The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-11-09
HAYS lays HIS Plan
TO STOP ROBBER|ES
BEF ORE CAB|NET
Declares He Will Protect Last
Postal Card Regardless of
Sacrifice-Six Millions
Stolen

Washington. November S.-With
orders to shoot to Kill If necessary to
prevent mail robberies, 1000 marines
were ordered to duty today as guards
of mail trains and trucks and at post
offices in 10 cities. The men will be
armed with Listols and sawed-off
shotguns, Postmaster General Hays
announced after conference with
Major General Lejeune, commandant
of the marine corps. The marines are
TO be replaced eventually, he said, Ivy
a special force recruited from the
postal service.
Arrangements for the services of
the marines, the Postmaster General
said. were made with the Secretary
of the Navy. The matter was dis
cussed at today's cabinet meeting.
and President Harding is said to have
expressed approval of Mr.. Hays plan
to check looting of the malls.
The Postmaster General also an
nounced that as a result of the recent
New York robberies orders had been
issued suspending from the service
three New York post-office officilis,
Elijah NJ. Morris, Henry P. Lippm in,
superintendent OF registry, and Wal
ter S. Mayer, superintendent of
money orders.
Investigation of the New York rob-
berry, Mr.. Hays declared in formal
statement, would be continued, las
the matter has not peen sufficiently
developed to enable US to know defi-
nitely whether or not the officers are
guilty of dereliction of duty
Guard AT Trains
Some of the marines, General Le-
Jeune said, would board trains and
within "a hours would be on guard In
practically all trains in the country
carrying valuable mail Men for
duty in the east, south and central
west he said, would come from the
marine corps post at Quantico, Ia,
while those for service in the west
would report from san Diego and
Mare Island.
Among the cities to which they Will
be sent for duty are Boston, New
York, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Rich
mond. Atlanta, Chicago. st. Louis,
Minneapolis, Kansas City, Dallas, San
francisco and Los Angeles.
kilograms were dispatched tonight
by the postoffice department In
structing postmasters and postal in
spectors at these points to cooperate
with the guards
Protect to Last Card
Declaring that 1t was proposed to
protect the United States mails 10
the last postal card, regardless of cost
and sacrifice Mr.. Hays said he
wanted 1t known that the postoffice
department had declared open war
fare on the crooks and bandits of the
country"
During the IL months ended last
April 8, according to Mr.. Hays, total
of S6,300,0O0 was stolen from the mail.
The advisability of enacting legis-
lation authorizing the government to
pay death benefits to the families of
postal employees slain by bandits is
understood to have been discussed to-
day by the cabinet.
AS further deterrent to mail rob-
berries Attorney General Daugherty
has suggested to the district attor-
neys in the various states that the
courts be urged to Impose heavier
sentences where convictions are OBJ
tanned for mail robberies. Mr.. Daugh-
erty expressed the opinion that the
widespread unemployment was re-
sponsible for much of the crime in
the country. Men being out of work
are more likely to break the laws
than those employed, he said.
Gratitude to Ambrose.
The gratitude OF the postoffice
department" was extended by POST
master General Hays today to Walter
ambrose of Lake Charles, La, who
ioiied an attempted robbery of the
mails in that city after he had been
wounded.
= have heard of your magnificent
conduct in protecting the mails" Mr..
Hays wrote You are a mans man.
1t was splendid service and the
gratitude OF the depar tment is most
sincerely extended. The postmaster
advises that you are recovering. to-
which we are very grateful"
Annbroses exploit was given prom
snence in, today's issue OF the off
eial postal bulletin, under the bead
ing: In Appreciation" After de-
seribing the attempted robbery, Mr..
says said:
1--WE regret he did not bring in a
roll,