Evening star., 1924-02-21
1853 SHIPS FLOODING
COUNTRY WITH LIQUOR;
SMUGGLING UNCHECKED
Continued from First Page.)

to secret sources of information to
this government, that it intends to
engage in smuggling.
The entire results of the coast
to the maximum of its capacity has
resulted in the capture of 14a ves-
sells. mostly small boats; S0,Sf7 cases
of beverage, liquors and alcohol, and
s 1916 pounds of narcotics. One of
the difficulties experienced by the
coast guard is said to be the fact that
many of the boats captured have
been released on bond. and there is
one NOTORIOUS instancc where one cer-
tain vessel has. Deen captured three
One of the big operatives has been
reported TO be syndicate running
from st. Pierre and the Bahamas to
Canadian and United States ports.
New York city is said to be the head
quarters of the huge syndicate. which
is now known to own fleet of nearly
a hundred craft. including steam,
motor and sail boats
On the Island of st. Pierre, Mique-
Ion, il has been authoritatively re-
ported that the government ice plant
there has been leased to a big New
York concern with the oStensible pur-
pose OF engaging in the fishing bust
ness. Confidential reports to the
United States government, however,
indicate that because of a clause in
the agreement allowing the storage
OF liquors the fish business may be
only a subterfuge under which to
operate gigantic smuggling opera
tions.
Liquor Bases Shifted.
strange shift in the liquor export
ing business from Nassau to the islands
of West End, Grand Bahama and Gun
Bay Light House Anchorage is reported
from another source. At Nassau il is
said. the business to the states has fall
len off by at least 40 per cent. On the
other hand. the expectations from the
other islands mentioned above are au-
thoritativeiy said to have increased by
100 per cent. At the port of Gun Bay.
it is reported that there are about
thirty vessels owned by Nassau men.
from ten to twenty boats are said to
be calling at West End able to carry
from 200 to 1000 cases each.
Detailed reports as to the names and
locality of the boats in the rum fleets
are in the hands of this government,
with charts revealing the latest line
up on the battle fronts
Havana, Cuba. has recently in
creased its exports of liquor heavily,
according to some reports, which
charge also that sugar cargoes are
often used as blind to conceal large
shipments headed for prominent sugar
importing cities i'll the states.
New Companies Organising,
New companies are reported to be
organizing in Europe for the purpose
of rum smuggling to the United
states, one prominent member of the
British peerage having been reported
by name as offering a profit of 20 per.
cent TO investors.
From a newly organized system of
Information the government is keen
ing track of vessels headed from
with liquor. The latest statistics
show that this week il is estimateJ
there are twenty-eight vessels under
way toward the great American
Smugglers have grown to be some
of the hardest. toughest daredevils
on the sea, getting worse with ex-
perience, it is said, until now they no
longer stop at the whistle of the
blank shot from Il gun, nor even at
gunfire which lays shells down ali
around.
Killed and Wounded.
With their speedier and speedier
boats, the rum runners have time and
again attempted getaways, and fire.
quenuy do escape by mere speed, in
the midst of shot and shell. One rum
runner is known to have been killed
along the western coast, while some
Of the coast guard men have been
wounded.
On the Atlantic battle front. how
ever, the game seems to be waging
with fiercer and flercer heat. Within
a month one coast guard boat not
only laid down shells all around a
rum runner. She sent two shots clean
through the ship just above the water
line.
Should the illicit sailors continue
to defy the government BEATS, il rs
understood the war will be caeneG up
in deadly earnest. with Ihs coasr
guard ships equipped with shrapne,,
which will be shot to kill. ,fhe MANS
hi-jacker does not appear to any
government reports, but official In
formation points to 81 concern said
to have headquarters in New YorE.
which has resorted to the same tricks
used by the hi-jackers, who roo the
bootleggers on land. Many SNUG
glers have complained of being rob-
bed by the New York gang.
Louisiana's first woman sheriff is
1.