The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-03-31
By DOUGLAS G. TINSLEY, 1ntern;stionaI News Service Staff
 


 Miami, Fla, March 31-Biscayne Bay, off Miami, and the Florida coast south, for so long the successful stamping grounds of the illicit whis- key smugglers, whose untitled boats ply between the Bahama Islands and the Florida shores unloading thou will soon be the scenes of their Water loo when elaborate plans being formu- lated here are put into action by Fed eral authorities.
 tinue to ply their illegal traffic, the flying squadron of the United States Secret Service in charge of the Fed erai prohibition enforcement are gathering in Miami and along the Southern coast. Working quietly and secretly screening 7an their move ments and their identities. the Fed era1 agents are marshalling their forces for what they hope will be the final drive to eliminate the snug 'glers.
 Will Comb Out SmuGgIcrs-
 If apparently well-founded reports are to be believed the final swOop of the liquor enforcement agencies Of the Government will be on a larger scale than has ever been attempted before, and the entire coast of Flori- da will be combed of the illicit traders.
 Preparations for calling into the service in the anti-liquor war Of the ''eyes of the Navy are being made.
 
 apparently reliable reports, one of the huge seaplanes from the Pensa- cola Field has already arrived in Miami with at least two others and possibly more to be delivered here within few days. with their crews and all the necessary paraphernallst to make their use effective.
 While the Government agents al ready on the ground are SeCretlVe to the superlative degree Tor fear that disclosure of their plans and methods of operation may become the prop erty of the liquor runners and the prey escape, it is reported that the seaplanes will be used along the coats in connection with the subma- rine chasers, which, it is said, will be available within a short time.
 Nightly, while the illicit trade goes on and scores of fishing smacks and other craft continue to ply the waters between Nassau and Bimini, in the Bahama Islands, and Florida loaded with the unlawful cargoes of liquor which they cache along the coast and in it's waters until such time as they find a market for it, the skeins in the net being spread for their de- sssrrtct!on by the Federal Govern ment tighten. Moving steadily, yet without undue haste, the agents of the prohibition enforcement squads are tightening their nets.
 It is believed that the seapIanes expected to be used in the campaign, equipped with powerful searchHghts, will follow the liquor smugglers from the Bahama Islands, where they load their precious cargoes. and, sweeping the intervening waters with rays of light from which the liquor boats cannot escape, will signal their whereabouts to the chasing Govern nent boats, enabling them to swoop down upon the illicit traders and catch them redhanded before they are enabled to slip into the protec- ton of inlets and coves which abound along the coast, and, unloading their cargoes, scatterd them to the four winds.
 Miami is said to be the fountain head of the nquor-smuggling traffic s Located within seventy-five miles of the British West Indies, from which the wh1skey is obtained, it is said to be the most convenient point along the entire Florida coast for the run ming in of liquorl
 Destruction of the small boats and breaking up their part in the traffic. it is believed, will practically elinli, nate the smuggling so far as this Wclnlty Is concerned, as the larger boats go around to New Orleans O, Mobile, or further up the North coast.