The New York herald., 1921-07-18
LIQUOR SMUGGLING
in MYSTERY Ships
Federal Agents Try to Cap
ture Rum Pirates Operating
Along Atlantic Coast.
EVIDENCE OF RATS USE
Believed That Smugglers Are
Transporting From Cape May
by Inland Waterway.

Special Despatch to THE New YORK HERALD
ATLANTIC CITY, July 17.-Federal
agents are expected to move swiftly
and suddenly within a few hours
against the whiskey smugglers who
have been operating off the coast in
this vicinity. 1t became known to-
night that the so-called mystery ships
variously reported as being operated
as pirates or agents Of the Russian
Soviet. but actually operating under
the direction of men behind gigantic
plot whereby it is estimated millions
OF dollars worth of prize liquor has
been run ashore along the Atlantic
coast, are being closely watched and
that the clash with the revenue men
is not far away.
Tonight 1t was learned that the motor
boat patrol established In an effort TO
frighten away the smugglers and arrest
their crews would be quadrupled imme-
diately.
The agents investigating the smuggling
have found evidence that convinces them
they were wrong in the theory that the
booze runners were under the orders of
one directing head. The diversity of
methods used by the smusglers disposes
OF that. idea. though there Is a possi-
bility, remote, however, that one man
may be at the head Of the plotters.
Theory of Investigators.
1t is regarded as possible that one
man might be using the half dozen meth
DDS they found the runners employing.
He may have adopted this plan, some
Of the Investigators say. for the pur-
pose of confusing the Government men
and forcing them to divide their strength
in separate Investigations.
There has been found evidence tend
ing to prove that the smugglers are
using great RATS for the transportation
Of the whiskey and other liquor to this
city from Cape May. 1t is believed that
the smugglers have discovered a direct
inland waterway between here and the
Cape and much time was spent by the
investigators this afternoon in a search
for the mysterious channel.
The revenue men are satisfied that 1t
Is practically impossible to detect une
transshipment Of booze from the mys-
terry ships to the smaller boats. They
believe this task is accomplished under
cover of night and at secret meeting
places far out at sea.
Some OF the mystery ships have been
sighted by Government vessels, 1t is said.
but each time they were well beyond
the three mile limit and the watchers
could only keep them In view and see
that the lioror was not brought into
territorial waters.
Work in Thick Fogs.
During the last few weeks--a period in
which It is believed an enormous guam
tity of imported liquor was run ashore
and either hidden in the back country
or secretly stored In this city-the snug
glers have been able to work in thick
fogs. Their small boats were able to
slip into inlets and bays, unload to the
RATS and get away to sea again with
out having been discovered.
Several hootch laden RATS have been
found floating aimlessly about offshore.
They had the appearance of having been
cast loose from the bigger ships at GER
tain points on the chance that the small
boats would locate them and tow them
to shore. While taking some of these
RATS aboard, the Government vessels
have noticed strange lights on shore.
lights that probably were being flashed
as beacons to guide the pilots Of the
motor craft.
The arrest yesterday OF Emmanuel
Katz. proprietor Of the Hotel Whittle. at
this place, Is regarded as only the be-
ginning OF the end. He Is charged with
transporting liquor illegally.