Cut Bank pioneer press. [volume] (Cut Bank, Mont.) 1909-current, 1916-09-08

true In the case OF Aviator GllDefl'
Forced to descend In Switzerland
owing to his motor failing, Gilbert was
interned. His first attempt to escape
was successful, but the French gov
eminent 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 a train before getting out
of the country, and once more made
q prisoner, with greatly increased pre-
cautions to prevent another attempt.
The third attempt, which the cables
have already reported to have Deen
a complete success, involved a story
that ''outmos1es" the movies. AT the
back of it are Gilbert's fellow towns
men from the Auvergne province, the
manufacturer of the motor that Gill
bert used on his aeroplane and Il Paris
newspaper with the largest circula-
uon 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 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.
"It took me three months to arrange
affairs" NJ. Melard relates, ''for | met
with several failures. The first thing
l had to do was to inspire confidence
In someone arouAd Gilbert, who would
allow me, without being aware of it, to
gel into close touch with the nan
whose escape l wished to aid. Such a
man | found in Captain Sturm, who
was charged with watching over the
prisoner and was infleXible a. to his
duties.
Il made no secret of being a friend
of Gilbert's, but l explained that, al
though l 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. / ordered all
sorts of things, n 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 Cfeveriy contrived.
81 soon found Captain Sturm's weak
point. 1t was astronomical. We
lunched together, we had dinner ant
supper together, and the fare was al
ways so good that he soon allowed m,
20 see his prisoner almost daily. Be
fore the captain we talked about tn
weather and such exciting topics, blu
We wrote each other dozens of littl'
notes which we used to slip under tn,
table as we raised our glasses to tn
captains health.
l 'That lasted three whole months
: by which time Sturm and l were in
, SeIEdIIblt anu 0IlDCIk uhu 1 Ld
formed our plans.
"a certain person was to pass i
2 front of the barracks at Z 80 p. m.
he lit his cigarette twice in front c
e the railing between the barracks an
the police station the attempt was t
e be made that night, but If he BILE
a his nose Ostentatiously 1t meant tn
q attempt was to be postponed. Gil
. bert knew that he could escape by
d ventilation shaft that passed throug
r the lavatory on his landing.
l. "The guards at his door wei
changed each night at 2 a. m. TT
10 plan was to go to the Mushroom
e. 1:5O a. m. and hope that the depar
Il ing guards would fail to notify Il
lie newcomers of his absence. On Mo
10 day and Tuesday nights the ~relievil
~ sentinels were informed, but
Wednesday night this duty was owe
'h looked. Gilbert, dressed in unifor
III let himself slip down the narrow We
at tiiating shaft onto the ground flo'
/ had provided. / should explain til
when everything had been arranged
MT said good-by to Captain Sturmer a
nd lief; for France just before the esca
'er was tried. Gilbert climbed the W
al around the barracks and found ci,
of ian clothes in the automobile waltz
he for him at the point arranged"
nd Is Hidden Away.
les Gilbert's friend Arnold Bontem
aie the newspaper man who worked
first escape, hen took charge of
Gu proceedings. 1t was hopeless to tn
of smuggling Gilbert out of the co
~ try at once, however well he might
-, disguised. The hue and cry would
80 too strong.
II took him to a safe place VIII
We were sure the police would ne
think of coming, just because
apartment was n open to any vi
or" said Melard.