Arizona republican., 1921-06-16
Department Of Justice Orders Investigation Of Arms To Determine Destination
TRepubIIcan X. P. Leased Wirel

NEW YORK, June 15.-More than 500 machine guns with hundreds of parts. suspected by government of ficials to have been destined for Ire land were seized by cutoms officials today.
 The arms. found on the American steamship East Side, were subse- quently taken from the customs men as they were being carted from the pier, by Hoboken police. acting on search and seizure warrant sworn out by Prank Williams. No further in formation concerning him was avail able. He alleged they had been stolen from him June Il. The arms were taken to police headquarters at Ho- boken and will be held pending hearing to- determine who is entitled A According to reports reaching Government agencies, two changes of crews, brought about by the marine strike, resulted in discovery of the armS. It is reported that a member of one of the crews tipped off" gov- ernment investigators.
 Presence of the arms on the East Side was not known to the owner. the United States Shipping Board, or its managing operators, until they were informed of their discovery by federal investigators
 The East Side cleared today for Norfolk. where according to the po- lice she was to take cargo of coal for Ireland. Investigations are being m ade by customs. department of jus 4ice and shipping board officials. MnDne report is that the arms were 1nukgled aboard from launches at night. and. swathed in burlap bags, they were hoisted aboard as engine u..xxv,Ito<, \ urx1lor of the crew cut into one of the bags, dis closing a machine gun.
 The arms were found concealed about the ship. They were removed to the dock and placed under customs guard and today. while being removed to a warehouse, fell into the hands of the police by virtue of the search and seizure warrant.
 Seizure by customs men is said to have been made on the ground that shipment of arms was being attempt ed without compliance with maritime regulations.
 The government investigators also were informed that after the second crew had assumed charge of the ship persons in a launch hailed the watch man and asked permission to remove from the vessels some supplies" de livered on board by mistake. Int waterman F6IuSeQ tO let AnC hAIdH6cis aboard without authority from th' owners.
 A description of the arms and part as made by Williams in his applica tion for the warrant includes 60 Thomas machine guns: 30 extra 30 capacity magazine; five, 50-capacft, drum magazine; five, 100-capacit. drum magazine; so extra 30-capacit, box magazines; 20 50-capacity drum magazine: 20. 100 capacity magazine and hundreds of parts of machin guns
 When police went to the pier t serve the warrant, they were in formed, they said. that the goods ha been removed by the customs authori ties A search of the pier was made however, and the officers reporte that they found the arms loaded 0 a truck A verbal clash between DO lice and customs officers followed which was settled by the custom man agreeing that the arms shoul be taken to the police station and hel there. pending determination of the ownership.
 GOVERNMENT TO INvEsTIGAT
 WASHINGTON.. June 15.--The ds partment of justice tonight ordere its agents in New York to investiga1 the arms seized on the steamer Eai Side at Hoboken to determine whetf CT they constituted shipment f abroad