The Washington times., 1914-02-09
BIG PRIZES HUNG UP
FOR AVIATION RACES
Transatlantic and 'ROund-t the
World Contests Arouse In
ternationaI Interest.

Not since the first demonstration OF
ne practicability of flight in a heaV-
,,r-than-air machine has there been so
nuSual an interest in aeronautlcs as
L the present time when two notable
rizes are hung up.
Alfred HarmsWorth OoTd NOrthclife),
r the London Daily Mail. offers $4,000
20 the first aviator crossing the Atlantic
.pcean, and the Panama-PacifiC Expo
ition Company, in cooperation with
ne Aero Club of America, is consider
rug the practicability of increasing 'he
,ri2e for a 'round-the-WOrld race to
10000.
The transatlantic flight is regarded
Nv those in touch with the subject as
icing the more likely of accomplish
ment. BIZ the route that has often been
lEured out, via Newfoundland and Ice
and, there is one jump of 60 miles
Il ON Belle Isle, off Newfoundland. to
cape Farewell. Greenland. and another
Of SO miles from Cape Farewell to
IIayjavik, Iceland.
Roland GarrUs in an ordinary mono
plane crossed the Mediterranean from
france to Austria, covering 5i2 miles in
eight hours on = nonstop flight, and. III
"a specially constructed machine there Is
little question that the additional dis
tance might not be accompl shed.
Many members OF the Aero Club be-
lieve there is little to prevent the trans
Atlantic flight frcm being made even in
an ordinary machine.
Five Compete.
Three giant flying boats are being
constructed in Europe TO compete for
This prize, and two are known to be
under way in this country. Glenn Cur
lis is TO build one for Rodman Wanna
maker, who proposes to carry a passen-
Gr1rrOV1nnS Tbp hllllnlng OF
IhG, second flyer, but Carries T. Niles is
supposed to be identified with II.
The European boats will be brought
10 this side by Roland GarroS, Marc
Poupre. and Brindejonc des Mouli-
nais. three of the worlds greatest
tviators. Garros' Mediterranean flight
$ but one of many daring feats he
mas accomplished.
Poupre achieved fame a year ago
as the first airman TO fly across China
and to circle the Pyramids in Egypt
He is now engaged in flight from
cairo to Cape Town. after a success
rul fight from Cairo to Khartoum
and return.
Moulinais gained his reputation as
N airman of the first rank by flying
rom Paris to st. Petersburg and back
IN twenty days. His feat in crossing
the Baltic Sea gave him the expert
nee on which he will trust himself
above the Atlantic in a dash for the
irish coast
In his communication to the Aero
hub, Garros says he has become IA
niliar with flying by night by the
"ompass, has learned to make proper
.IlCwances for wind drift. and has no
car Of losing his course above the
Atlantic.
Influence of Wind.
Consideration is being given to the
statement Of Prof. Humphreys, Of the
Weather Bureau, that at an elevation
Of 1000 feet there is an almost constant
wind of fifty miles an hour from east
10 west, but It is unlikely to alter the
present plans to make the flight in the
opposite direction.
on account of the Wright patent de-
siOns, it is probable that the United
states Will be denied view OF the for
elEH machines, and they may have to
.'Onfine their preliminary flights to Can
ada.
Officials OF the Panama-Pacffc Ex-
1osition, who have already announced
Drizes Of S15O.0O0 for the 'round-the-
world flight in any form OF aircraft,
said there is prospect of the prizes be-
Eng increased to 81, 900. 0O0
The projected increase found its
source in a communication from the
Aero Club of America. which stipu-
lated that the time limit should be eX-
ended to ninety days. If this can be
lone the Aero Club men are sanguine
'hat the cooperation of more than 400
air clubs the world over can be obtain
d. and that the raising of the $l,0O0,00o
ill not be difficult.
The eventual success Of the round
1e-World race will depend on just such
O-operatiOn, said Charles G. Moore,
"Tes dent Of the exposition.
The start and finish, however must
10Th be made from the exposition
rounds in San Francisco. The depart
re is scheduled for May 1915, prior
. which time S25,OgO Will he spent in
nreliminary flights over the Golden
late.
Route of Flight.
Arnold Kruckman, for several years
secretary of the Aeronautical Society
II New York, TO whom the work Of
rSanizing the race has been delegated,
viii make q trip around the world TO
rrrange for the flight The route will
Ie across the American continent,
Icross the Atlantic Ocean. England,
France, Germany. Russia, Japan and
the Pacific ocean.
That there will be many American en-
rants is already assured The first def
Tite announcement came from Lieut.. J.
q. Towers, one of the navy's most dar-
.ng aviatoTs, whose determination. how
'stT. is subject to the approval of the
secretary OF the Navy !: is probable
that the permission will not only be
rOrthcoming for Lieutenant Towers, but
Iur one or more others.
Although the Zeppelin dirigible bal
looms are rarely permitted to leave Gcr-l
many. II is fairly certain one or more
uf these huge craft will be entered in
she race.
France will unquestiOnably send some
{ its splendid dirigibIes. There is every
reason TO believe all the powers will
md official tprcsenCatIves.
The principal craft and hiers will como
rom Germany. Austria, Belgium, HOI-
and, Spain. Italy. France. England,
I'ussia- India. Japan. Sweden, Norway
md Switzerland
Indcr the rules Of the Federation
Acronautiquc lntoTnationale certain
cities must he designated as control
points and the plans contemplate plac-
ing these points about 200 miles apart
Naturally cities which contribute TO
Jle auxiliary prize fund or which are
IU6cated by individuals or oTganiZa-
lions that contribute. will receive pre-
t"rcDce when the control points are
hUsen.
HofrocL Woc Too Small