Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-17
TALKS Of IRELAND AMBITIOUS TO FLY ALEXANDRA
Eager Inventors at Los An
geIes Aviation Field.
MANY FANTASTIC DEVICES
Paulhan Will Try to Beat Farman's
144-Mile Record-Enthusiastic
Spectators Watch Events.

Los ANGELES, Cal. January IL
Paulhan's attempt to lower Farman's 144-
mile record in a machine that Farman
himself built will not he the only a1rac-
ton at Aviation Field today il the wealth
er is fine.
There are dozen or more aspiring Pa
cific coast inventors who have been. tun-
ing up their experimental flying machines
for week and some are ready to be tried
today. These include every variety of
fantastic contrivance. from Prof. ]. S.
Zerbe's 1.OOO-pound flower-pot stand, which
made ill-starred appearance on the
field last week. to the one which it's sup
posed to rise by means of ventilating fans
in the roof and then glide, slanting. back
to earth again. There is not one that will
not fly, according to the inventors. These
optimistic people, however, freely admit
that none OF the machines has ever flown.
But there are principles back of them. ex
cellent principles, they admit.
IF only had an engine, said another,
I'd make the Wrights kick themselves
because they did not think of the idea
first"
Controversy Among Inventors.
Paulhan. having clinched his hold on
the hearts Of the hero worshipers in the
srandstand. has taken steps to enslave
this would-be rival by remedying this
serious lack and providing an engine with
which it is hoped to start the envy of the
Wrlghts He has one or two extra ro-
taries which have proven remarkably pro-
fcient in his own machines and the hope
full inventors in the California tent assert
that he has offered his motors for use on
the most promising of the prospective fly
ers. The question is, How will it be
determined which is the most promising?'
Every inventor votes for his own ma
chine and ridicules the rest.
Clifford Harmon announced today that
he had finished negotiations through
Paulhan for Farman bplane. When it
is delivered the New Yorker will be the
today that he will use the Farman ma
chine for heavy duty-long flights, high
flights and the like-and the lighter Cur
tiss machine for speed jaunts through
the air. The new deal has given Har-
mon two instructors in aviation, Curtiss
and Paulhan. The Frenchman took this
new pupil on flight for the first time
yesterday and, according to Harmon, has
promised to ground him thoroughly In
the dangerous trade of aviator before
he leaves America.
Enthusiasm of Spectators.
The people of Los Angeles gave an
exhibition yesterday of their enthusiasm
for aviation. Through the rain of the
morning they went in droves to the field,
standing in mud along the fence line
or holding dripping seats in the grand
stand. BY the time the events were
scheduled to begin the biggest crowd of
the meet had gathered Even the near
by hills were black with spectators. and
the rain ceased.
Feats in High Wind.
In half a gale Of wind Curtiss rose to
a height of more than hundred feet
and there performed as pretty a piece of
aeroplane jockeying has been seen.
He described circles in daring fashion,
lifting and dipping and beating against
the wind He finished by cutting q
figure eight. Pauhan strove to Guido
this, going up So feet and circling about
like hawk.
Then Curtiss, Paulhan and Charles X.
Hamilton, each driving his own machine,
swung around in an aerial marathon
At times they raced together. against the
wind. They flew under and over each
other and around each other
Roy Knabenshue and Lincoln Beachey
brought out their drigibles. They went
up and struggled hard against the wind
for a half mile, then gave 1t up. whirl-
ing back over the grandStand at hlSh
speed.
Germany Watching.
Unpretentious and unassuming. yet with
eyes and ears open to see and hear ev-
erything going on. two ordinary looking
Germans have been daily visitors on the
aviation field. They are Prince Robert
De White and A. T. Schwartz of Essen.
Germany.
The prince. who has attended all the
great aviation meets of the world. says:
Il believe that airships have a great
future and will be used. extensively for
pleasure flights and in army practice.
They are all right for the army in time
of peace. but not In time OF war.
Germany Is watching every invention
closely, and is experimenting with them.
If they are ever perfected so that they
can do everything that a dirigible can.
Germany will gladly adopt them, but for
the present the army believes that the
dirigible balloon is the only air craft
which can he relied upon"