WAR EPISODE RECALLED

Waipawa Mail, Volume LXVI, Issue 68, 25 February 1938, Page 3

WAR EPISODE RECALLED

COUNT VON LUCNER'S ESCAPE. AND RECAPTURE BY THE IRIS. Count von Lnckner, who, as master of the German ship Seaadler, played an important part in the Great AA T ar in the Pacific, is at present re-visiting New Zealand, and the following article, by Air P. A. Buddy, recording his escape and recapture, is of particular interest at the moment: — Armed as a unit of the Imperial German Navy and manned by an intrepid enemy crew making a desperate escape as prisoners of war, the old scow Aloa occupied the leading role in one of the most romantic and stirring episodes in the maritime history of New Zealand. The fact that the project was frustrated shortly after it was begun and a German raiding crew prevented from pursuing their depredations against Allied merchant shipping on the high seas is largely attributable to another scow, the Rangi. On the blustery afternoon of December 13th, 1917, a northerly gale swept down the coast, piling up big seas which crashed in a sullen roar against thwarting rocky promontories. It was dirty weather for a small launch to he out—unpleasant even for shipping-—hut that was so much added spice to the pie of adventure to Count Felix von Luckner and his carefully chosen hand on Motuihi Island. Besides it was make or break, and everything was ready. It was zero hour. Long weeks of arduous and anxious preparation had passed weeks fraught with an ever-present danger of discovery at. the hands of the authorities, who were being deceived before their very eyes. Not for nothing had they overhauled the commandant's power launch and fashioned compass and sextant from crude materials. Likewise the careful plotting of charts and maps, the making of hand grenades and the tapping of telephonic communication between the island and the mainland was with the ultimate objective of escape. THE OPPORTUNITY. Then the' long-awaited opportunity arrived. Calmly the Germans boarded the well-provisioned launch, and she was got under way for the open sea. Round the southern side of the island, and west into Alotuihi Channel, the launch sailed. She had made good her escape —not a shot was fired. Past AA r aiheke Island a direct course was set for Cape Colville, the launch all the while battling into the gale.

The cape was rounded eventually, and the next morning found the party sailing in the direction of the Alev<■:try group. By this time, however, the launch was making water and the engine’s were giving trouble, which was not surprising considering the storm she had weathered. AVhen a landfall was made at the Mercury Islands, von Luckner selected a quiet bay, and, under cover of sheltering rocks, investigated the engine trouble and adjusted the wireless receiving apparatus. Von Luckner discussed with his next in command, Lieutenant Kerscheiss, future plans. They agreed that their best course, provided they could capture a sea-going vessel, was to sail for the Kermadee Islands, raid the stores there, cast away the crew of the captured craft, and head for South America. In the meantime news of the escape reached the mainland, and some 30 vessels, including steamers, launches and yachts, were systematically combing every likely nook and haven about the coast. The German commander had overlooked no minute detail —the party’s disappearance was complete. And all the while a fleet large enough to probe every indentation from East Cape- to North Gape infested the waters, the small band lay low in their secluded bay waiting'an opportunity. Two days later it came. “Sail in sight!’’ The signal from the look-out man galvanised the escapees into action. It was about seven o’clock in the morning and a few minutes later came the news that two schooners were hearing up from the south ’ard. The look-out was recalled hastily from his observation post and as soon as he arrived all hands embarked ill the launch and put to sea. ENTER THE AID A. The two unsuspecting vessels were sailing in the same direction. They were of a type new to the Germans, but they seemed strongly rigged—besides, every hour the Germans’ position was becoming more precarious. As (lie launch drew closer the “schooners” were identified as large timber scows, the Moa and Rangi, the latter being about four miles in the lead. Having inspected both carefully from the distance, von Luckner decided to capture the one astern, the Moa, and accordingly altered his course directly for her. His launch flew the New Zealand Ensign and the crew remained hidden from view below. When within hailing distance he called out that he wished to communicate, and the skipper of the scow obligingly brought his vessel into the

wind.. When the launch was made fast to. the scow’, a manoeuvre which was not executed without damaging the launch, von Luckner jumped aboard and demanded her surrender. “On boarding the scow I exhibited the German flag, at the same time threatening the crew with hand grenade and rifle, ’ ’ said the German count later. “A tall, elderly-looking man then said, ‘I am the master of this vessel and it’s hard luck to be taken like this.’ He seemed very angry. I told him that he and his crew were civilian prisoners of the Kaiser and that they must strictly obey all my orders and make no resistance; also that they should be paid for the time spent in the Kaiser’s service.” The Moa’s crew, consisting of four men and a boy besides the captain, were then mustered and divided together with the Germans into watches. Captain Bourke, of the scow, and his mate, a Mr Peterson, were made watchkeepers for the handling- of the ship, under orders from the commander, whose attempt to overtake the other scow was abandoned owing to the leaky condition of the launch. The Moa was deep in the water with a heavy cargo of timber and most of it was jettisoned to increase her stability in the seas likely to be experienced when away from the coast. Some little difficulty was experienced by the Germans in handling the strange vessel, but with their sailor-like adaptability they were soon accustomed to her peculiarities. KERMANDECS PROCLAIMED GERMAN.

Keeping to his earlier decision, von Luckner crowded on all sail in order to reach the Kermadees as early as possible. The wireless from the launch Pearl was rigged in the Moa, the intention being to uilise the launch engine for generating current. Unfortunately for the Germans the Pearl capsized and sank before they could carry out their intentions. Some very bad weather was met, but the stout Moa rode it out comfortably and the Kermadacs were reached on December 21st, a landing being made on Curtis Island.

“I landed and proclaimed the islands German territory. I sent Lieutenant .Kerchiess with four men in a dinghy to raid the store of provisions. This was done and just as we were taking our spoil on board the Moa, Lieutenant Kerchiess shouted out ‘Smoke in sight.!’ This caused great excitement, and it soon became plain that the vessel was making for the island. The dinghy was at once brought back and in a very short time the Moa got under way, steeringwest with everything set.” Nemesis, in the form of the cable steamer Iris, followed. The Moa was making a good ten knots, but she was gradually overhauled by the steamer, which signalled the scow, now flying the German flag, to heave to. The order was ignored, as von Luckner doubted whether the Iris was armed. His hopes were soon shattered when a shell plunged into the sea about 50 yards ah< ad of the Moa. M IL;EXI)ER IXEVITABLE. “It became plain that nothing was left but surrender, and I therefore gave orders for the scow to be brought to. The steamer Iris soon came close to us, and 1 was ordered to come aboard her —an order which I myself had many times given, but, now, alas, the position was reversed.” Before he complied with the request, he ordered all arms and instruments to be thrown overboard. “My bid for freedom had failed, but who will blame me for making it, for as I said to my captors in the Iris’ ‘You left your door open! You cannot blame me for walking out.’ ” Thus for a very short period in her career, a scow was elevated to the status of a fighting unit of the German Navy. As such she served her purpose admirably. She may have provided the means for a desperate German naval commander to continue his decimation of Allied craft . . . there is no end to the possibilities of what may have happened had not another scow taken a hand. The latter was the Rangi, only recently wrecked with tragic consequences in the Hauraki Gulf during a violent storm. For it was the Rangi which gave the information that eventually led to the recapture of the Moa. The skipper of the Rangi, after reaching Port Charles, near Cape Colville, telegraphed to Auckland that he had seen the Moa boarded, and afterwards head to the nor’east and the open sea.