Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-24

RHEIMS. France, August IA black
nag swapping from a tall STAFF over the
committee tent in front OF the tribunes
facing the aerodrome, and a signal that
said: Wind is over ten metres d second,
conveyed to the thousands of persons who
assembled on the Betheny Field this
morning for the third day of aviation
week the informatio that no flights would
be possible until the wind abated.
Owing to the unfavorable weather con-
ditions the visit OF President Fallieres and
the members of the cabinet to the aero
drome was postponed until later in the
week.
Wind Goes Down.
But later the velocity of the wind hav-
ing decreased perceptibly the committee
telegraphed President Fallieres TO come.
and at $50 o'clock signal was dis
played here indicating that the president
had left Paris
President Fallieres and the members of
his party arrived here at 4 o'clock this
afternoon. They were driven in automo-
biles through double line Of cuirassiers
to the tribunes where NJ FalliereS was
given rousing ovation. He at once
started on a walk down the line of air
ship sheds. At the Wright sheds the
presidential party was received by Hart
Q. Berg. the European business manager
of the Wrights.
President Fallieres said he had fol-
lowed the experiments of the Wright
brothers at lie Mans with much interest
and he always had regretted that he
had had no opportunity of witnessing
their flights.
President Meets Curtiss.
AZ the president approached the shed
occupied by the Curtiss machine Mr..
Bishop. who was doing the honors. ask
ed Curtiss to step forward. Curtiss re-
piled. Il do not want to intrude myself"
but, nevertheless, upon the insistence of
Mr.. Bishop, he took his place beside the
machine and was presented to the presi-
dent Of the republic.
plane carefully, remarking upon its small
size AS compared to the others. One OF
the merchandising operated the aeroplane
while Mr.. Bishop explained the manner OF
maneuvering. AT the same time he told
President Faliieres that Curtiss did not
speak French.
He does better than that" replied the
president; "he accomplishes things"
With these words the president smiled
and. shaking hands again with Mr..
Bishop. Mr.. Curtiss and Commander
Charm, moved OF to the next shed.
Among the distinguished newcomers to-
day are Maj. Won Parseval, the German
dirigiblc balloon pilot: Leon Bourgeois
and M. Santos-Dumont. The last named,
although entered for some Of the races
here will not take part.
The committee has fined M. Lefebvre
- for recklessness during his maneuver-
ings Of Sunday. but 1t accompanied the
penalty with a Enthusiastically French
appreciation. 1t congratulated the aero
naut on being fined.
Count de Lambert Defended.
The friends of Count de Lambert today
met certain criticisms Of his prudence
with the explanation that while once
very wealthy. the count was now in re-
duced circumstances and had to earn
living for his wife and children by
acting as a professional pilot for the
Wright Company.
Many interesting questions have been
raised by this new sport Of racing I'm the
air. The fact that there have been no
serious breakdowns or accidents, even
when the machines were flying In a wind
Of twenty-six miles an hour and encoun-
tering difficult eddies Of air, Is regarded as
ample proof that the aereplane already is
a practical machine, whose further devel-
opment is only a question Of time and
money.
Biplanes Favored.
The experts differ as to the respective
merits Of biplane and monopiane and the
various types of machines in each class,
but 1t is unanimously held that the fu-
ture Of aviation depends upon the per-
lection OF the motor. The Gnome, a re-
volving self-cooling motor developing
fifty horsepower and weighing only $50
pounds, employed by M. Bunau-Varilla,
has attracted much favorable attention.
The experts agree that the biplanes. thus
fop HoN, al mo Ire<9 inr-
ty, stability and possibilities In wind as
compared to the monopiane. No Mono
planes have. ventured out except I'm abso-
lutely calm weather.
The brilliant performance Of last even
ing by Glenn H. Curtiss, the American
aviator, who covered a lap Of six and one
nfth miles in minutes and IS c-5 Sec
onds, makes him a favorite for the big
event of the meeting, the international
cup. but there Is little actual batting.
The rule that requires the contestants
i'm this event, which will take place Sat-
urday, to start before O'Clock in the
afternoon gives Curtiss much concern, as
the calm Of evening seldom sets In before
can h3s no liking for wind.
An Unfortunate misunderstanding.
An unfortunate Misunderstanding arose
yesterday after Curtiss had completed
his flight. The committee decided to PEN
alize him one-twentieth OF his time in the
Prix de Vitesse for failure to qualify
Sunday. Curtiss and Cortlandt Field
Bishop, the representatives Of the Aero
Club OF America, protested energetically
They claimed that 1t had been distinctly
agreed that Curtiss could qualify any day
Furthermore. they pointed out that the
rule cited penalized also those pilots who
qualified but failed to complete three
rounds, and that this penalty had not
been applied to Bleriot and the other
French aviators. The committee there
upon reconsidered its decision, aud after
receiving Curtiss' word of honor regard
ing his understanding the ruling was
Withdrawn.
Commander Frederick L. Chaplin and
Maj. T. Bentley Mott, respectively the
American naval and military attaches. as
we'll as other foreign attaches who have
come down to Rheims. are interested
chiefly in the endurance and weight-carry
ing tests, as these are the main consid-
erations from the military standpoint.
They all seem to regard the Wright mod
els and the Paulham biplane as superior
In these respects.
Sundays Deny Auto Accident.
CHICAGO. August ga telephone mes
sage received here today from Mrs. Bill
iy'' Sunday, wife OF the evangelist, denies
that Mr.. and Mrs. Sunday were victims
OF an automobile accident near Laporte,
Ind YESTERDAY. Mr.. Sunday and his wife