The pioneer of aviation in China, M. Rene Vallon met his death on the Race Course on Saturday in circumstances which have cast a deep gloom over the entire community. The tragedy, unhappily only one in a long list of fatalities occurring in the struggle for the mastery of the air, came in the most dramatic manner, and none of the thousands witnessing it will ever forget the cruel shock which it gave.

No more painful tragedy can he found in the annals of Shanghai, for at a moment when practically the whole community were applauding his feat of aviation he was hurled to the ground from a frightful height, meeting his end while as yet the cheers had scarce had time to die away from the lips of the assembled on-lookers.

And what is still more distressing, it was before the eyes of his wife that the terrible accident occurred, Mme. Vallon having come to the Race Course to greet him after his flight.

M. Vallon's death closes what promised to he a bright chapter in the present history of China, namely the introduction of aviation, and the pioneer flights at Kiangwan from which so much was hoped to follow, will be remembered with feelings of sorrow.

Once already the gallant aviator had flown over Shanghai, and so successful had he been in his flights that people were forgetful of the dangers of the air, but, when all seemed to be going well, these were brought home with redoubled force.

The story of the fatality is as simple as it is sad, though of course the exact cause is difficult of explanation.

Throughout the Race Meeting a visit from the aeroplane had been daily anticipated, but the weather was against flying. There was an improvement on Saturday, and it was announced that following upon the races there would he one of those aviation meetings which had been so popular at Kiangwan. At five o'clock all preparations had been completed at Kiangwan for the flight, and rising into the air M. Vallon set off for Shanghai.

The afternoon was cloudy with occasional glimpses of sunlight and there was little wind stirring. Higher probably, than he had ever flown before in this district M. Vallon rose until when above the Railway Station he is estimated to have been at least 1000 feet up.

From here he steered his course in a circle, taking a wide sweep and approaching the Race Course from the north-west. By this time he had been observed in the Settlement, from every quarter eyes were focussed upon him.

The seventh race of the afternoon had just finished when those in the enclosure caught sight of the biplane approaching and in a moment all interest in the winner had disappeared. Far above the heads of the throng Vallon came, certainly between 500 and 900 feet in the air and travelling at a tremendous pace. The biplane has a speed of between 70 and 80 kilometres as a rule and it was a grand sight to see the machine speeding through space.

Soon the whirr of the motor could be heard and in a few moments he was sailing high over the Race Club.

At this moment a great cheer rose from the crowd, every eye being fixed on the aeroplane with the gallant aviator sitting there quite cool and unmoved. In a line above the home straight he passed then circled away to the back and round the track. Soon he was again over the Race Club and in the meantime he had descended somewhat, but was still about 600 feet from earth.

The picture was fascinating and the crowd was thoroughly enjoying the spectacle cheering over and again when suddenly there came a sickening sensation. For a second time the aeroplane had flown along the home straight, but just when within fifty or a hundred feet of the turn it was observed to (quake). It seemed to descend a short distance rapidly as if the aviator were planing down then there was a slight (shift) to the right followed by a heavy lunge to the left.

For a moment it looked as if the aeroplane were to recover but this was not to be. The machine hung for a second or two then, with the plane swinging down and plunging to the ground, the great structure crashed down. With increasing impetus as it neared the ground, the machine struck with a horrid thud, the planes doubling up as if crushed by a sledge hammer.

It was all over.

For a second or two the crowd was motionless, horror-stricken at the spectacle, and then there was a wild run for the ruined aeroplane. The police followed by men and women leaped the barricades and tore along the track as fast as their feet could carry them, all anxious to render assistance if that was still of any avail. There was little hope that M. Vallon had survived the awful fall and a glance showed that death had been instantaneous. The crowd surged around the wrecked plane urged on by a morbid curiosity and the few police on the scene had their work cut out to cope with them.

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In the earlier part of the afternoon Mme. Vallon had arrived at the Race Course with the object of greeting her husband after his flight. She had taken a seat on the roof of the Cricket Club, and when the aeroplane fell was watching it. On seeing what had happened the poor woman fainted, and was brought into the Race Club in a fainting condition by Dr. Fresson. At this stage the behaviour of. the crowd, which had not been too good before, became absolutely disgraceful.

Men and women crowded round the unhappy lady, witnessing her grief nor would they keep back until forced by the police. Mme. Vallon was hurried into the clubhouse, and shortly after was driven away in a carriage, prostrated with grief. On Sunday she was reported to be ill, suffering no doubt from the effects of the awful tragedy she had witnessed.

The late M. Vallon was a slightly built man - a Parisian - and was 31 years of age. He had taken up aviation only about eighteen months ago, and in the meetings in which he took part at home had achieved no little success. He had flown at the Bordeaux meeting. in the beginning of 1910, and also at Berne and Issy-les-Moulineaux near Paris, where he had had his schooling in aviation. He arrived in China on January 10 last, and after much disheartening work caused by the damage which was done to the machines on the way out, he succeeded in making several successful flights.

The Chinese swarmed down to Kiangwan to see him, and he won admiration from all. The French Municipal Council offered him a prize to fly over the Concession, and he made a flight on the evening of April 24. This was his second flight over Shanghai, and how disastrously it ended is too well known. M Vallon was married about three years ago, but leaves no children. He was an only son, and leaves a widowed mother to mourn him in Paris.

It was the intention of the aviation party to leave Shanghai almost at once for Tientsin, and M. Petin, the leader of the group, had gone north to make arrangements. On Saturday a telegram was despatched, acquainting him of the tragedy, and summoning him to come at once. It is expected that now the whole party will return, to Europe.

The body of the deceased is being enbalmed, and will be sent to France for burial.

M. and Mme. Vallon resided at the Hotel des Colonies, and on Sunday the flag on this building, as well as others in the neighbourhood, was half-masted out of respect for M, Vallon. A large number of cards and letters of sympathy were left at the hotel for Mme. Vallon, and the whole community joined her in her deep sorrow. A musical dinner was to have been given at the hotel on Saturday night, but in view of the sad event it was unhesitatingly abandoned.

M. Rene Vallon, although he did not enjoy the renown of such aviators as Pamhan, Farman, Grahame White and the Wright brothers, was nevertheless a daring aviator and but for the dreadful calamity which overtook him on Saturday he would undoubtedly have achieved great fame.

Although fearless he was not foolhardy, and those aviators who ventured up in the teeth of a gale received no sympathy from him. He contended that such flights retarded the progress and development of aerial navigation.

A member of the Aero Club of France, M. Vallon graduated in a school that has produced the world's greatest aviators. He was among the earliest of those trained to navigate the air, and to demonstrate the capabilities of heavier-than-air machines. His first flights gained for him golden opinions and it was not long before he got his efficiency certificate.

At that time he was associated with all the great fliers of the day, and he was a personal friend of M. Paullian, the hero of the flight from London to Manchester.

From the outset the Shanghai community displayed the keenest interest in his flights, and although the meteorological conditions several times precluded it, M. Vallon at last achieved a flight from Kiangwan to Shanghai and back again This was only as recently as to-day fortnight, and it was a wonderful performance in that darkness had set in before the aviator returned to his hangar. For that performance the French Municipality presented M. Vallon with a prize.

The Chinese authorities, military and civil. were charmed with the performances that the late aviator had accomplished. At some of his flights various members of the Consular Body of China were present and they all expressed themselves as exceedingly satisfied.

On Sunday, March 25, General Hsu, commanding the Nanking Division of the Modern Army, was specially deputed by the Chinese Government to witness M. Vallon's flights. The late aviator made five ascents, and at the close the General observed that it was hardly possible to estimate the usefulness of such machines in time of war, and if the Chinese Government accepted the flying machine for military purposes, the makers of M. Vallon's machines would be invited to China to build a number.

M. Vallon considered his machine perfect as far as known ingenuity could suggest. It was a Sominer biplane and although it only weighed 750lb. it was capable of carrying a weight of 2,000lb.

With all the solemnity and the dignity of the Roman Catholic Church the last rites were paid on Monday to M. Vallon , the courageous aviator who was killed on Saturday afternoon in a flight over the Shanghai Race Course. The ceremony of a Requiem Mass was conducted at St. Joseph's Church, French Concession and the fact that the building was filled with people representatives of all classes of the feeling manifested towards the late pioneer of aerial navigation in China.

About nine o'clock in the morning the representatives of the French Municipality proceeded to the mortuary where the body has lain over the week-end at the junction of Fearon and Range Roads and it was from here that the cortege set out for the Church. Headed by three members of the French Police the mournful procession journeyed along the Bund and a fireman filled the position of guard of honour at each of the wheels of the hearse Immediately behind there followed several civic dignitaries and in an unofficial capacity scores of others at a respectful distance.

Throughout the whole of the route there was marked respect and homage paid to the remains. Along the Bund, especially nearing the French Concession, crowds of people were assembled and as the hearse passed by they took off their hats and ladies remained still with bowed heads.

At the Rue Montauban a score or more of the guests of the Hotel des Colonies joined the procession and they added a beautiful wreath to the number already laid upon the hearse.

Inside the church the scene was most impressive. The high altar was draped in black and silver, a large cross in the center being the only relief afforded to the picture. Below the altar rails at the end of the middle aisle a large catafalque was fixed and upon this the coffin was placed. Lighted candles surrounded it and the wreaths were ranged alongside while immediately above there hung long black and silver draperies and bannerettes bearing the letter R.I.P.

The one touch of colour was supplied by the beautiful wreaths brought into the church both with the coffin and at intervals during the Mass.

The Rev Father Frin was the celebrant and was assisted by Father Eosten and Father Herbigny. The full solemnity of the Requiem music was well brought out by the choir and the Dies Irae (XXXX) in particular and the Agnus Dei with its solemn "Dona eis requiem" - words reserved for Mass for the dead - made a deep impression upon the cougregation.

At the end of Mass the solemn blessing of the coffin took place and then, as the organ pealed forth the Dead March in Sauland, a flood of sunlight streamed into the church. Mme Vallon was led out quite overcome with grief.

Outside the church the coffin was placed on the ground and while the congregation stood bareheaded in the brilliant sunshine the French Consul-General, M Dejean de la Batie, in a brief address paid an eloquent and appropriate tribute to the late aviator.

The Consul said that they were all moved by the most heartfelt emotion. In the midst of a fresh victory over the elements and amid the applause of a multitude M. Vallon had fallen with a brave heart like the heroes of old. He had sacrificed himself in the cause of aviation, the sacrifices of which were already considerable.

It was but the day before yesterday that in a majestic flight he had appeared before their eyes on the Race Course.

They all knew how many difficulties lie had to vanquish and surmount before his first machine was ready for flight. They knew his value and they had seen him successful. His death appeared but a vision and it was still present to their eyes. It was this spirit of enterprise that had brought him here, so far from his mother country.

They, as Frenchmen, would remember M. Vallon with reverence and they would recollect him always as an indefatigable worker as well as a brave man. He had been the first to fly over this old ground of China and to receive the acclamations of a people who represented the most ancient of the world and who were to-day as fond of progress as were the people of France.

People would talk in the distant days to come of M. Vallon's flight over Shanghai and they all piously saluted his glorious achievements. They extended to his widow their heartfelt regrets and sympathies and they put at her feet a humble tribute to the greatness of her husband. To his unhappy mother they also tended their condolence They wished M. Vallon to sleep in peace like a gallant soldier. He had fallen down struck through the heart on the battlefield of the world. He was dead on the field of honour and they one and all bade him Adieu.

Mme Vallon wishes to thank all those who in various ways and especially by their presence at the Requiem Mass on Monday morning have shown their respect for the memory of her late husband and their sympathy for her in her terrible bereavement.

With her Messieurs L Forest and P.Jamblez, who were M Vallon's friends and co-workers wish, as Frenchmen and aviators, to be associated in this expression of sincere thanks.