The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-07-15
DAILY NEWS LETTER
By SAMUEL DASHlELL United Press Stan Correspondent.

"
 Paris (UP)-The international police have been called upon by tho French government to CO., operate with the French Secret service in an attempt to recover a famous portrait, that of Lonis XIII which was stolen recently from the Chateau of Versailles
 The theft of the portrait was not announced until several days after it's loss was discovered be- cause of the suspicion against high official parsonage, of known social rank" who was believed to have taken the portrait from It's frame.
 The portrait was painted on copper plate and was a copy or larger oil of young Louis XIII made by the court painter Tn the early seventeenth century. It re- presented the famous monarch of the age of ten seated astride horse. Removal of the small painting was made simple by It's being on a stiff plate, also It's posi- ton in the gallery was accessible to any one standing on the hoor'
 Many Other Thefts.
 The mystery of the stolen por- trait recalls other thefts at Yer sailles and at the Louvre. These thefts have had more or less short lived prominence, inasmuch as the government appears embarrassed each time, since the newspapers invariably inaugurate violent campaign for larger staffs of at tendants at the museums. At Ver- sailles some years ago, two tapes troes were removed by being cut to pieces by the robbers. A bust or Louis XIV was also removed, al- though this was kept secret be- cause of the adverse publicity anu because of the police, who bellev- ed silence would aid them in their work.
 The theft of the Mona Lisa from the Louvre in August, 1911. at tracted world attention, and It was not until two years later that an Italian workman living in Flo renee was found to have taken the famous painting as revenge for the treasures which Napoleon I removed from Italy.
 The lack of adequate museum guards was the subject Of an or ganized crusade on the part or the newspapers some years agd. and
  prove. the truth of their contention that any one might remove valuable objects from the museums.
 Reporter Steals Statuctte.
 A reported was assigned to per form this special feat. In the rather dark corner room where stands the famous Venus de Milo, and the fragments near the base, the reporter placed a little plaster statuette of the Mayor of Mont martre, wearing a top hat. It re- mained there among the frng- ments for several days, when the reporter returned with party of sightseers, and after having in- uuired as to what that particular object was. the guard said there were all fragments" from Greece where the Venus was found. The party passed on, and the reporter succeeded In stealing the top hated fragment from Greece had 1t photographed in It's Jaunty aspect, and reproduced the entire story, much to the embarrassment of the Ministry of Beaux Arts ana the Louvre Museum officials.
 The Louvre was, however, ac- corded better protection, both In inc number of guards and in the burglar alarm systems, So that It might be much more secure than before, but the various Chateau Museums are still poorly manned In view of the great treasures they contain. One of the most notable examples was the theft of the Condo diamond from the Chateau of Chantilly over three years ago. The diamond was restored. having been found secreted in m apple.