Evening star., 1927-09-16

would head for Newfoundland and
thence to New York. Two fast air
planes Of the Free State air force es-
corted the Princess Xenia to the coast.
Fitzmaurice, Capt. Macintosh S
companion in the flight. Is comman-
dant of the Irish Free State air force.
Capt. Macintosh Is known as the
pilot of the night" because he claims
the record for the largest number OF
hours of nocturnal flying ever made.
With 13 years of experience he has
the reputation of being one OF the
best pilots in the world.
He PLAYED considerable part in
the DEVELOPMENT of aviation by trying
out many new machines, both COM
rsercial and military. He was pilot on
the western front throughout the war
and had many narrow escapes, but
came through unharmed. He attained
the rank of captain before resignlng
from the royal air force in 1919 and
has since been a pilot for the 1mpe-
rial Always.
An "All-Weather" Pilot.
In that capacity he carried thou
sands of Americans to and from Lon.
don and Paris. He is an ''all-weather"
pilot and is credited with having
crossed the Channel more times than
any other aviator. Two months ago
he resigned from the Imperial Air
ways to undertake preparations for
the transa tlantic flight that he began
today. He is 80 years old and un-
married.
Commandant Fitzmaurice saw SER
vice in the World War in the British
infantry, cavalry and air force. He
joined the Leinster Regiment in 1914
when only Is, and was sent home.
Three months later he rejoined and
went to France with the Seventeenth
Lancers. In May, 1916, he was wound
ed and transferred to the infantry.
He fought at Arras and in the Somme
sections with the West Surveys. Lat
er he received a commission in the
Liverpool Irish regiment.
Commandant Fitzmaurice was
transferred to the air force in 1917,
with which ha served for the re-
mainder of the war, and with army of
occupation In Germany until 1919. He
made his first night mail flight from
Folkestone to Cologne in 1919. The
next year he was picked as pilot of
projected Cairo to Cape Town flight
which was abandoned. He joined the
Free State air force in 1922. He is
married and has one child.
Leeds Is Backing Flight.
The plane. Princess Xenia, Is FOX
ker IA, with 510-horsepower Jupiter
6 air-cooled motor.
William B. Leeds is MacIntoshs
chief financial hacker for the flight,
but the pilot Is said to have also put
all his own resources into the enter
prise. More funds We're needed, how
ever, and he spent some time looking
for paying passenger to share the
expenses. The plane is named for
Princess Xenia of Russia, wife of
Leeds.
Macintosh announced that he would
head for New York, but would con-
tinue on to Philadelphia to claim
s25. 900 prize offered by the Evening
Bulletin. The newspaper. however. has
withdrawn the prize in view Of recent
long-distaf1ce fight disasters. and Mac
Intosh has not announced any change
Of destination since the withdrawal.
Woman Sought to Make Trip.
For time there was a prospect of
a race between Macintosh and Charles
A. Levine in the Columbia, as both
awaited favorable weather reports.
Levine recently tired of waiting and
announced a change in his plans, say
ing he would take his New York-to-
Berlin monoplane Columbia eastward
to India instead of westward across
the Atlantic.
Miss Mable Boil, wealthy American,
formerly Of Rochester, n. Y, and now
resident in Paris, was reported to have
offered Macintosh $500 for the pas
senger's seat, and to have been re-
fused. She made similar offers to
others planning westward trans
atlantic flights.
WEATHER CONDITIONS .FAIR."