The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-07-03
LIKE A FLOCK OF BIRDS
The European Circuit Avlators Flew
Into Dover.

Dover, July 3-Only by making the
cross channel flight under some extra
ordinary circumstances, will any avia-
tor be able hereafter to gain any par
ticular glory from the feat After to-
day the fight must be considered an
ordinary affair, for the morning saw
no less than eleven aviators, contest
ants in the European circuit race, win
their way across the channel and alignt
In Dover as easily as a flock of birds
might have done. Moreover, one of the
eleven Renaux, carried a passenge~ in
his biplane.
The morning was perfect, hardly a
breath of wind ruff1ing the surface of
the channel as the pick of Europe's ex-
pert aviators headed from Calais. for
this shore. The air was still when they
landed on the downs here. A great
crowd had surrounded the landing
place in anticipation of the arrival of
the aviators. They had but short wait
before Vedrines, consistently the lead
er in the previous stages Of the FACE,
drove his monoplane into view out Of
a bank of heecy clouds that hang low
over the channel. He made circuit
of the aerodrome and landed graceful
".
The flight from Calais had been ac-
compHshed in about half an hour. The
other contestants followed in quick sue
cessiOn. Seven mOnoplanes were almost
punched, then came to biplaneS, ana
another monoplane brought up the rear.
Everything went as orderly and In as
ordinary fashion as at a horse race
meeting. One by one the machines ap-
peared over the trees swept down to the
aerOdrome, circled 1t and landed with
out a semblance of a mishap.
There was none of the excitement
that had characterized the finish Of the
previous cross-channel flights nor were
the aviators exhausted, instead they
crawled from their aeroplanes and
calmly walked away with friends while
their machines were taken to the hang
ars to be overhauled, very much as 4
race horse might be led to its stable
for a rundown.
soon after the last of the aviators
had landed the wind began to freshen
and it was decided to start Immediate
ly on the next stage OF the contest TO
Shoreham and thence to London. Ehe
start was accordingly made, and with
the same precision that had character
terized the arrival at Dover.
The machines left at two minute in
tervals only one exceeding that time
and that only by few seconds. A
number Of army officers were deeply
interested spectators OF today light
across the channel. Comments 'V9r5
freely made as to the possibility, grant
ing the continued development of the
aeroplane, Of landing an invading lorce
on British territory by their use. We
drines arrived at Shoreham at 7:19 fol-
lowed by all the others excepting IRAN
and Gilbert The former descended at
New Haven and the latter ct East
Bourne Again Vedrines led the way
starting for Hendon at 7:36.
vedrines First to Arrive.
London, July 3.-Londonera were
early astir to witness the arrival or
the competing aviators at Hendon.
The progress of the flight from Calais
4~xIf 4DI hFnnkh0QTnG
and by the explosion of aerial bombs
An elaborate system Of pilotage had
been arranged from Dover to Hendon,
as we'll at the Aerodrome to Facilitate
an easy passage and descent Never
theIess Train lost his bearings near
New Haven and was compelled to de-
scend. He alighted rather roughly
and his machine running down hill
was damaged.
Vedrines in his monoplane, was the
first to arrive reaching Hendon at
.S:34:53. He said that he had had a
splendid passage, across the channel
and up the coast.
A half hour later Vidart descended
gracefully. Kimmerling. Beaumont,
Valentine and Garros landed within
the next hour in the order named
Tabuteau appeared at 1915 o'clock,
ne too. having lost his way As he
got out of his machine he sank to the
ground and in a moment was asleep.
Renaux, VINO has carried pdsSen-
ger throughout the race. was report
ed this morning as having reached
East Bourne.
vedrines won the prize of 1000 for
the fastest flight from Dover to
Shoreham. Gilbert who won the Do
yer trophy for the fastest channel
flight made the distance in 81 min
utes and 81 seconds.
Chance May Manage From Bench.