New-York tribune., 1921-11-10
Hold-Up Brings
Big Shake-Up in
N. Y. POstoffice
Hays Gives Orders for Com.
plete Reorganization to
Do Away With Lack Of
fnterdivision Cooperation
Marines Here Tomorrow
ssLeathernecks,' Besides
Guarding Trucks, Will
Be on Duty at Stations

A sweeping investigation Of the New
York Postofice and the use in this city
of armored mail trucks manned by
here yesterday by DR.. Hubert Work,
First Assistant Postmaster General.
These measures are part of the dras-
tic campaign authorized Tuesday by
President Harding, at the request of
Postmaster General Will H. Hays, in
the fight to be waged on mail bandits
throughout the country. The measures
have resulted largely from the recent
$2,000,000 registered mail robbery in
lower Manhattan.
The most farreaching shake-up in
Official personnel in the history of the
New York Postoffice is expected to ac-
company the reorganization, which be-
gan Tuesday night with the suspension
by Postmaster General Hays of three
leading officials, pending the investiga-
tion now in progress to fix responsible
ity for the Broadway hold-up. In max
ing known preliminary steps in the re-
organization DR.. Work sharply criti-
cized conditions and methods existing
in the Postofice here.
1t had long been joke in Washing
ton, he said, that the New York City
end of the department was separate
and distinct, and that Washington
headquarters was "more or less SUBJ
sidiary concern"
mo Mans Land" Found
There has been no cooperation be-
tween the various New York divisions.
and mo mans land existed where no
one assumed authority" DR.. Work
charged.
Uniformed marines, with sawed-off
shotguns and small arms. will make
their appearance as guards on mail
trucks and station platforms to-mor-
row. OF the 1000 marines requested by
Postmaster General Hays to protect the
mails of the country 200 will be utl-
lized in New York City alone. Sixty
five men of the marine detachment at
New York Navy Yard were ordered yes
terday to report for mail duty at 10
O'Clock tomorrow morning. The full
quota for this city will be made up
later with men from the expeditionary
force of 5000 marines at Quantico,
Wnlcn also VIII IurnlSn detachmentS
for other postof6ces throughout the
country and for mail trains.
Concerning plans for the introduc-
tion of "mail tanks" DR.. Work said that
four trucks were being armored with
sheet steel and would be ready for
service within ten days. The driver
will be protected by metal screen.
and alongside him will sit marine,
while in the car will be another marine
and clerk. also armed with sawed-of
shotguns. A gong will warn the guards
of any tampering with rhe doors.
Besides the manning of trucks, plans
provide for the stationing of marines
at the General Postoffice, the City Hall
branch, the Grand Central Station and
at five terminals on the Jersey side of
the Hudson.
Suspensions in Effect
DIR. Works criticism was aimed in
part at the failure of local postoffice
officials to carry out orders issued by
Postmaster General Hays some time
ago that the drivers and clerks of mail
trucks and those on duty at station
platforms be armed with weapons sup
piled by the War Department.
"From now on" said DIR. Work, il