Evening star., 1923-06-23
i. S. SEXES LIQUOR
ON BRITISH VESSEL
AFTER SHORT DELAY
Proceeding Temporarily Halt.
ed by Mix-Up in Office of
Public Health Service.
BALTIC IS FIRST VICTIM
OF NEW DRY DECISION
Berengaria's Supply to Be Taken
Today-0ther Ships Garry
Rum Into Port.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, June 23.-Uncle Sam,
after starting to seize John Bulls
liquor on the steamship Baltic today,
halted, scratched his head and later
resumed his raid On the steamships
lockers stocked with liquor under
British government seal. intended for
use on the homeward trip.
Collector Elting finally explained
the mix-up by saying the seizure of
the Baltic's liquor had been tempo
rarily halted because 1t was discov-
cred that DR.. E. K. Sprague, chief OF
the United States public health serv-
ice, had not certified the amount OF
liquor to be left for medical use. As
soon as the certificate was issued
Elting ordered the seizure to proceed
Liquor under seal on the Beren-
garia will be seized this afternoon, as
soon as DR.. Sprague has issued his
certificate as to medical requirements.
the collector announced. adding that
this procedure would be followed with
respect to all vessels bringing in
liquor under seal.
Mellon Ignorant of Halt.
Secretary of the Treasury Mellon,
who promulgated the dry ruling
which the Baltic, Berengaria and
Paris have defied, Joined officials at
Washington in processing ignorance
of the reason for the pause, and Of
f1cials at the customs house, locked
in conference, could not be reached.
At the office of the White Star line
Is was stated that no injunction pro-
sd
Surveyor Whittle of the customs
service announced that a small part
of the liquor might be returned IL
DR.. Sprague decided it was needed for
medical supplies.
Getting the liquor off the steam
ship was somewhat of a problem.
Chief Officer Williams of the Baltic
said they could not look to the crew
for aid and could not use the ships
cranes to land the spirits. There are
interminable crooked corridors be-
tween the liquor and land.
None Taken on Baltic.
The liquor was inventoried and
guard placed over it. but none had
been removed at noon and Capt.
Roberts, declaring 1t would take the
authorities forty-eight hours to get
left aboard. He said the formal
seizure was enough to provide a test
case.
The temporary halt in the seizure.
1t was disclosed, resulted from dis
covery that DR.. E. K. Sprague, chief
of the United States public health
service, had not yet certified the
quantity to be left for medical pur-
poses.
Jubilation was displayed upon the
Majestic, upon which Secretary Mel
lon sails today, when word that the
Baltic seizure had been halted
reached the pier at which the Ma
jectic was tied up. Gloom followed
when 1t was learned that the seizure
was being carried out.
The Majestic carries on her home
ward trip only seventy bottles of
brandy for medicinal purposes.
Philip Elting, collector OF the port.
after q hasty conference with his
colleagues at the customs house to-
day, boarded the Majestic shortly
after 1880 and went into conference
with Secretary Mellon.
Captain Protests.
Capt John Roberts, the Baltic's
commander. lodged formal protest
against breaking of British seals by
American customs officers and the
seizure of the ships liquor. His pro-
test read:
II, ]. Roberts, master of the Brit
ish steamship Baltic, of Liverpool.
protest against the breaking of the
British customs seals and the seizure
by the United States customs author
tiles of the ships stores of wine and
liquor held under seal on board this
ship for consumption exclusively out
side Of the territorial waters OF the
United States"