The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-04-21
Uncle Sam
Will Make
Ocean Dry
Long Arm of Navy Will Sweep
Atlantic Clean of Rum
Runners and Liquor
Pirates.l
Act and Talk Afterwards
BY Universal Service.

Washington, April 20.-The long
arm of the United States navy is to
reach out into the Atlantic and sweep
1t clean of rum runners and rum
pirates, it was revealed at the White
House today.
This decision was reached at meet
ing Of President Harding with his
cabinet at which it was decided that
the government must take extreme
measures to protect its coast from
wholesale liquor smuggling.
Within a week, it was learned a
mosquito fleet of great proportion will
clear for action and literally comb the
coast line. both within and outside
the three-mile limit. Should it be-
$ come necessary they vii not hesitate
10 go into action and stake old-fash-
4 Toned navy gunnery with the audaei
ous tactics OF the modern rum fleet.
May Tighten Up Clearances.
While this step is being executed
the government hopes to be able
through negotiations with the British
and French, to make it extremely diff
ficult for a ship to get clearance pa
pers for a liquor cargo unless it is
certain that it Is going to a destna-
ton where liquor may be legally inn
ported.
Such negotiations have been under
way for several weeks and have
reached the point where officials be-
lieve they will terminate in victory
for the United States. One of the
principal complaints raised by the
United States it is stated is the large
quantity of liquor which is shipped
to British possessions near the Ameri-
can coast. If these shipments can
be materially curtailed, as asked by
the United States, the principal source
of supply will be cut off.
VIII Protect Coast.
But whether the British and French
come TO terms or not, the United
states plans to protect its coast line
against a system of piracy, smug-
Cling and bootlegging that harkens
back TO the days of pirates on the
Spanish main.
The president let It be known that
he is thoroughly aroused over the
situation and will take such action as
! the occasion warrants and explain
sftefx ards.
AS AN initial step the may viii Re
asked to declare war on rum runners
within the three.mile limit By plae-
ing sufficient numbers of ships along
the coast they can effectively prevent
landings There are now ready Tor
sea service. a great number of sub
marine chasers which can develop
speed that will make them the equal
OF any of the rum runners.
Will Watch Vessels.
As a second step IT is planned to
spot each ship that approaches the
American coast with cargo of
liouor aboard. While the ship Will
not ne seized or attacked while out
side. the navy ships will hover about
TO see that the cargo is not unloaded
and sent to the shore by smaller
craft.
The dapper captain of his majesty )
shin Isatar, now lowering off the Jer-
sey coast and would-be host to Dry
Director Garfield when he visited the
rum fleet. will receive particular at
tention. The saucy conversation he
carried on for brief interval may be
continued indefinitely. for he VIII al.
ways have as his shadow one or the
United States ships.
Similar attention will be paid to
that mystery ship, sometimes called
the Gray Ghost" which rum runners
complain is just a plain. old.fashioned
nitrate. 1t looms up out of the mist
sweeps down on. the unsnspectlng
rum fleet and lays them board and
board. departing with the valuable
|. cargo, presumably for an American
port.