German Aeroplane Lands In France.

New York Times 100 years ago today, April 23, 1913:
Second Unwelcome Visit by Air Route — Allowed to Return After Several Hours.
FRANCE MAKES A PROTEST
Asks That Measures Be Taken to Avoid Such Incidents, and Germany Agrees to Prevent Them.
Special Cable to The New York Times.
    PARIS, April 22.— Two German Army officers in a military biplane landed this morning in French territory at Arracourt, about nine miles from Luneville, where the Zeppelin airship recently descended, and not far from Nancy, where German visitors a few days ago were mobbed by a French crowd.
    The French inhabitants remained calm and there were no unpleasant scenes. The airmen were allowed to fly back to Germany in the evening.
    The French Government is protesting in Berlin against these blunders of German airmen. The official account of the latest frontier incident, given by the Minister of the Interior, says:
    "The officers stated that they left Darmstadt for Metz at 5 o'clock in the morning, and lost their way in the mist. They did not know they were in French territory until they landed and questioned the inhabitants. The military authorities agreed that the landing was due to force majeure.
    "Instructions have been sent to our Ambassador in Berlin to call the attention of the Imperial Government to the repeated landings of German aircraft in France near the frontier and to direct attention to the serious inconveniences which might result from these regrettable incidents. M. Cambon has been directed to request the German Government to take measures to avoid a recurrence of these acts.
    "Pourparlers are in progress between the two Governments with the object of arriving as promptly as possible at an agreement with regard to the procedure to be applied in the event of difficulties arising between them concerning aeronautics."
    The biplane that descended in France is one of four which left Darmstadt this morning for Metz, about 130 miles away. Of these four none reached its destination.
    When the biplane landed in a field about 300 yards from the village the granddaughter of the Mayor of Arracourt ran up, and the pilots asked in French, "Where are we, little girl?" She replied, "In France, of course."
    An energetic oath came from the Captain, and his brow clouded as he realized that he had "fallen into the hands of the enemy."
    Shortly afterward the biplane was surrounded by French policemen and customs officers, who placed the airmen temporarily under arrest.
    At noon, while a large crowd of civilians and soldiers from frontier garrisons was standing around the aeroplane a Zeppelin airship suddenly came into sight, and for half an hour skirted the frontier, finally disappearing. Its appearance gave rise to much comment.

    NANCY, April 22.— The German aeroplane ascended and left Arracourt without any manifestation on the part of the large crowd which watched its departure.
    The German officers thanked the Sub-Prefect for the care he had exercised to protect the aeroplane, and asked him also to convey their thanks to the French Government.

    METZ, April 22.— The two military aviators who were forced to make a landing in France this morning re-crossed the frontier and arrived here this evening.

    BERLIN, Wednesday, April 23.— The Nordeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung says:
    "The German Government has taken steps to prevent a recurrence of landings by German airmen beyond the frontiers. The Government is conferring with France for the purpose of reaching an agreement regarding aircraft navigation."