New-York tribune., 1912-02-24
FRANCE SENDS CHALLENGE
Enters Gordon Bennett Race, To
Be Held in Chicago.
ENGLAND MAY COME IN
Patents Held by Wright Brothers
Only Barrier of Entries
Germany Enthusiastic.

The heart Of Cortlandt Field Bishop, pres
ident OF the Aero Club OF America expand
ed with elation when a cable message from
, the Aero club Of France was handed to
1 him at o'clock yesterday afternoon. II
read: "Engageons trois appareils coupe.
Freely interpreted. il signited that France
was about to enter three machines In this
wears contest for the Gordon Bennett in
ternational aviation cup, to he held In This
country Tor the reason that Charles L.
Weymann, the American aviator. who
never few above American soil. won 1t at
the Isle Of Shepuey. England, last summer.
The Gordon Bennett race will be held this
year toward the latter part OF September
or early In October, and the place will
probably be Chicago, Mr.. Bishop said last
night According to the rules governing
the contest, the club holding the trophy
L, must designate the time and place at which
the race is to be held, not later than April
/. and the clubs desiring to compete must
give notice of their entries and forward
the initiation fee to the holding club before
March /.
THE only other nation from which we
are likely TO hear" said Mr.. Bishop last
night, rs England. The Royal Aero Club
inquired about a week ago whether the
Wright brothers would interfere with any
aviators whom II might send over. as they
did in the case of Graham White last
year. suing him for an alleged infringe
ment on their patents. 1 was authorized to
reply that the Wrights would refrain from
proceeding against those who flew In the
Gordon Bennett event l expect to re-
ceive their challenge shortly. Germany
and Austria paid their initiation fees last
year, but none OF their men flew, and I
don't lima gine that they will be represented
this year. either
Mr.. Bishop bewaied the fact that Amer
lea was badly lacking In airmen ready TO
defend the cup. The Wrights, he under
stood had refused to build a speed machine
for the purpose and he could think OF no
one on whom to bestow the honor OF de-
Tending the trophy except it's winner, Wey-
mann. whom he called the greatest avia-
tor alive Efforts were being made, he said.
10 get Weymann over here for the con-
test Failing in tho search for an Amcri-
can machine with some chance Of holding
the cup, he remarked. one would doubt
less be imported from abroad. the only re-
strction as to nationality being on the
flyer
This years will be the fourth race for
the air trophy, America having won II
twice and England once. At the first con-
test. at Rheims, France, In 1909. 1t went TO
Glenn Curtiss. flying against Blertot,
Latham and Lefebre. During the first In
ternational aviation meet In this country
at Belmont Park in the summer OF 1910. 1t
was captured by Claude Grahame- White.
the Englishman.
France in whose domains the first bal
loon race. as we'll as the first aeroplane
race, for the Gordon Bennett trophy was
held has never won either OF the cOmmo-
dore's cups. Each year, however, her chal-
Ienge has come early. and her sportsman
ship has held her to the course until the
last whistle had blown. This year the bal
loon race will be held In Stuttgart. Ger
many. as the result OF the German team
taking the CUP away from this country
last October. Tho date has been set for
October e. the latest that the race has
ever been held.
The board Of governors Of the Aero Club
Of America, at It's meeting on Wednesday,
decided upon Kansas City as the starting
point for the national balloon race, to be
sailed either on July or on the day Of
the June full moon. for the purpose Of aid
Ing the club I'm IT'S selection OF the Ameri-
can team for the International event In
formation from Germany shows that every
courtesy will be paid the representatives Of
the contesting nations. The balloons will
be transported through German territory
free OF charge and will he covered by in
surance while there series Of banquets
and receptions has already peen planned.
Seven prizes have been offered by the
Wurtemberg Aero club for the race. rang
Ing from S2.000 to 80. with a total about
twice that Of last year. or $500. Besides
this. part Of the admission fees viii be di-
vided Up among the pilots Other prizes.
II is said, will be announced later.