Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1923-05-17
Uncle Tefs Bedtime Story
THE SHOT HEARD ROUND THE
WORLD"

though it was supposed to be warm
spring day the weather became cold
err and colder until by evening it was
really almost winter outside. Jack
and Ruth had been shut up all day.
First in school, and then when they
returned home, mother made them
stay in the house. The result was
restless pair of kiddies. To add to
their troubles Uncle Ted was away.
He had made a hurried trip to New
York and they didn't know when to
expect him back.
at wouldn't be so bad if Uncle
Ted was here tonight to tell us =
story" said Jack,
at wouldn't would it'll" The
voice was none other than Uncle Ted
himself.
"You scared me almost to DEATH
said Ruth
"When did you come in?p asked
Jack.
"Just arrived in your nice down
pour of rain and thought I'd sur
prise you. AS soon as get some
dry clothes and something to'eat I'll
tell you an interesting story"
The three chums were soon gath
cred together and Uncle Ted began.
Il had most interesting exper-
fence while in New York, kiddies,
and you should know about it in
order to realize what the present adj
ministration is doing to enforce one
Of the hardest laws to enforce that
was ever enacted. l mean the pro-
hibition amendment and the Volstead
law under no Intoxicating liquor can
be brought into the United States or
made or sold here. For many mon
this there has been D fleet of ships
anchored off the New Jersey coast
near New York loaded with liquor
which they have been sneaking a.
shore under cover of darkness. These
boats have been called the rum fleet
They have been hard to deal with be-
cause they anchor outside what is
called the three mile limit set by
international law as the boundary Of
the country off whose shores they
are anchored. It was my privilege
to board the Coast Guard tug, Man
haitian with the Acting Assistant
Secretary Of the Treasury and other
Coast Guard officials and steam out
Of New York harbor to the rum
fleet. The object was to see If some
thing couldn't be done by the Coast
Guard to rid the coast Of this men,
ace.
1T was seen that while these boats
are outside the three-mile limit, they
could either be starved out or scared
off. At least life could be made mis-
cradle for them so that they would
leave, which would mean the great
est victory possible toward enforc-
ing this law. As a result of this
trip the Coast Guard Cutter, Seneca
recently returned from the Ice Pa
troll off the Grand Banks of New
foundland and at the time anchored
in New York harbor, was ordered out
to watch the rum fleet and take
whatever action possible ito break
it up. One afternoon the Seneca, in
command of B. H. Camden steamed
out to the fleet and after confer
ence of the officers the four-inch
forward gun was manned and under
command Of the executive officer, 1t.
Commdr. p. F. Roach, shot was
fired across the bow Of one Of the
ships of the rum fleet.
"Since that time this shot has been
called The Shot Heard Round the
World for the rum fleet made up
it's mind that it was better to leave
than to take any more chances at
that time. The Coast Guard, as
have explained to you before, is I'M
der the jurisdiction of the Treasury
Department of which Secretary Mel
loon is the head. With the approval
Of the White House, the Treasury
and the Coast Guard headquarters,
the Coast Guard cutters will try to
make life miserable for the rum
fleet. In other words, the admins
tration is doing everything possible
to enforce this law and unfortunate
ly the Democrats are doing every
thing they can to make it hard to
enforce"
"How's that" asked Jack.
"The center of the opponents Of
this law is New York City. For some
time the State has had what was
known as the Mullan-Gage Enforce
ment Law, State law passed at the
capital, Albany. The Democratic leg
islature in session at Albany has re-
pealed that law and it may now have
become effective. Governor Smith
had not signed the repeal when