THE RE-CAPTURED GERMANS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 7665, 29 December 1917, Page 4

THE RE-CAPTURED GERMANS.

ARRIVAL AT AUCKLAND.

WELLINGTON, Dec. 27. The following is officially announced

Commander Von Luckne.r ami, t'ho rest of Iho re-captured German escapees arrived this afternoon in,’ Auckland, where they were at once landed.

The crow of (ho .Moa, consisting; of live men and a hoy, were still on board their vessel when ro-captured, and state that, they had been well treated in every way by the liceniana. The Moa herself was towed back to Auckland by the captured vessel, ami has suffered no serious damage as'the result of her oxperiense. The motor boat Pearl, which was being 'towed by the Moa, was lost in heavy weather experienced alter leaving the Mew Zealand coast.

The officer in command of the capturing vessel in his report, states At about noo'n, 21 st December,, tho Moa’s masts were sighted about hftecu miles away. As soon as she saw that she was being, chased she stood away to westward under a press of caiv-as, and hoisted the German, Naval Ensign, but wo overhauled her in about an hour and a half. As she paid no attention to my signal to stop, I fired a shot across her, when she- immediately shortened sail and slopped. Thu German Captain, in response to my verbal order, came on board in his own boat-, and formally surrendered, and the Gorman Ensign was then hauled down. The remainder of the escapees wore then removed by an armed escort. They had a fair amount of provisions with, them, and plenty of water, but they had thrown over board such arms as they possessed aa soon us they saw their capture to lie Inevitable. My arrival at Auckland was delayed by having lo tow the Moa and by continuous heavy westerly -weather, which necessitated the ship h.laying to tor a considerable time.

official statement OF THEIR DOINGS.

A REMARKABLE DOCUMENT.

AUCIvI.AND, Dec. 27. The following statement has been issued by the Naval Advisor : Tho escaped German, prisoners, who have no >v, to the credit of tho country, been returned to Now, Zealand, appear to have obeyed carefully the normal rules of war in alt their proceedings. After escaping from. Motuihi they concealed themselves in one of the numerous small inlets of the islands until a 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 of the Ivuiser’s navy, thus making them all mum hors of the Imperial German forces. 'Whim cap tuning the Moa, which apparently had not heard of the escape before sailing from Taurangh, the Germans approached under the New /Zealand Hag, hut just previously to committing any, act of war a, German ensign of small size was hoisted.

Apparently the launch Pearl hailed the Moa 'ro hoave-to, and then went alongside, and at once put ten men on board her. The unsuspecting crow, who were mostly below at the moment, were of course outnumbered and overpowered. The}- wore told that they were civilian prisoners of iho Kaiser, and must do as-they were told, and they would be recompensed for any loss of pay they sulfcrml while working for Germany. The launch 'was then taken in tow, and sail made to 'the northward- Unfortunately for the escapees tho launch foundered in the heavy seas some hours later, thus depriving them of a very useful adjunct and materially assisting their recapture. Alien Jln.atlly recaptured the escapees were again dying the German, ensign, and surrendered as prisoners c.t war. Tho fact that tho recapturing ship iwas elhcieutly armed undoubtedly led to their surrender, which occurred immediately it was realised that guns of moderate calibre were available. Dad the ship not been so armed, it is probable that tho escapees would have put up a capable resistance, and as a •*{ fad., a gun Imd to bn fired