COUNT VON LUCKNER VISITS MOTUIHI

Southland Times, Issue 23443, 25 February 1938, Page 6

COUNT VON LUCKNER VISITS MOTUIHI

SCENE OF ESCAPE WHILE PRISONER OF WAR (United Press Association) AUCKLAND, February 24. Feet planted wide apart, hands deep in his jacket pockets, his pipe blowing clouds of smoke, and his wife on his arm, Count Felix von Luckner stood today on the bluff at Motuihi Island, and laughing repeatedly, pointed out the path of his escape from the island -in the launch Pearl while a prisoner of war 20 years ago. From the heights of the promontory his eye travelled to the hazy blueness of Cape’ Colville. “Oh, gee, it hasn’t changed a bit,” he chuckled. Count von Lunckner visited the island in his auxiliary schooner Seeteufel. Throughout the morning he explored again the beaches, hills, and valleys of the island with the enthusiasm of a school boy, and always with his wife on his arm. On the wall of his old room he wrote: “My old room, which I entered again after 19 years. 24/2/38. Felix von Luckner.” He insisted that his wife also should sign her name.