The Washington herald., 1916-06-25
Prison Airshaft Brings
Airman Gilbert Liberty
Third Escape of Interned French Aviator Rivals
Movie Thrillers-Taken Away in Auto and
Hidden Until Well Disguised-Sprints
Across the Border.

THE guards at his door were changed
each night at a. m. The plan was to
go to the washroom at 1:50 a. m. and
hope that the departing guards would
fail to notify the newcomers of his alb.
sence. On Monday and Tuesday nights
the relieving sentinels were Informed
but on Wednesday night this duty wal
overlooked. Gilbert. dressed in uniform
let himself slip down the narrow venti-
lating shaft into the ground floor. from
which he escaped by key that / had
provided. I should explain that wher
everything had been arranged / said
good-by to Capt. Sturmer and left for
France just before the escape was tried
Gilbert climbed the wall around the bar.
racks and found civilian clothes In the
automobile waiting for him at the point
arranged"
Auto Used to Escape.
GIlbert's friend, Arnold Bontemps, thu
newspaper man, who worked his flrst
escape, then took charge OF the pro-
ceedings. 1t was hopeless to think oi
smuggling Gilbert out Of the country al
once, however well be might be disguised
The hue and cry would be too strong.
Il took him to a safe place where we
were sure the police would never think OF
coming, just because the apartment wa,
one open to any visitor" said Melard.
This operation took fifteen minutes
and five minutes later the alarm was
given. Gilbert was slowed away in a
closet OF which he could leave the door
aJar, closing II on the least sound At
night only he could take some rest There
he remained six days to let the storm
roll by. French papers announced his
arrival in Paris. declaring that he had
been seen by friends, and this lulled sus-
picion in Switzerland.
Il returned to Zurich with a disguise
for him, false beard, spectacles. heavy
shoes, &c, and Gilbert took the train,
having bought a return ticket for Bienne.
There we walked some miles toward
Geneva, when an automobile met us.
which footed Its horn three times. In
second we were inside and, taking a
side road to avoid the high road, reached
q little wood near Geneva, where we
received the latest news about the direo-
ton police activities were taking.
Crossing the Frontier,
I'VE decided to start the next day,
which was Ascension Day, which seemed
appropriate for an aviator. The last night
was passed in a village near Geneva and
after some hours walking next morning
we saw the frontier. the railroad and the
road from Annemesse to Bellegrade. This
was tne point we had CHOSEN for cross
Ing the line.
The actula crossing proved easy. The
Swiss guard happened to be some yards
away and Gilbert took to his legs and
got into France before the guard reached
him"
The French guard, however. challenged
him. and the only papers" Gilbert could
show were his Legion OF Honor cross,
his military medal and his war cross
When he gave his name, the brave guard
accepted these decorations as proof OF
Identity, and telephoned his superior of.
ficers' who brought an automobile for
Gilbert's use.
A triumphant welcome met him at
Lyons. where he was able to brorrow an
aviator officers uniform. a still more
enthusiastic welcome awaited him at
Paris, where the minister of war con-
graduated him and gave him a permis-
sion so that he can take a short rest
before resuming his place at the front.
Gilbert needs some rest, as, in addition
to his irksome life as a prisoner, he had
to thin himself down considerably in or
der to be sure OF passing down the ven
tilation shaft.