The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-04-25
FORMER SUBMARINE
CHASERS SECURED
TO MEET DRY NAVY
Federal Agents Working on
Theory That Swift Craft Is
Used by Liquor Men.
HAVE SUCCEEDED IN
BRINGING IN BOOZE
Scheme Is Unearthed by Cap
ture of Former Sub Chaser
bv Officers at New York.
Lav rh, A..ooIated Pressl

NEW YORK. April 24,-Custom Of
,.caIs announced today that they were
working to smash a bootlegger ring
which they charged had modified a
yset of former submarine chasers to
,rs.+ craation Of Americas dry
navy"
The federal agents are working on
the theory that the swift craft that
oscs pursued German U-boats and
we're sold after the war now are pos
ing as navy vessels and commanded
nv officers IN the uniform OF the Uni
rcd states, already have succeeded in
running ;3,OOO,OO0 worth Of rum into
tbs United States from Bermuda and
Havana. .,-
The announcement Of the discovery
OF the alleged smuggling scheme was
made after former submarine chaser
'gi. recnristened the Fidus had been
aiken IN New York harbor by police
bat and customs launch. Customs
men claimed they found aboard her
numerous charts with marked land
ings along the Atlantic coast and Hud-
son river, No liquor was found aboard
her and the crew told hair raising
jsle OF having had their cargo plum
dsred by pirates off the Long Island
coast yesterday.
The ex-chaser, said to bear British
registry was held on the technical
charge that she left Bermuda without
clearance papers, Her captain, who
gave his name as John Kelly" and
h.s crew Of seven were taken to the
eastom house for a severe sriHins.
Atter the examination, Assistant Uni
Ted States Attorney Falk said:
Kelly wore the uniform Of United
States naval officer. We have not as
Vet made any charges against Captain
Kelly and his crew, 1t Is understood
hat the Fidus carried 2,100 cases OF
Scotch whiskey from Bermuda, and
hat is what we want to find out. The
Vessel failed to show on her manifest
any cargo, and after questioning by
customs agents It was decided to take
her into port and question the crew
Fsd+ral agents, who said they be-
lsvSd the name John Kelly" fIcti
tious. and that the captains real name
was NJ. Stanley Clark, Of Brooklyn, in
lImated that there was q possibility
that there might be brought against
her captain a charge of wearing ar
ensisn's uniform illegally. Kelly. who
claimed at one time to have served
IN the United States navy, denied
ne was wearing a naval Uniform.
All had was a cap that resemblet
an ensign's hsadpiece," he told the re-
porters.
heliy claimed to have been taking
liquor to Montreal for Bermuda wine
market who owned the craft wher
pirates on another chaser stole his
largo and manifest But customs off
'!as claimed to have detected points
a. which tho tale, ~ related by diff
i%eht members of the crew, did not
soc Incidentally one OF the crew
nay Falmer, was alleged to be carry
"s l. W. W. literature.
faN quoted the version OF Chief
Ans'neer Lockwood as follows: I'VE
"V' all below. This was about
o1,'c"' A bell was given US to stop
ana r- we stalled the engines. Next thing
,, we knew a gang Of men, all nmasked
warmed warmed down on Us. and pointing
o,.'u DIVERS at US backed US into small
apartment ~. in the engine room and
O,a Us to be quiet"
r.at m"n an hour later, according ia
.S,N%ood, ~ a seaman vsntured above
NV r. saw Kelly tied to the mast. Lock-
SS Nv Gained to have united the knots
asset 1s' the liquor was gone.
oo',.s 'Oas papers found in the captains
hs"!on was q recommendation
wa Ms commanding officer, stating
.w''.ved served IN 1919 as an ensign on the
o,". ,"rtheFn Pacific" and as executive
'''' on submarine chaser 90.