The New York herald., 1922-02-14
.U.S. IS POWERLESS
TO CHECK FLOW OF
ALIENS AND LIQUOR
Forces Too Small to Crush
Smuggling Peril, Say
Officials.
SEE HELP IN EXPOSE
Revelations Made by Herald
Expected to Arouse Congress
to Need for Aid.
SEE HELP IN EXPOSE
Special Dispatch to THE NEW YoRK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington. ID. C.. Feb II


Washington, ID. c.. Feb. IL. I
The United States with all of its
great powers stands practically help
less to-day before the organized and
skilled efforts OF the smugglers of
rum. opium and aliens along the south
Atlantic coast and the Mexican bor-
der. This was the frank admission to-
day Of officials having to do with en-
forcement of the smuggling. immigra-
ton, narcotic and Volstead laws.
Conditions along the south Atlantic
coast, particularly along both sides of
the Florida peninsula, Secretary of
Labor Davis frankly stated. are far
worse than those pictured by THE
NEW York HERALD in special cable
dispatch from Havana published to-
day.
THE New York HERALD. Mr.. Davis
says, has performed a great public
service in making public and available
to the Government this information.
"The facts as reported add much even
to the voluminous Government reports
we have on the situation, and will be
very helpful" he said.
Operations of the smuggling bands are
on great scale. and they represent an
apparently organized effort that rami-
fies TO European ports OF embarkation.
Assistant Secretary Of Labor Hennlng is
authority for the statement that It Is
known here that certain persons. sup
posed TO be connected with steamship
companies. are giving Information and
advising aliens not admissible TO tho
country under the law. to go to the
West Indies or TO Mexico. from which
points ingress will be easy IL they seek
cabalistic addresses given.
Thousands Escape Capture.
The Department OF Labor, the Treas
ury Department and other agencies OF
the Government, including ;ne Depart
ment of Justice, have been cognizant of
the smuggling situation for more than
a year. The recent smuggling Of aliens,
IL seems. followed naturally tie snug
Cling of rum. when quotas became full,
under the new immigration law.
These departments have many reports
On the operations OF the great machine
and the independent pirates. but their
forces, It is declared. are insufficient to
cope with the situation. Many aliens
are captured coming in, but other thou
sands get by each month.
Efforts of official agents have been
centered for some time In finding the
ringleaders and getting to the fountain
head of the conspiracy. as II is believed
impossible with the facilities available to
capture the runners coming into the
bayous and coves of the great stretches
Of southern coast line.
Congressional action may be brought
about by THE NEW YORK HERALp's eN-
pose Members OF Congress vino havo
been framing new immigration restric-
ton measures are greatly Interested,
and new force has been given the pleas
Of executive departments that tneir en-
forcemcnt organizations were inadequate
and undermanned.
Secretary Davis said that FOR almost
a full year Government authorities have
known OF the Illicit traffic of alien SNUG
elers and have been powerless 10 stop
II, although there have been arrests and
deportations from time 10 time
Amazed ut Their Cunning.
Tho percentage of aliens detected In
making unlawful entry into the United
States through the South Atlantic coas..
Mr.. Davis said. has been woefuIly small.
because even the combined Government
forces. including those engaged IN crime
detection. have not mustered suffic-
emily large force TO uproot the extensive
operations.
Commissioner-Gereral Husband Of the
Bureau of immigration asserted that tn
alien smuggling evil had attained such
dangerous proportions that the Govern
ment stands fairly stunned over ths
cunning and exploits of the sm.gg'inc
rings" operating from their bases In
the West Indies.
ut would require force as Iarge
as the United States Army to establish
adequate protection against alien smuS-
Contjuucd on Pare geven