Evening star., 1918-02-10
GERMANY RESTLESS;
REVOLT TiSPREACKED
French Aviator Finds People
in Interior Have Had
Enough of War.
BY PAUL AYERS ROCKWELL.
Especial Correspondence OF The Even
ing Stnr and Chicago Daily News1

Ing Star and Chicago Daily News.)
WITH THE FRENCH ARMIES, jan
uary 14.-Perhaps it is because con-
finement weighs more heavily on men
accustomed to the large freedom of the
air, but large percentage of French
soldiers who escape from German pris-
on camps are aviators. Like the eagle.
the airman pines away when shut up,
and seeks every occasion to try for lib
erty. And. because he knows we'll how
to orientate himself. the aviator has an
exceptionally good Chance of making
good his escape once he is outside the
walls of the German inclosure.
One of the most recent French pilots
to succeed in getting away from a Ger
man prison camp and returning home
is Sergt Charles Niox, son of Gen.
Niox. governor of the Hotel des Inva-
lides. the great Paris war palace.
Concerning what he observed during
his long enforced sojourn among the
Germans. Niox says:
by my trips from one end to the
other of Germany I have brought away
one very clear impressions: Germany
is lacking in everything, and only
holds on by miracle of organization
Paper and sugar beets are the two
great resources of the country. Every
thing is made from paper, from wagon
beds to grain sacks and clothes. have
seen in a city frogs on sale at sls
priced at 40 marks Css.60) and a goose
at 80 marks (s19.20). The hospitals
lack cotton. iodine and quinine.
Found Much Unrest There.
In the little villages which travers-
ed by night while escaping I ran into
secret meetings of peasants, indicating
that socialistic ideas are spreading
rapidly. especially since the number Of
policemen has been reduced by half
bodied policemen have been sent into
the army: Revolt against the pastors
ana the local authorities is preached
by soldiers back from the front. They
have had enough of the war.
That is resume of what oh
served during my travels The German
railroads, one must admit. are remark
ABLY well operated; that helps orr
enemies in holding their fronts. But
the general state of mind among
peasants and workmen is a snjrjt ~
unrest" VA
Gets Into Aviation Corps.
Niox. although he was thirtv-s;x
years old when war was declared. and
had been classed as inept for military
services, enlisted in 1914 as automobile
driver. For long time he was chat
feur for the section of war artists
Later he became driver with an ayia-
tion escadrille. One day he ran straight
into cow which Blocked his path. and.
disgusted. applied for admission into
the aerial service as pilot. In spite
OF his age he was accepted, and after
obtaining his brevet became member
of the Nancy bombardment groun
While making daylight raid he was
attacked by number of hostile aero
Capt. Fequant, was killed. Although
his machine was riddled by bullets.
Niox succeeded in. regaining his own
aviation field and was decorated with
the military medal for his exploit.
A short time later he set out to bonn
bard a German plant in the Briey
region. Because of motor trouble he
was forced to land within the enemy's
lines. and after burning his aeroplane
he and his observer, De Laeuera nda
were captured. They were taken 10
Metz, then to the Hammelburg prison
camp in Bavaria.
Failed Five Times.
Niox at once began scheming to
escape. He soon rendered himself
odious to his captors. and was shifted
from camp to camp. travelling over
almost all of Germany during his two
years of captivity. Five times he es-
capped. only to be recaptured. On one
occasion he stunned a forest guard who
tried to arrest him, and was sentenced
by a court martial to go days solitary
confinement in dark cell, which he
served.
The means by which the determined
aviator finally escaped must not be re-
veaied here; there are other prisoners
who may be able to escape In the same
manner. -. ---4Se