The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-10-24
Pdnmsfn Travels Nearly Nine
 Hundred Niles
FRANCE IS 4 CLOSE SECOND
Americans Do Not Rank High in This, One of the Most Remarkable Aeronautic Contests in His
 tory of Such Events.

St. Louis October 2S.-Proclaimed as the most remarkable ballooning contest in the history of the world of aeronautics, with all racing records broken the second
 international cup competition which start ed from here on Monday last ended to- day. with Germany accorded the winning laurels.
 The finals of the race was the closest and most exciting the followers of the sport have ever known, the victorious
 German balloon. the Pommern, which
 landed at Asbury Park this morning,
 having but slightly more than five miles
 the advantage of the French contestant,
 L'Isle De France, second in the race,
 which descended during the afternoon at
 Herbertsville, N. J.. few miles from
 the Atlantic coast, and slightly northwest
 of Point Pleasant.
 Another German balloon the Dusseldorf.
 stands third in the race, American en-
 tries are fourth and fifth, third German
 team is sixth, q French team seventh,
 American eighth and English ninth. The unofficial estimated air line flight
 of the Pommern is SS0 miles, and that
 of the LIsle De France is S75 miles. The
 Dusseldorf, third. which landed near De-
 yer, Delaware, is estimated to have cov-
 cred 7s0 miles. The official measurement will be computed at the geological sur vey of the United States government in Washington. Only the proximity of the Atlantic stopped the wonderful flight of the Pommern. The balloon coald have remained in the air many hours longer
 and undoubtedly would have added sew eral hundred miles to her record but for the expanse of water ahead.
 News of the Finish. News of the landing of the Pommern
 was received here at an early hour today and was followed by reports of the de- scent of every other contestant in the race.
 with the exception of the L'1sle De France. There were many predictions
 that the contest would result in a tie for first honors. When the LIsle de France
 did not descend at the point selected by the German leaders in the race there was a belief that the French aeronauts might after all be declared the winners. Evidently a contrary current caught the
 L'Isle De France, however, and blew the vessel back to the southwest. Realizing
 that their supply of gas was low and that they were losing actual ground, the occupants of the French basket decided to make rapid descent as near the coast
 as possible.
 It was the drifting back from Asbury Park to Herbertsvlle that placed them
 Sn second position. While losing the dis
 tance record and possession of the cup, the French team sailing LIslc De France, gained the worlds record for duration of
 flight. Starting from here at 4:10 D. m,
 central time, they landed today at 1:l0
 D. m.. eastern time, making their time in
 the air just A hours. The previous rec
 ord was Al hours minutes, held by
 Count de Lavulx of France.
 Records Badly Beaten. The record of the international race. set by the balloon United States in the fight from Paris last year, was 402 miles. This was more than doubled by the Pommerin
 and the French balloon which threatened
 the winner. In fact but one of the nine
 contestants in this years race failed to
 exceed tho 1906 record.
 Tho result of the race ended today, the first of it's character ever held in this
 country, has qualified the United States in the opinion of all of the ballooning experts gathered here as the most favor able aeronautic ground in the world.
 Germany having won possession of the silver trophy, presented by James Cor don Bennett the race next year will be in the homo of the German Aero club" Final possession of the trophy rests with the club which wins 1t three times. The balloon United States, which finished eighth fin this years contest. was the winner in 1906. gaining leg on the cup for the Aero, club of America Aside from possession of the cup the Germans
 won a cash prize of $2500, also offered by MT. Bennett.
 The worlds record for distance flown
 is 1200 miles, held by Count Henry de LaVaulx.