding the subsequent movements of the Lutece and her eventual fate, but we are indebted to the Catholic newspaper " Yea , Katorika," of Tahiti, for the following information, which appears to clear up the mystery : — In a letter from Rapartui (Easter Island), dated November 4 last, Parakati, the Catholic mission teacher, writes : — "On the 3rd October, 1917, a two-mast-ed schooner arrived here with 58 Germans aboard, who, after a two days' stay ashore, proceeded to break up and sink the vessel. Upon being questioned by thb Chilian Government agent m charge of the island as to the reason for this procedure they stated that, the vessel was leaking and unfit for further service. "About two months later another sailing vessel passed close to the island, and 15 of the Germans gave ohase to her m a boat with the object of capturing her, but they were unsuccessful. The Germans were all armed. The Government agent strongly remonstrated against thia action on the part of the Germans, whichv he said would bring discredit tipom a neutral country. From thia time on the Germans were closely watched by the native people, but luokily no serious trouble arose. v "In January, 1918, the Chilian schooner arrived to take away a cargo of wool from the island. She left on the 3rd February with the Germans aboard 'en youte to fflili."