Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-05
SCHNEIDER RACES
MAY END THIS YEAR
Great Britain Has Chance to
Keep SeapIane Cup by
Making "FIy Over"

The Schneider Seaplane Trophy race,
for 10 years the center Of rivalry among
the major atoms, may pass out OF
existence this year, If Great Britain
retains permanent possession Of the
cup.
American naval observers are inter-
ested in seeing what England will do
with the Schneider race this Fall, now
that France and Italy have notified
her they will be unable to enter planes
in the contest. Uncle Sam had q some
what similar opportunity to retain per-
manent possession Of the cup. as a re-
suit Of the situation at Baltimore,
seven years ago, when the United States
was the sole competitor.
In 1924 the American naval team
found itself with free field in the
had been eliminated when their ships
cracked up Uncle Sam had won the
race in 1928. at Cowes. England, with
naval team headed by Lieut.. David
Rittenhouse. U. s. N. The United
States again won the race in 1925, un-
der the leadership Of Maj. James H.
Doolittle. whose spectacular cross-coun-
try flight of less than IL hours has just
hung up new record for American
aviation.
Turned Down Chance.
Had the United States claimed its
right as winner in 1924. without COM
petitor in sight, by winning the year
before and the year after, this country
would now have permanent possession
Of the Schneider Trophy, given for ex-
cellence in seaplaneship. Uncle Sam,
as a sporting proposition, however, de-
clined to take advantage of the situa-
ton in 1924 and thus kept the trophy
open for international competition.
Great Britain, observers say, now has
If London is the lone contestant in the
forthcoming races, however. England
will retain permanent possession Of the
Schneider Trophy and this aerial
classic will pass. Great Britain won
in 1927 and 1929. the races now being
held every two years.
The Bureau Of Aeronautics. Navy De-
partment. will place no entry in the
Schneider race this year. nor will the
due to the fact Congress failed to make
an appropriation to enable Uncle Sam
to compete. France and Italy have
just notified Great Britain that they
will be unable to compete, so that
leaves clear field.
Moffett Explains Case.
Some time ago, before the present
situation faced Great Britain, Rear Ad-
miral William A. Moffett, U. S. N, chief
of the Bureau of Aeronautics, had this
to say: I'm 1924 the contest was held
in Baltimore, but was not completed
owing to crashes which eliminated all
foreign entries. These crashes left us
alone in the contest with no challengers
that year, and rather than claim a fly
over win, which we were at liberty to
do in accordance with the rules, we re-
fused to fly over the course and called
the race off until the following year.
This was recognized as an extremely
sporting action on our part, for 1t not
only-as things turned out later-kept
the contest alive, but it lost us the chance
of winning the trophy outright. for,
having won it in 1928 and subsequent
ly in 1925, the 'fiy-over' would have
made the three necessary wins and
America would have held the trophy
permanently
The Schneider Trophy was presented
to the Federation AeronaLtique Inter-
rationale by M. Jacques Schneider in
December. 1912. Schneider was the
son of the head of the great Schneider
Gun Factory at CreuSot. The trophy
is valued at $4,000 and is a group Of
statuary representing the Goddess
Zephyr kissing the waves. Airmen call
the trophy the Flying Flirt," because
it has been in the possession of France,
England, Italy and the United States,
at various times, none having so far
been able to win 1t three times in
succession.