The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1916-09-07

true in the case of Aviator GllDert.
Forced to- descend in Switzerland
owing to his motor failing, Gilbert was
interned. His first attempt to escape
was successful, but the French gov
ernment handed him back to the
Swiss authorities, because the letter
in which Gilbert took back his pledge
not to try to escape had not reached
the authorities in sufficient time, al
though it had been posted early
enough.
A second attempt was much more
short lived, as the aviator was recOg-
nized on train before getting out
Of the country, and once more made
Il prisoner, with greatly increased pre-
CAUTIONS to prevent another attempt.
The third attempt, which the cables
iave already reported to have been
Il complete success, involved story
t4,at "outmovies" the movies. At the
hack of it are Gilbert's fellow towns
laen from the Auyergne province, the
manufacturer of the motor that Gill
bert used on his aerOplane and Paris
newspaper with the largest circula-
ton in the world.
Gilbert Closely Guarded.
Gilbert was imprisoned in the third
story of large barracks in Zurich and
was watched night and day by special
guards. One day Il Frenchman arrived
on the scene, a NJ. Robere Melard, Os-
tenSibly a dealer in wool, but really a
general commissioned agent who had
acted as a Sherlock Holmes on va
rious occasions, especially since the
war.
1T took me three months to arrange
affairs" Nj. Melard relates, ''fOr met
with several failures The first thing
| had to do was to inspire confidence
in someone arCGnd Gilbert, who would
allow me, without being aware of it, to
get into close touch with the man
whose escape wished to aid. Such a
man | found in Captain Sturm, who
was charged with watching over the
prisoner and was intleXible as to his
duties.
II made no secret of being friend
of Gilbert'S, but l explained that, al
though | was glad to see him again, l
had come to Switzerland on business.
TO convince the captain l talked to
him and showed him heavy orders l
had given in accordance with orders
received from various aviation and
other firms in France. l ordered all
sorts of things, one day buying sew
eral cords of wood. All these orders
started, but somehow or other some
combination prevented delivery, and in
the end few went through.
Escape CIeVerIy contriVed.
II soon found Captain Sturm's weak
point. 1t was astronomical. We
lunched together, we had dinner and
supper together, and the fare was al
ways so good that he soon allowed me
to see his prisoner almost daily. Be-
| fore the captain we talked about the
weather and such exciting topics, but
W. wrote each other dozens of little
notes which we used to slip under the
table as we raised our glasses to the
| captains health.
THAT lasted three whole months
by which time Sturm and I were in.
spparable and Gilbert and | had
fClmed our plans.
"A certain person was to pass in
front of the barracks at Z 80 p. m. II
he lit his cigarette twice in front OF
the railing between the barracks anG
the police station the attempt was tC
be made that night but if he blew
his nose OstentatiOuSly it meant the
attempt was to be postponed. Gil
bert knew that he could escape by &
ventilation shaft that passed through
the lavatOry on his landing.
THE guards at his door were
changed each night at 2 a. n. The
plan was to go to the washrOom al
/ 80 a. m. and hope that the depart
ing guards wOuld fail to notify thu
newcomers of his absence. On Mon
day and Tuesday nights the relieving
sentjnelS were informed, but OF
Wednesday night this duty was over
looked Gilbert, dressed in uniform
let himself slip down the narrow ven
tilating shaft onto the ground floor
from which he escaped by key tina
had provided | should explain tha
when everything had been arranged
said goOd-by to Captain Sturmer ant
left for France just before the eScap
was tried. Gilbert climbed the wal
around the barracks and found civil
ian clothes in the automobile waiting
for him at the point arranged"
Is Hidden Away.
GiIbert's friend Arnold BOntemps
the newspaper man who worked hi
first escape, then took charge of tn
proceedings. 1t was hopeless to thin
of smuggling Gilbert out of the coun
try at once, however well he might b
disguised. The hue and cry would b
too strong.
u took him to a safe place wher
we were sure the police would neve
think of coming, just because tn
apartment was one open to any viSit
or" said Melard.
'This operation took fifteen mil
utes, and five minutes later the alarI
was given. Gilbert was slowed ava
in a closet of which he could leav
the door ajar, closing it on the leas
sound. At night only he could tax
some rest. There he remained ST
days to let the storm roll by. Frenc