ESCAPEES FROM MOTUIHI.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 28, 28 December 1917, Page 3

ESCAPEES FROM MOTUIHI.

AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT.

Per Press Association.

Auckland, December 27. The following statement has been issued by the naval adviser: j The escaped German prisoners, I who have now, to the credit of thy country, been returned to New 'Zealand, appear to have obeyed carefully the normal rules of war in all their proceedings after escaping from Motuihi. They concealed themselves in one of the numerous small inlets of the islands until suitable craft for their purposes was sighted. Meanwhile they had taken the precaution of proceeding outside the three-mile limit and there swearing in all the escapees as members bf the Kaiser’s navy, thus making them all members of the Imperial German forces. When capturing the Moa, which apparently had not heard of the escape prior to sailing from Tauranga, the Germans approached under the New Zealand flag, but just previously to committing any act of Avar, the German ensign of a small size was hoisted. Apparently the launch Pearl hailed the Moa to heave to, then went alongside, and at once put ten men on bbard. Her unsuspecting crew, most of whom Avere below at the moment, Avere, of course, outnumbered and overpoAvered. They were told they Avere civilian prisoners of the Kaiser, and must do as they Avere told, arid they Avould be recompensed for any loss of pay they suffered while workng for Germany.

The launch was then taken in tow, and sttil rfiade to the northward. Unfortunately for the escapees, ; the launch foundered in the heavy seas hours'later, thus depriving them of a very useful adjunct and materially assisting in their recapture. When finally recaptured, the escapees were again flying the German ling, and surrendered as prisoners of war. The fact that the recapturing ship was efficiently armed undoubtedly led. to their surrender, which occurred, immediately it was realised that guns of moderate calibre were available. Had the ship not b£en armed, it is probable the escapees would have put up a capable resistance. As hmatter of fact, the gun had to be fired close to the Moabefore the order to heave to was obeyed. Whatever means oT attack or defence was possessed by the escapees were thrown overboard before surrender. The prisoners had a sufficiency of provisions iand water to last them for a considerable time, but the quality of the former was not quite what was necessary. The crew of the scowj were well treated up to the time of the recapture, and were given Thesame food, etc., as the escapees them-i selves.' In many'' ways much forethought and ingenuity were shown by the prisoners in their plans and preparations for the escape. SEACHERS’ EXPERIENCES. Auckland December 27. All concerned in searching for the Germans during the eight days' and r -nights intervening between their escape knd recapture had a most strenuous experience and in some cases, minor mishaps occurred. During a great part of the time in which the , various craft were patrolling the sea,, scouring,the different bays along the coast, or ex a mining 'islands for traces of the fugitives, the weather was exceedingly rough. In spite of this fact, and of their long hours on duty, the fcivilian and military searchers, to say nothing of the officers and crews engaged in the hunt, remained faithfully and cheerfully at their posts.

The Court of Enquiry appointed to investigate the escape of the eleven German prisoners of war ’is now engaged prepaying its report for submission to the Minister for Defence.