DUEL AT TEN PACES.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1986, 17 February 1914, Page 7

DUEL AT TEN PACES.

. __ 4 _ AN AVIATOR'S CHALLENGE. By Telegraph—Press Association—OoDjriaht • Paris, February 15. M. Vedrines, the aviator, • has returned and challenged M. Quinton to a duel with service revolvers at ten paces. Ml Vedrines declares that one of them must be wiped out. Meanwhile he has announced himself as a candidate for Parliament. When aviators meet—on terra firma— they fall out (says , the "Westminster Gazotto" of January 7). That, at least, appears to be the rule' in Egypt. Vedrines, ''Rous, Olivier, and Pourpe, four men whose, names have been telegraphed far and wide in connection with recent aerial achievements here, have latterly been concerned in some strange and regrettable disputes. When Vedrines arrived' at Heliopolis (says a Central News . telegram from Cairo), he was met by M. Rous, Daucourt's. late passenger, who offered' him a bouquet of roses. The surprise of everybody present may bo,imagined when i Vedrines, instead of gracefully acknowledging tho compliment, snatched the flowers from M. Koiix, and flung them in' his face. No explanation was forthcoming, _ and tho bewildered spectators were fain to conclude that it must be sought in the over-excited state of . the jubilant aviator's nerves. . Subsequently, proceeds the message, at the i Continental Hotel, where both Vedrines -and Roux were staying, friendly attempts were made to smooth the matter over, but Vedrines was. obdurate. The French Minister was ultimately appealed to, and he decided; that Vedrines must tender some kind of explanation or apology. • The famous aviator attempted neither. As a final resort, the French Minister sent two envoys to Vedrines, but ho refused to listen to them. ,M. Defranco thereupon told him that if he did not apologise within a given time, he would be boycotted by the Trench community, arid the celebrations -arranged iriliis honour would be carried out in honour of his rival Bonnier, who had already reached' Beirut. oVeMTinssfiTemtoed'-iadanilint'. i The resul.t w'as"'extraordinary." ''When' the Minister's ultimatum and Vedrine's reply there to .'became known, .Vedrines was>ostracised, by■■ bosom friends.-•■' One saw the,spectacle of the aviator and his friends exulting together in the morning, and passing each other unnoticed in tho ovening. Vedrines states that he will ignore everything. "Officially," he remarked laconically, "I have left Cairo."

Ppitrpe and Olivier ate dismiting the honour of first flight from Heliopolis to the' Pyramids and back, and there is further trouble because' Olivier is alleged' to have refused Vedrines permission to land in the Heliopolis aerodrome.

Mr. M'Clean. the English aviator, is, happily, outside these bickerings (says the Central News telegram in conclusion). He is statin?, quiet and contented, at the Savoy, waiting for the opportunity to win. his spurs while the. others quarrel. ■ Vedrines (according to a telegram received by the "Journal" and quoted-by ■Reutev) is i?oing to the Pyramids, where he will take a few days' rest. Should Pourpe fail in his flight to Khartoum Vedrines will himself attempt to carry out the feat, which ho expects to do in two days. . . .