The Washington herald., 1916-06-25

Special Correspondent Of The Washington Herald.
Paris, June 4-'Never two without
third" is a French proverb which
has proved true in the case OF Avia-
tor Gilbert.
: Forced to descend in Switzerland.
| owing to his motor falling. Gilbert
was interned. His first attempt to
escape was successful, but the French
government 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
though 1t had been posted early
enough.
A second attempt was much more
| short-lived. as the aviator was rec
ognized on a train before getting out
of the country. and once more made
4 prisoner, with greatly increased
precautions to prevent another at
tempt.
The third attempt, which the cables
have already reported to have been a
complete success, involves a story that
l"outmovies' the movies. At the back
of 1t are Gilbert's fellow-townsmen
from the Auvergne province, the man
ufacturer of the motor that Gilbert
| used on his aeroplanes, and q Paris
newspaper with the largest circula-
ton in the world.
Gilbert Closely Guarded.
Gilbert was Imprisoned in the third
story of a large barracks in Zurich
and was watched night and day by
special guards. One day a French
man arrived on the scene, a NJ. Ro-
bere-Melara, ostensibly a dealer in
wool, but really a general commission
agent, who has acted as a Sherlock
Holmes on various occasions, especi-
ally since the war.
1T took me three months to arrange
affairs" NJ. Melara relates. for l met
with several failures. The first thing
had to do was to inspire confidence in
some one around Gilbert. who would al
low me, without being aware of 1t, to
get into close touch with the man whose
escape 1 wished to aid. Such a man
found in Capt. Sturm. who was charged
with watching over the prisoner and was
inflexible as to his duties.
II made no secret OF being a friend OF
Gilbert's. but I explained that although I
was glad to see him again, had come
to Switzerland on business. To convince
the captain I talked to him and showed
him heavy orders l had given in accord
ance with orders received from various
aviation and other firms in France. l or
dered all sorts Of things. one day buy
ing several cords OF wood. All these or
ders started. but somehow or other some
combination prevented delivery and in
the end few went through.
Escape C1everIy Contrtved.
'I soon found Capt sturm's weak
point. 1t was gastronomical We lunch
ed together, We had dinner and supper
together. and the fare was always so
good that he soon allowed me to see his
prisoner almost daily. Before the cap
tain we talked about the weather and
such exciting topics. but We 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 were inseparsble
and Gilbert and 1 had formed our plans.
"A certain person was to pass in front
OF the barracks at 7:3O p. m. If he lit
his cigarette twice in front Of the railing
between the barracks and the police sta
ton the attempt was TO be made that
night, but II he blew his nose ostenta-
tiOusly ii meant the attempt was to be
postponed. Gilbert knew that he could
escape by a ventilation shaft that passed
through the lavatory on his landing.