MOTUIHI ENQUIRY

Thames Star, Volume LII, Issue 18644, 9 March 1918, Page 2

MOTUIHI ENQUIRY

WELLINGTON, March 9. The Minister of Defence has issued a lengthy statement on tho findings of tthe Court of Inquiry recently set up to investigate the responsibility of Colonel Paterson and . Major Osborne-Lilly in connection with the escape of German prisoners from Motouihi Isand. The Minister states t"hat while the Court notified that the district took sufficient interest in all matters relating to the island, yet from the evidence adduced the Court is of opinion that the Commandant at MofcuiM was directly responsible to headquarters at v Wellington for the custody of tEe prisoners. The Court reports that it is of opinion it was not tho duty of Colonel Paterson to ensure that proper precautions were taken to guard the prisoners on Motuihi. The Court alto -reports, that Major Lilly took adequate steps to/remedy the inadequate provision on the island for the safety of the prisoners, but as staff officer he failed in hie duty in not informing tho higher authority of tihe existence of the launch at the island. He did, however, take such steps as in his opinion were necessary to see that the launch was in a safe condition, while at the island.. The Minister states that after examination, of the report he came to tho following conclusions: (1 Major-General Eobin did not realise that the officer commanding Auckland District considered Motuihi to be under general headquarters, and not under the officer commanding tjhe ; (2) he committed an error of judgment in (1) that lie wa stoo much impressed by the outside scare, and did not give due weight to the warning about the conditions existing a€ the island, "(2)' that he did not visit Motuihi in person to satisfy himself that I adequate precautions wore taken to safeI guard tne prisoners on the island. These ! conclusions have been submitted to Gen--1 eral Robing and I do not consider fur- ! ther action necessary.—Press Association.