PARIS TO ROME

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 36, 5 August 1911, Page 9

PARIS TO ROME

NAVAL OFFICER'S TRIUMPH.

Rome, May 31. The first of the flock of airmen com- ■ peting in the Paris-Itome-Tiirin race reached ,the Eternal City this afternoon. Naval Lieutenant Conneau (whose nom l; de 'lair is Andre Beaumont J came swift- ' ly down from the clouds at four o'clock, 1 and was welcomed with rapture by the vast crowd awaiting him at aerodrome by the Via Flatninia. No gladiator of old ever earned such an ovation. > * ] Lieutenant Conneau's victory in this i stage of the race—Bls miles from Paris was all the more surprising because V(i last evening, while he was struggling with repairs near Genoa, M. Garros flew past him and secured a long lead, reaching Pisa far ahead of him.

The naval officer; however, started >i fresh this morning and reached Pisa without mishap. He ascended again soon after 1 p.m. and landed at Rome' ; at 4.10 p.m. An enormous crowd had been staring for hours into the northern ' sky. At last they saw a.gmall black spot far beyond the summit of Monte Mario. It was Lieut. Conneau, 1500 ft up. As he drew near the enthusiasm of the ' < crowd grew greater and a roar went up to the sky and mingled with the thunder of an approaching storm. Heavy bkek clouds hid the sun, and the monoplane showed white against them. The still- • ness of the air lent solemnity to the moment. - ■■ At exactly ten minutes past four the' V.< lieutenant,-after a magnificent vol plane, touched the earth. The crowd, sweeping away the soldiers on dutv, rushed towards the airman. He was kissed and hugged and carried shoulder high. The whole Roman Press is rejoicing at the triumph of the first man to fly from lai is. The King and Queen will receive Lieut. Conneau to-morrow. To-night he is the guest of the municipality. , ] M, Garros left Pisa for Rome at 464 ' tins morning, but, fell and damaged His machine after flying about forty miles He returnod to Pisa by train. M. Fray reached Pisa this morning.