The sun., 1919-07-16
BUILDING AIRSHIPS
FOR GERMAN TRADE
American Corporation Has
Three Dirigibles Under Way
Near Baltimore.
hackers KEPT SECRET
Route includes Berlin, Ham
burg, Boston, New York
and Chicago.

A large American corporation was
said last night to be behind the plan to
establish an air freight and passenger
service between this country and Ger
many by means of dirisibles. 1t has
been announced that the service will be-
gin September, Is. ....rt... 49,.
While the plan In general is guarded
with much secrecy, word was received
here yesterday that the fnanciers Of the
plan already have three craft in course
Of construction at yard near Baltimore.
A large force of workmen is said to be
engaged upon, the machines. although It
Is intimated that the employees are not
aware OF the purpose for which the
dirigibles are being made.
According to advices last night the
persons who are planning to link the big
cities on the Atlantic coast with the
large ports of Germany by means OF the
contaminated air route have already In
vested a large sum in the scheme and
have a great deal Of capital In readi-
| ness for future use. ~ ....
Ready for Business Sept. rs.
These mysterious fnanciers have an
| nounced through their booking agent,
Hans Kahrs Of IS Hudson street. that
they expect to be ready to receive busi-
ness September IS, Through several
German language papers and one trade
paper printed in the English language
| they have made n public bid for freight
and passenger bookings and have an
nounced that their gigantic aircraft will
include IN its route, Duesseldorfs Berlin.
| Hamburg, New York; Boston and
Chicago.
The likelihood of Federal interference
with the plan was considered slim by
| officials interviewed here yesterday. Mr..
Kahrs declared that American and Eng
l.sh capital would back the plan.
| Whether German capital will play any
| direct part at all In the promotion OF
| the enterprise is not known.
The ban against trade with Germany
| having been lifted. authorities here could
| see no reason why the proposed com
pany should be Disseminated against
merely because Il would send its goods
| by air rather than by sea. While the
| terms Of the peace treaty require Ger
many to deliver up all of her war dirigi-
bles, there is nothing in 1t forbidding
Americans to send commercial aircraft
| from this country. -. ...
Mr.. Kahrs who inserted the adver-
| tisements Of the plan. transacts a large
| import and export business for German
merchants here. and is at present nego-
| tiating a large number. Of shipments to
| Germany. He IL Of German birth. but
has lived here for twenty-five years. He
took out his first citizenship papers
shortly after his arrival
| VIII Not Disclose Backers.
| Mr.. Kahrs, whose Office is adorned
with quite a number of American flags
| and who did considerable work for the
| committee OF public Information during
| the war. refused yesterday to. divulge
the Identity OF the hackers OF the
project.
He said his own interests began and
ended with the securing of business for
the concern. With their means OF con-
veying the freight after he had booked
Il he said he had no interest He
stated that a wealthy client had asked
him a few days ago to act as agent for
the enterprise, and that he naturally
adv ertised II as he would any other
matter placed In his hands. The APP
| pearance OF the notice IN several Ger
man language papers was explained by
the statement that any concern, whether
| American or German, DESTROYS Of carry
ing freight to Germany would naturally
transact a. great part of its business
| with German people.
OF himself Mr.. Kahrs said yesterday
|"I am an American. That Is how
feel about It. I have lived here many
years and 1 look upon this as ms
lcountry." '.''-
Tentative freight rates announced fol
the commercial air service are $sl a
ton, or about fifty per cent. more thar
the average steamship rate. Mr.. Kahrs
believes, however. that the speedy de-
livery which the promoters of the plar
think possible would make the add
|tional charge worth while TO the ship
Ipers. He said that no rate has beer
fixed as yet for passenger service or
the dirigibles. -.:..
Regarding the size OF the. dirigible.
proposed to be used, Mr.. Kahrs said h
had received no information whatever
1T believe" he said. that they will be
larger than the British" R-34. because
of the necessity of a far greater carry
Ing capacity" --t
He said he had visited the R-S+
Idurlng Its stay at Mineola. and he dwell
upon the possibilities Of much large
laircran being employed with success
He spoke OF the American German All
service plan as being one that woulc
set a pace in the construction OF dirigi
bles that would startle the world.
The men behind IT. are very conf
ident of success" he declared. land
have reason to believe that they thor
loughly understand their business. Their
Imay be some surprising development
In the plan in the very near future"
The advertisement OF the. enterpris
contains the statement Booking on, ant
after September 1872 Mr.. KahEs 4
president of the Monopol Export an,
Import Union. and although his offio
on the second floor OF tho little oil
building at 4s Hudson street Is small
Inc appears to conduct an extensiv
business.