Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-11
PAULHAN TAKES THE LEAD
First Day Performance at Los An
geles Inspires Rivalry.
CURTISS WILL TRY TODAY
American Will Attempt to Make
New High-Flight Record-Wash-
ington May Get Next Meet.

Paulhan'S debonnair assumption of the
hero part. with his peculiar series of
flights at Aviation Field yesterday, has
stirred the rival American aviators to a
determination to oust him today from the
position he snatched suddenly from them
when he swept from behind his aeroplane
tent and flew over the huge grand stand.
close to the heads of the
thousands of spectators.
1t became known today that the pro-
peler. which Curtiss damaged when he
essayed a flight following Paulhans. was
the one with which he intended to eclipse
Paulhan's performance. The propeller
has been repaired and before dark today
the enthusiasm Of the excited throngs
may be centered around the American.
1t is now a contest between America
and France. and this is the first day on
which flights will count for the prizes.
Willard and Hamilton spent hours after
dawn today preparing their flyers tests.
The program today is mostly of an
eliminating character. At , o'clock Mais-
son or Mascarol will make the first flights
ever made in a Bleriot aeroplane in
America. At 2:30 O'Clock. without any Of
the waits that delayed the events of yes
terday, all aviators on the field will take
turns demonstrating starting and landing.
At 3 o'clock Curtiss or one Of his pupils,
Hamilton or Willard. will make the first
attempt to wrest away the present ad-
vantage of Paulhan with a test flight for
altitude. This will count in the final
awards of the prize.
Dirigibles This Afternoon.
At 4 o'clock the three big dirigibles-
Kns benshue's. Beachey's and the one be-
longing to the United States government
will rise. Here Knabenshue. according to
the program will repeat his performance
of yesterday, when he raced Beachey. but
this time his opponent will be the gov
ernment's aerial war craft.
Courtlandt Field Bishop, president of
the Aero Club of America. who arrived
asst night. said today that while he still
maintained that some of the conditions
attached to the prizes were impossible,
nevertheless 1t was practically certain
that with notifications they would be ap-
proved. His principal objection was the
proffered prize of $4,000 for the dirigible
that could fly to San francisco.
When shown the dispatch from Paris
saying that the International Aeronauti-
cal Association had fixed dates for nu-
merous aerial carnivals in various parts
said that he could not understand why
the International aviation meet was not
set for November ,. A full moon has a
great deal to do with the success of the
International balloon contest, Mr.. Bishop
said. and there will be only a half moon
or three-quarters October %, the date
set by the federation.
Washington's Chances Still Good.
Mr. Bishop fatty denied reports that
New York was certain to secure the in
ternational cup meet and that prepara-
tions had progressed SO far that tract
on Long Island had been purchased for
the aviation field.
Nothing has been done toward a Sc
lection said Mr.. Bishop. I'm fact there
are several objections that might be
raised against New York-for instance,
the stiff coast winds.
Besides, before / end the present jour-
ney / shall visit several cities that have
bid for the international aeroplane con-
tests, among them Washington and Bal
timore. which are working together, and
also Des MOines.
II shall also go to Denver and ST.
Louis, both of which cities are seeking
the balloon meet. l intend to investi-
gate closely the facilities offered by each
and then report to the directors of the
Aero Club of America, who will finally
done until March l or later"
Countries in the Federation.
All the time intervening between now
and November will be needed to perfect
arrangements for the two international
meets which will be held in America be-
cause Americans swept all honors last
year. Each country represented in the
Int
entitled to enter three champions in the
aeroplane and balloon contests. The
members of the federation are the United
States. England. France. Germany. Hol-
land. Belgium. Russia. Italy. Spain.
Sweden. Switzerland. Denmark and
Austria. All these. with the possible ex-
ception of Russia, where aviation is said
to be discouraged by the bureaucracy
will be represented at the International
cup meets.
judges Of the flights here and he declared
that the meeting ranked higher than the
meets of international significance fol-
lowing that at Rheims.
Paulhan Thrills Them.
Louis Paulham. the French aviator.
furnished the thrill of the opening
day yesterday.
unannounced. with the enormous
crowd that filled the camp inclosure
thinking he would not get his ma
chine in good working order in time
for the days flights. Paulhan, in a
Farman machine. started from the
tents In the middle of the field. and
made a spectacular flight over the
camp. He scorned the official course
and circled about the field in an ex-
tending flight of eight minutes and
twenty-eight seconds. He covered
three and three-fourth miles and
reached an altitude of 80 feet. IN
finishing his flight he sailed directly
over the grandstand, while the multi
tude shouted wildly.
A few minutes later Paulhan again
started on flight, followed closely by
Roy knabenshue in his dirigible. For
a time both machines were close to-
gether in the air. They turned to-
gether at the upper end of the course.
and for an instant it looked like a race
Paulhan, however. quickly left the
and before he alighted he had
been in the air ten minutes and two
seconds. On this flight he reached an
altitude of 400 feet and travelled a iis-
InI