JEAN BATTEN IN PARIS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 18992, 17 April 1936, Page 12

JEAN BATTEN IN PARIS

PRAISE AND HOSPITALITY v- PRESENTATION MADE • -."".;. LONDON, March 14. ~.Miss Jean Batten has returned from Fiance. She paid her first visit to Paris as the guest of the Aero Club de France, Section' Feminine, and the invitation was Extended by two days from the original week-end indicated. This was the first occasion that she had travelled by air in a machine not her own. She was a passenger in an Imperial Airways aeroplane. Her own machine is having a complete-overhaul. On arrival, Miss Batten was received by her hostesses at the aerodrome at Guyaneourt. In Paris the entertainments arranged in honour of Miss Batten included a reception at the Sorhonne at which were present, the Minister for Air, other Ministers, and 100 notable men and women. The Aero Club de France arranged a banquet at which she Was the guest of honour. At the aerodrome at Guyaneourt, near Versailles, she was entertained by M. Louis Ren: ault and M. Rene Oaudron. M. Bleriot, ■who made history by flying across the Channel in 1909, gave a dinner party for her at his private house. The Marquise de Noailles, president oi the Women's Section of the Air Club of (France, gave a luncheon at her house. The Marquise is very well known in Paris, where she has done much for the French Bed Cross. The newspapers, Le Figaro and Le Jour were other hosts, the one at a cocktail party, the other at a luncheon. The Aero Club de Fiance presented Miss Batten with a gold plaque, sin by 3in., inscribed on one side with the words': "Presented by the Aero Club de France pour Aerienne Navigation and on the reverse: "Le Reve Concoit, la. Science Realise, 25 Feb., 1936- L'Aero Club de France to Miss A. Jean Batten to commemorate her trip across the Atlantic." At a luncheon, M. Roland Garro presented her with a beautiful suede purse, with an inscription in silver. ' M. Bleriot gave her an autographed Stamp bearing his photograph and issued in memory of his 1909 Channel flightThere are very few of these in existence, and Miss Batten is very proud to possess one. Some day it will be very valuable. The latest award', announced to-day is the gold medal of the French Academy of Sports for her record crossing of the South Atlantic last November. , . ACHIEVEMENT PRAISED

"Miss Batten's achievement m breaking the South Atlantic air record was warmly applauded in funs. "Lb mgaro," at 'the time, reterred to the coot deliberation, " unusual courage, the skill ana authority which went to its achievementHei time for the flight was lo hours 10 minutes the previous record—l 3 hours WJ mmutes —having oeen held by a frenchman with a much more powerful machine—against the hours attained by the Spanish aviator, Senor Compo. Miss Batten set up tliree records by her flight to Brazil in 61* hours from England. Her Lvmpne-Port Natal flight beat the record of 82 hours 8 minutes, held by Mr. James Molhson, by nearly a d a yDuring her stay in Paris, Miss Batten met General Houdenieut, of the French Air Force, and Mile. Deutseh de la Meuthe, daughter of the founder of the air race which bears his name. There was time also for a considerable abount of sightseeing, -In waiting for the consent of the king &fore enrolling Miss Batten in the Legion of Honour, M. Flandiu is following the usual practice.. It is a rule that no British subject can accept a foreign decoration without the King s approval. Her name will be submitted to the King by the High Commissioner for the Dominion. The regulations concerning the granting of such permission are carefully drawn and observed. At the moment, Miss Batten is busy In London. She has numerous invitations, and sue " m request for social functions. Two nights ago she presented the prizes at the big skating carnival at Queens Ice Skating Club in slid of St. Mary s Hospital. She is the recipient of consiuerable correspondence, and she is very appreciative of ihe intelligence of the London, postal authorities who deliver letters vaguely addressed—" Miss Jean Batten, London." These usually find their wav to the Aero Club. One letter £o addressed came from a little girl aged eWit, named Jean Batten, whose home is in Gloucester. There is no family connection.