Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1923-01-19
Cuban Booze
Yacht Held
Legation Seeks Releasce Without
BOnd-Say Craft Came Into
Fort For Repairs
(By ISAAC GREGG)

Washington, Jaf. 19-The Gu
ban Legation in this city has re-
ceived a communication from the
State Department giving infor-
nation as to the status of the
Cuban yacht Miguel Ferrer.
which is held at Jacksonville,
Fla, after having put into an
American port with 5000 cases
of liquor on board. The Cuban
contention, preseAted through the
Legation here was that the Fer
rer was disabled and put into
American waters under stress of
weather and that she therefore
should not have been detained.
Although the vessel was seized
some weeks ago and representa-
tions were made more than two
weeks ago by the Cuban govern
ment. she is still being held pend
ing the deposit "a a large bond,
the amount of which is estimated
at between $4,000 ard 100000.
This bond, it is stated, would be
based on the amount of duty
which under ordinary conditions
would be paid Cn similar cargo.
The Cuban authorities will con-
~ AfF 20 4lnA
release of the Misuel terrer with
out deposit of the bond. They
point out that 10 charges have
been made against either the cap
tain or crew of the vessel and
that her papers ha le not beer
questioned and arg ue that she
should be allowed TO proceed to
her destination, st. Pierre, Mi
quelen, without further delay. The
vessel is now being held at a
cost to her owners of approXi-
mately $500 a day, it is stated.
Cubans interested in the release
of the vessel have cited in de-
fense of their position, the case
of an American slave-ship which
put into a British port in dis
tress. and the claim Of the United
States, put forward by Daniel
Webster as Secretary of State,
for damages for The loss of the
slaves which were released.
The Papal Legation here has
no definite information as to-
whether or not Monsignbr Erneste
Filippi has yet departed from
Mexico City in compliance with
President Obregon's decree of ex-
pulsion.
Attaches of the legation con-
slider, from all information at
hand. either from Rome or Mex
leo City. that the expulsion of
Monsignor Filippi is entirely
without justification. His influ-
ence in Mexico, it vas stated, has
been exerted consistently in favor
of law and order and obedience
to the agencies of the govern
mcnt.
A high official of the Roman
Catholic Church today asserted
that the expulsion of MOnsignor
Filippi from Mexico would go far
toward proving not only to the
outside world but to the people OF
Mexico that the consistent re-
fusal of President Harding to rec
ognize the Obregon administra-
ton was justified. This church
dignitary predi, ted that sone-
time the public may learn that
reasons for the nOn-recognltlon
of Obregon by this government
may be disclosed which are en-
tirely apart from the ones made
public by Mr.. Hughes and even
more forceful. The. out of doors
religious meeting for holding
which Mgr. Filippi has been or
dered out of Mexico was de-
scribed as "a ceremony connected
with the laying of cornerstone
and could not have been conducted
within doors. ts:. G. ~
Col. Charles r. Forbes, Dl-
rector of the United st; ties Vet
eran's Bureau, it is said. may re-
sign within a short time, due 10
/ . reported difference with Brig
adler General Charles f. Saw
YER President Harding's physi-
clan. and chief coordinator Of the
Decentralization board. 1t Is SAID
that General Sawyer has under
taken to interfere with the con-
duct of the Veterans Bureau
particularly with reference 10 the
manner of supplying hospitals
with needed materials. Recently,
| General Sawyer had held up an
order of Director Forbes with re-
Continued on page eight)