New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-09-03
Defense Society
Says u. S. Buys
Cernan.Planes
Camouf1aged Machines of
All Metal Type Imported
by Larsen and Sold as
Mail Carriers, IL Charge
$50, 600 Check Produced
Col. Cardway Alleges Traffic
Is Aided by Publicity in
American Newspapers

|
The American Defense Society, with
headquarters at 116 East Twenty
fourth Street, yesterday made public
data on which it basis the charge that
"camouflaged" German airplanes have
been brought into the United States
and that q number Of these machines
have been bought from the importer
and are now in the United States Air
Mail Service.
The society points out that the
United States is tsill at war with Ger
many and presents the facsimile Of
q check countersigned by Postmaster
General Bureleson paying 100000 to
John NJ. Larsen, head of the J. l..
Aircraft Corporation. BAT Madison
Avenue, New York City, for a number
Of the Larsen all-metal machines now
in use between New York and Chicago
as mail carriers.
Included in the data made public TO-
day is letter from Colonel Frederick
Cardway. vice-president and general
manager Of the Packard Motors Ex-
port Corporation, a page from the
Svensk Motortidning, Dutch maya
zine. carrying photo reproductions Of
the Junker all-metal plane, and various
clippings from American newspapers
and periodicals hailing the Larsen
machine as "the first all-metal plane
built in the United States"
Colonel Cardway's Letter
The letter from Colonel Cardway,
written at 1861 Broadway, on August
"a to the Defense Society is as fol-
lows:
early in the year John M. Larsen,
of BAT Madison Avenue, New York, i'm
ported from Germany a Junker all
metal monoplene. The plane, which
enormous letters Made in Germany
was smashed in Long Island and ade-
Quate comments were made in some
Of the papers.
"A little later Larsen wen. back
to Germany and returned with twelve
new monoplanes. At the same time he
imported two German engineers, one
of whom had been pilot in the Ger
man army during the war. For the
last nine months the American news
papers have backed and promoted the
interest Oh tHeSe IerHdn pidneS ana
have aided in camoudaging thei7
origin.
'You will see from the attached
clippings that the German cross was
taken off the moaoplane, and it was
baptized the j. L. All-Metal Mono
plane
at was also advanced that John M.
Larsen was the inventor and designer,
which 10 not true. I am attaching q
page from a Danish magazine illus
trating the original German machine
the same as is being imported by Lar
son, but still bearing the German
cross.
According to one of the clippings
attached, the Postofice Department
purchased three Of the German all
any mention made in any paper that
the American government purchased
German planes.
Iarsen's Statement
Through a representative MIR. Larsen
to-day made this statement:
1.-The United States government has
made thorough investigation concern
ing John M. Larsen and the j. L. Air
craft Corporation. Each has been found
to be 100 per cent American.
1.-THE government also has investi.
gated the L-6 all metal monoplanes
Government experts declare these
planes far ahead of any arplane yet
built here, and say they mark new
era in aircraft. In proof of this three
branches of the government have
bought these all-metal monoplanes.
1.-THE LIS all metal monoplanes nov
In use here by the United States army
navy and air mail service were built ir
Germany for Mr.. Larsen, Dane By
birth and a naturalized American citi
zen for years. Mr.. Larsen had the air.
planes manufactured and brought then
here because American manufacturer,
then were unable to furnish the ma
terials. The machines, for which Mr.
Larsen owns all the patent rights il
this country, are to be manufactured
here by Americans and for Americans
III Mr.. Cardway made or instigatet
the charges alluded to above' as tn.
Tribune reporter stated, Mr.. Cardwa.
must have made his alleged discover!
subsequent to July Is last, on which
date Mr.. Larsen gave in writing hi
resignation as agent for the Packar,
motor car in Denmark and Sweden t.
Mr.. Cardway, Independent and gen
eral manager for the Packard Motor
Export Company.
"Mr Larsen had heen agent for tn
Packard cars in Denmark and Swede,
for several years. During this time n
flaw had been alleged in his American
ism or that of his business enterprises
Mr.. Larsen's resignation was onere
partly for business reasons and partl
for personal and social differences wit
Mr.. Cardvay."