Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-06-26
LIQUOR STORES OF I
TWO BRITISH SHIPS
ARE SEIZED BY U. s.
Test Raid Made by u. S.
Agents After Two False.
StartS-FormaI Protest Is
Made by Shippers

NEW YORK, June 23.-(By the
Associated Press.)-Despite two false
starts, the United States today pro.
ceeded to smash the British seals
placed over the liquor stock on the
steamers Baltic and Berengaria. The
liquor was brought into port yester.
day by the two liners to test the
treasury ruling prohibiting vessels
crossing Americas three-miIe dry
barrier with wet goods for the res
turn voyage.
BY nightfall all the liquor in ee.
cess of that which DR.. E, Ks
: re, eli. CT the ublic health
service, considered medicinal needs,
had ben taken off the Baltic. Mon.
day morning the Berengaria was
due for the same hopping up proc.
ess, it was nounced.
Captains of both vessels entered
ft.-lal protest at the breaking Of
their governments seals, but put
no obstacles in the path of officials.
Uncle Sam was slow in delivering
his punch Twice he raised his fist
against those who had defied his
prohibition laws, and ice he low
cred it while his executives held
parley. Conflicting orders rained on
the water front before the seizure
was made, and in the meanwhile the
French liner Paris steamed into the
harbor with a maritime cellar we'll
stocked for the homeward voyage.
More Trouble Ahead
Indications were that even more
trouble would a ml-ate next
week, when more liners will arrive
carrying liquor across the three
mile limit.
Customs officials and prohibition
enforcement agents massed this
morning ~ the per occupied by the
White Star liner Baltic, which yes
terday unexpectedly slipped into
port ahead Of the Cunarder Beren-
garia, heralded as the first liner to
test the treasury department dry
ruling. The announced purpose OF
the American officials was to sweep
down on the two vessels and prompt
ly confiscate their stocks.s
This is what happened:
l. Deputy Surveyor Sand ern
marched aboard the Baltic shortly
after $3.50 a. M; the British seals
were smashed; Captain John Roberts
protested, and Federal Prohibition
Director Garfield began taking an
inventory of the w.t. goods.
2. Proceedings were suddenly halt
ed by i telephone call from the cus-
toms house. while Washington won
dered. Collector of the Port Elting
later explained that his halt was
called, because DIR. e. X. Sprague,
chief of the United States public
health service, had not yet issued
permits for medicinal liquor sup
plies. Meanwhile Mr.. Citing con-
ferred at the customs house with
treasury department officials, and
Surveyor oe the Port Whittle dash.
ed aboard the White Star liner Ma-
jestic, which sailed at noon with
Secretary of the Treasury Mellon.
for an unexplained p>rley with his
chief.
Work Halted
g. Early this afternoon federal
agents who spent the day on the
Battles pier, resumed their work OF
removing her liquor.
4. This work was halted by tele-
phone, call from DR.. Sprague, after
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury
Moss, from Washington, sent him
drastic orders and it was reported
from the capital that DR.. Sprague
had granted permit for all the
Berengaria'3 stock, listing it for
medicinal purposes. This report DIR.
Sprague denied, but he declined to
discuss thu Washington orders.
5. DR.. Sprague issued permits for
a certain amount of medicinal IL
ENTHUSIASTICALLY in excess of what
the Majestic, a larger vessel, car
ried on 1or outward voyage.
6. TIE surplus liquor was taken
from the Baltic and the Berenga-
ria s seals were broken.