Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-31
DROUH|N-[EV|NE
D|SCORD RUMORED
Owner of Bellanca Plane
Goes to England for Races
in Rented Craft.


PARIS, July 3O.-Talk Of dlscord
between Charles A. Levine and
Maurice Drouhin. the French flyer
whom he has engaded to pilot the air
plane Columbia on a return transat-
lantic flight, was again brought to
mind today, when Levine departed for
England and left Drouhin behind.
Levine left this afternoon as a pas
senger on board the Flying Pig. a
special plane held in reserve by one
Of the big air lines for emergencies.
The machine was piloted by one of the
company's most expert flyers. After
reaching Croydon. England, Levine
planned to fly to Nottingham for the
Kings Cup air races, returning to
Paris next week.
Quarrel Is Indicated.
Levine, as we'll as DOC" Kinkade.
the Wright motor expert who accom-
panied him on the fight to England
today. said the Columbia remained in
her shed because they didn't want to
give the pane any unnecessary hours
in the air. Friends of Drouhin, how
ever, say the Bellanca plane remained
to fly her and put his foot down
against making any other than test
flights before starting the transat.
lantic hop.
Shortly after noon today Levine ar.
rived at lie Bourget flying field and
set about finding a ship to take him
on the Nottingham trip. Finally he
decided to charter the Flying Pig
SO called because it's body resembles
the shape OF a porker. He left about
2 o'clock.
A few minutes after the Flying Pig
took off, Drouhin arrived. After
visiting the shed sheltering the Co
lumbia and finding the plane still
there, he motored away to Paris
hospital to visit Nine. Drouhin, who
soon is to become a mother.
Opposes "Circus Flights"
What Drouhin's friends call "cir.
Gus flights" constitute only one of the
points of contention between him and
| the owner of the Columbia. There
are unsettled money matters, also the
| question of whether Levine or
Drouhin is to steer the Columbia on
| the transatlantic flight.
| Thus far Levine and Drouhin have
| been working under a preliminary
contract providing for the deposit of
500, 900 francs in a French bank for
the benefit of Nine. Drouhin in the
event of a fatal termination of the
flight, with 100000 francs to go TO
Drouhin if Levine should fail to carry
out the agreement.
| 1t was further provided that Drouhin
should be paid 5000 francs weekly for
his expenses during the tuning up OF
the Columbia, according to friends OF
the French aviator. They add that
none of these provisions have been
put into effect.
From one misunderstanding to an
other and from one postponement TO
another of the signature of the final
contract, relations between the two
men became more and more strained
until this week Drouhin. 1t Is under
stood here, gave the owner of the Co.
lumb.a to understand that he would
not enter the cockpit of the plane
until he saw the money.
| Levine and his representatives de-
clare everything is harmonious be
tween pilot and passenger. Drouh1n
modestly is keeping in the back
| ground, although his friends repre-
sent him as determined to obtain .
satisfactory contract before proceed
ing further with the trials OF the Co.
lumbia.