Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1922-02-25
PROHIBITION NAVY
NOW OFF FLORIDA
British Rum Ship, With 1880 Cases
of Whisky, Captured by Sub
Chasers and Airplanes.

Miami, Fla, Feb. 22.-The British
schooner Annebelle was seized late
Sunday off Jewish Creek, about 40
miles south of Miami, with a cargo of
IL 800 cases of whisky aboard, by
airplanes of the prohibition squadron
operating out of Miami and adjacent
towns, it was learned today from
officials here.
The entire crew of q men was cap
tured and is now being held under
surveillance, while the confiscated
liquor is under guard aboard the
schooner, which is anchored off jew
fish The crew offered no resistance
when the flying machines, with ma
chine guns pointing at the schooner
from all directions, swooped down on
the vessel.
Eleven airplanes, painted a battle
ship gray, gradually made their way
down the coast last week, ii became
known here today, one of them under
the command of Captain Rogers,
stopping at Miami. Some of the
others stopped at ST. Augustine,
Jacksonville, Charleston end other
points.
Advance information was furnished
by scouts aboard sub-chasers, which
got the location of the Annebelle.
and Sunday q number Of the planes
assembled near Jewish and, ct a sig
nal, gathered simultaneously over
the alleged whisky carrier.
A Captain johnson, who brought
, the report here, stated the prohibition
squadron was equipped with wave
code which no other wireless APP
paratus could interpret, and this is
used exclusively in sending and re-
ceiving official messages. In the
stern of each airplane is Colt
Browning machine gun, capable of
firing 400 shots minute, manned
by expert gunners.
"Plan Ambitious. Dry Navy"
Washington, d. c., Feb. 20.-Per-
manent use of airplanes along the
Florida coast in the war on rum
smugglers was understood today to
be under consideration by prohibition
headquarters.
Plans for the use of airplanes
to be part of a, gigantic program be-
ing worked out by prohibition author
tiles involving activities in the air, on
water, and on land, to stem the tide
of illicit liquor flowing into the
country from West Indian and other
islands.
Commissioner Haynes and other
high prohibition officials refused to-
day to disclose details of the anti
smuggling campaign, but it was in
dicated that extraordinary means
would be adopted to cope with the
situation in Florida.
Commissioner Hayne, according to
] officials IS nrepared to ntiliye all
possible machinery available or OBJ
taniable to combat the liquor runners.
Officials would not discuss plans for
liquor escadrille in Florida, nor the
possible formation of an anti-alcholic
navy, marshalling of these forces in
the south were understood to be ten
tatively decided upon.
Several weeks ago the assignment
of 4 special force of prohibition
agents to Florida was announced as
the first step in the southern cam
paign, but since then the progress of
the smuggling war has been kept as
quiet as possible by authorities here.
Sub Chasers May BE Used
Plans for the formation of "pro-
hibit;on navy" are understood to con-
template the use of submarine chas-
ers turned over to the coast guard
by the Navy Department. About
nine fast sub-chasers now in the
coast guard service are not actually
in commission and prohibition. officials
are understood to be studying the
feasibility of acquiring them for use
against rum smuggers.
The status of coast guard vessels,
il is said, is peculiar under interna-
ional law, their rights with respect
to boarding vessels at sea being
definitely prescribed. What would be
the status of coast guard Vessel
under command of prohibition
naval officer would have to be deter
mined. And the sub-chasers carry
their wartime armament and if the
guns were removed the vessels would
acquire different status than they
now have.
Should the proposal for obtaining
the sub-chasers from the coast guard
be decided upon, it is believed the
prohibition authorities would provide
funds for maintenance of the fleet,
officer and man the craft from the
prohibition forces, and direct oper-
ations of the fleet from prohibition
headquarters. II has been suggested,
however, that number of experience
ed members of the coast guard might
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