South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-04-09

agents, viii be put into use or not
plans for the breaking UP of the
smuggling on a larger scale than
ever before are being matured and
Will probably be put into effect i'm
mediately. 10 is stated. Already the
vanguard of the prohibition enforce
ment army. consisting Of picked men
of the force from several states, IS
being thrown along the Georgia
coast heavily armed and with defin-
lite instructions 20 get the rum run
ners at any cost.
Ship Gordon Along Coast.
They Will throw a Gordon along
the entire coast from the land side
4 in an effort to seize the liquor after
4 il is landed, depending for success
/ largely on force of numbers and un-
! ceasing vigilance If the boats re-
quested are made available by the
government these men will also be
\ put in charge of them in an endeavor
| TO scotch the whisky snake" at its
/ head before the liquor has been
| landed.
To date. according to the conser-
I sus of opinion the rum runners,
who appear TO be legion. have ap-
parently had things pretty much
their own wa. without serious incon-
venience from the interference Of
| federal or state officers.
Their system, though effective, is
simple. Boats hauling liquor ex-
clusively or as a sideline dock in the
Bahama Islands. mostly at Nassau.
where there are large warehouses
maintaining huge liquor stocks i'm
ported from European countries.
/ These islands, being under the BRIT
: ish flag. are Of course. without pro
/ hibitiOn laws. When the liquor boats
1 from the States dock there and pur-
/ chase a cargo of liquors, they are
/ enabled 20 load and clear without
| interference. They put out to sea,
I meantime having sent word all along
/ the line 10 their various customers
that the boat will be at certain points
| along the coast at certain times.
/ When they arrive at given point a
/ signal is put off Expecting the ar
rival of the boat, the runners, con-
| CealeG in a smaller boat in one OF the
] coves or inlets, put off TO the in
coming vessel. which has dropped
/ its anchor, usually well outside the
| three-mile limit.
Seldom Seize Shipments.
/ Federal agents. being few and
/ with a large territory TO cover, sell
| dom are able 20 make a seizure at
/ the initial landing place unless they
have been tipped off by a stool
pigeon" or a member of the gang.
| which occurs sometimes, hut not
/ often.
/ on a few occasions recently fed
eral agents have essayed 10 hunt the
/ cmuSglers on water by the use of
customs boats and other vessels. but
/ with little SUCCESS. Practically al,
! Of these agents. being lardsmen.
! knowing nothing of boats or naviga-
/ ton. have 10 depend on the crew of
\ the vessel they use. In case of pri-
vate boats, as often as not some
I of the crew are apt to be in cahoots
with the rum runners and see TO s..
/ by plausible excuses as TO unfavor-
able weather conditions and other
matters. the falsity Of which could
I be known only 10 inexperienced nav
/ igator. that the agents arrive too late
Z to interfere with the smugglers
In addition. the speed OF the boats
which the federal agents can secure
! is usually far below that Of the boats
used by the smuSglers, who, having
/ the best, easily oUtrun the pursuing
: agents
While a large percentage Of the fl
/ licit whisky traffic along the Geo~-
gia coast is carried on within a few
miles Of savannah cOD7parativeIy
little is brought through the city it,
self. Apparently il is considered un-
necessary by the rum trafiCkers TO
I tempt fate 200 much by landing their
/ cargOes too close TO the city. espe-
Cially since there are so many better
places along the coast itself, where
/ they can work more effectively and
with less danger