New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-25
Biggest Coast Patrol Since
Piracy Days Gathering
for War to Finish on
Liquor Smuggling Craft
Submarine Chasers
And Planes to Aid
Headquarters of Million
aire u. S.-British Ring
Traced to Pittsburgh

international conspiracy among GER
tain American and British shipping
and liquor interests to violate the
United States prohibition laws is
charged by Leroy w. Ross, United
States Attorney of Brooklyn. Nautical
rum runners who have come under
the investigation Of Mr.. Ross's office
were reported yesterday to be backed
by millions in foreign and domestic
capital and to be possessed Of feet
Of wind-jammers of American and
British registry, equipped with high
powered wireless.
Besides the fleet of vessels, which 1t
is charged are running cargoes of in
toxicants valued at millions of dol
lars between the West Indies and OBJ
scure inlets along the Atlantic Coast,
there is a shore auxiliary of auto
trucks and distributing offices, en-
ploying hundreds of men. Identified
with the illegal traffic, which is in
creasing and rapidly assuming enor-
nous proportions, are said to be men
formerly prominent in the distilling
and wholesale and retail liquor trade
in this country, augmented by Brit
ish capitalists in the liquor trade.
Navy Will Cooperate
The result of the unearthing yester-
day Of additional and startling in
formation regarding the alleged inter-
national rum-running conspiracy, was
the swinging into play by the United
States government of the biggest
peace time enforcement fleet since the
days when piracy ragged on the high
seas. By a peculiar twist of circum-
stances, United States Attorney Ross
in Brooklyn, finds himself in COM
mand, so far as the port Of New York
is concerned, of feet of enforce
ment craft which will soon assume
proportions almost suitable to a small
war. He is said already to have been
assured that the United States Navy
will cooperate, and that the rum run
ners will be driven from the seas as
were the pirates of century to 175
years ago.
Already the United States govern
ment has responded to the alarm with
large number of coast guard and
navy airplanes. On the seas and in
the harbors within the three mile limit
are large number Of coast guard, rev
enue and customs cutters. These soon
will be reinforced with a feet of sub
marine chasers, which will be en-
ployed to pursue suspected rum-run-
ming craft into inlets and any shallow
water in which the auxiliary smaller
craft of the rum-running fleet might
seek a haven. Exact figures regard
ing the fleet now operating, ana soon
the laws against the importation of
intoxicants, were refused yesterday by
the coast guard officials. 1t was ad-
mitted, however, that the fleet already
was assuming the greatest peace
proportions since the days when piracy
was rampant.
Air Fleet Goes Into Action
Observation from Pier A, the Bat
terry, yesterday proved the air off the
lower harbor to be dotted with air
craft, some of which were identified
as being of the coast guard, some of
the navy and some from army landing
fields. These air craft were moving to
patrol stations north and south of New
York harbor, it was admitted.
The largest ships in the rum run
ming fleet so far have escaped the vigil
ance of the coast guard, because none
has entered the three-mile limit, sc
far as is known. 1t is their practice
according to the United States Attor-
ney's officers, to anchor outside the
three-mile limit and to transfer thei1
cargo Of contraband to smaller vessels
hired in some instances, at random fol-
a single trip. These small vessels re.
lay the cargo to hidden shallow water
inlets under cover Of mist or darkness
The regular crews of these smaller
vessels, it is reported, are not used ir
the transfer Of the cargo and in many
instances have no knowledge of what
the cargo consists of, but are ordered
below, ''to mind their own business,
while the trusted agents of the rum
runners load and unload the vessels
On shore the hired auxiliary craft
finds a battery of auto trucks waiting
to rush the cargo inland, to points
from which it is distributed.
Only Two Seizures So Far
So far only two vessels have beer
seized and eighteen arrests have beer
made, while another and larger yes
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