New Britain herald., 1923-06-23
Action Finally Taken.

by The Associated Prsss
New York. June 23.-uncle Sam
after starting to seize Johnny Bulls
liquor on the 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.
Just why he paused In his raid re-
manned a mystery. at IL o'clock. At
the offices of the White Star line 1t
was stated that no injunction pro-
ceedings had been instituted.
How to Get II OF.
Getting the liquor off the steani-
ship promised to prove something OF
a thorn in the side OF the customs
agents. Chief Officer Williams OF
the Baltic said they couldn't look to
the crew for aid and couldn't use the
ships cranes TO land the spirits.
There are half a dozen narrow star
ways and interminabe crooked cor
iidors between the liquor and the
land.
The liquor was inventoried and
guard placed over II but none had
been removed at noon and Captain
Roberts, declaring 1t would take the
authorities As hours to get it off un-
aided, predicted IT would be left
aboard. He said the formal seizure
was enough to provide test case.
Files Official Protest
Captain Roberts protest against the
seizure read:
Il. j. l. Roberts, master of the
British steamship Baltic of Liverpool.
protest against the breaking of the
British customs seals and the seizure
by the United States customs au-
thorities of the ships stores of wine
and liquor held under seal on board
this ship for consumption exclusively
outside the territorial waters of the
United States"
Mystery peepens
The Baltic's case was surrounded
with further mystery at 1850 a. NJ.
when Philip Elting, collector of the
port coming out of a conference with
treasury department officials at the
customs house. declared, with the
seizure in full progress that the,
status of the Baltic had not been
definitely settled and propably would
not be until tomorrow.
Mr.. Elting stated that he would hold
further conferences with treasury Off
cials during the day.
Berengaria Is Next
Surveyor of the Port Whittle an
nounced that the Berengaria's liquor
would be taken next.
Collector Elting finally explained
that the seizure of the Baltic's liquor
had been halted because 1t was dis
covered that DR.. f. *. Sprague, chief
of the L. S. Public Health service. had
not certified the amount of liquor TO
be left for medical use. As soon as
the certificate was issued, Fitting or
dered the seizure made.
Liquor under seal on the Beren-
paria 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
resnect TO all vessels bringing in liquor
under seal. Arrival of each ship Will
necessitate conference between Dr.
Sprague and the customs authorities,
he said
French Liner Arrives
American customs autnorltieS
charged by Secretary of Treasury Mel
Ions latest order with the seizure OF
LIQUOR brought in by foreign steam-
ships under government seal on their
return trips had their task greatly
augmented today when the French
liner Paris steamed into quarantins
with almost enough liquor In her hold
to float her.
Preparing to slip up the North river
TO ioin the British liners Baltic and
Berengaria whose liquor supplies un-
der seal were scheduled for seizure
this morning. the captain of the Paris
said he had under seal the following
supplies:
zOrdinary wine S.4a4 bottle. !.
Crew wine, 81 barrels.
Rhine wine. S64 bottles. a.
Cognac. 1913 bottles. "a I,
whiskey. IS bottles.
Gin, SIS bottles.
Rum, So bottles.
Champagne. GIL bottles and 1b5
half bottles.
Beer, 1s6 barrels and 2s6 bottles.
Lioueurs, 340 bottles.
Removal of the seized liquor from
the Baltic began shortly before 2
O'Clock. The authorities induced
longshoremen to lift It with a crane
tContinued on Eleventh PaEe.l