Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-08-28
OUT IN FORCE.
Many Americans Attend Aviation Con.
tests at Rheims.

France, Aug. 27.--The aerial races here
are daily arOusing increased interest
and excitement throughout France as
well as in Europe generally. The pub
lished accounts Of the marvellous flights
in which record after record has been
broken, have gripped the public atten-
ton and thousands of people are flock
ing to the plain of Betheny from all
parts of the continent The American
contingent is very large, and many
Americans travelling in other countries
are abandoning their trips and hasten
ing here by automobiles and train in
order to witness some of the perform
ances of this historic week. Everybody
| is enthusiastic and the spectators de-
| clare that the sight of the beautifully
| winged engines flying steadily for
hours. seems like a dream.
| The program for today included the
finals in the Grand PriX De La Cham
pagre. or competition for the greatest
distance covered without taking on
fresh supplies of fuel and oil, which
carries the largest prize of the meeting.
The record Is now 1888 miles, made by
Latham yesterday in 2 hours, Is min
utes, 8 3-5 seconds, and the contest to-
day promised to be an exciting one. The
sporting blood of the skypilots is up.
Louis Paulhan. whose record fell be-
fore T.atham's performance of yester-
day, declared today that he did not
propose to allow Latham to carry off
the prize, and the Wright managers
have decided to make q desperate effort
to regain their lost prestige. Latham
| himself has announced that he would
| try to beat his own record.
Paulhan, with tank carrying 80 IL
| tres of gasoline, enough to last him for
| five hours, went up shortly before II
o clock. But his oil feeder was not
working well and he alighted after
having travelled couple of miles, for
repairs.
| The contest tomorrow for the inter-
national cup, known otherwise as the
Gordon Bennett trophy, to go to the
aviator who covers two laps, or 1912
| miles, in the shortest time, is regard
ed as the principal event of aviation
| week. Both the Wright and the Eng
| liSh machines are considered too slow
to stand any chance, and the contest
consequently lies between Bleriot, Cur
tiss and Latham. Bleriot's big machine
| is being fitted up with new wings and
propellers and the pilot announces that
he will try out his aeroplane this af-
terroon. Both Bleriot and his engineer
agree that the motor was not damaged
yesterday when the machine run into
a fence surrounding the tribune.
Cortlandt F. Bishop, president Of the
Aero Club of America, and Roger Wal
lace, president of the Aero Club of
Great Britain, had a conference today
in the matter of the decision of the
committee to allow BleriOt to use a
machine in the race for the interna
tional cup other than the one with
which he qualified. They decided that
issue raised concerned the French fly
ers only. and if the other contestants
are satisfied, the foreigners have NJ
reason to protest. Glenn H. CurtiSS
after further consideration, today filed
a formal protest against his penaliza
| ton of one-tenth of his time in the
contest for the PriX De La Vitese or
| the ground that he was distinctly in
| formed that no penalty would be in.
flicted il he did not start Sunday. II.
1 is willing, however. to accept a penal
iZation of one-twentieth for his faul
of Tuesday, as most of his competitor
received similar handicaps.
/ While making his second start, Paul
han had an accident. The bi-plane LET
the ground in response to the horizon
tai rudder, but it encountered stron,
| puff of wind on the beam, heeled over
and was forced back to the earth.
The planes on the left side crumple,
up like cardboard The accident oc
Cured directly in front of the tribune
and there was universal sympathy TO
the plucky pilot. Paulhan explaine
that the cause of his mishap was
detour he made to avoid Delagrangs
who was coming toward him. He sal
) the wooden ribs could be substitute
: easily and that he expected to be abb
to make another start later in the day
II Shortly after this mishap, Bleriot i
ibis mo 49," went up and rounded tn