New Britain herald., 1924-12-31
Marine Police And Motor Boat Exchange Shots And 200 Cases Of Champagne Are Captured.
Gotham Predicts Gay Rev. elries Despite Extra Guards - Reservations There and Elsewhere All Taken.

New York, Dec. 31.--A gun battle between marine police and rum smugglers aboard 8 motor boat which contained 200 cases of cham- pagne early today inaugurated the Sffensive against the flow of liquor into New York for the New Year celebrations The battle, during which 50 shots were fired in a 15- mile chase off the battery, ended with the capture of the boat and five prisoners.
 While the "um fleet carried out its final maneuvers to check liquor smuggling and the police department completed plans for increased pa- trols in strategic positions, Broad way and the other centers of amuse- ment went ahead with plans for gay celebrations to usher in the New Year tonight.
 300 Extra Police.
 The police plans called for 800 extra policemen on Broadway be- tween Forty-second street and Forty ninth streets, with 100 extra men to keep watch on the festivities in Greenwich Village. Two hundred pa rolmen were assigned to duty in the Brooklyn district where New York celebrations are largely concentrat- cd. The extra policemen will remain at their posts from 9 o'clock to- night until o'clock tomorrow morn- tng.
 Reservations Taken.
 Reservations in all hotels, restaur- ants, dance and supper clubs far exceeded accommodations, according to the proprietors, who said there was every indication of its being one Of the gayest New Year celebrations in & number of seasons.
 The offensive against rum snug gling for the holidays reached its final strength last night when an armed flotila of 40 coast guard rum chasers and destroyers had taken their positions along rum row to tn- tercept all smugglers trading with the liquor vessels.
 Fleet Is Doubled.
 The offensive fleet more than dou- bled the rum fleet in numbers, there being only eighteen of the latter. The rum vessels, however, had dou- bled in number since Christmas Eve. It was estimated by enforcement of flcials that the rum ships are loaded with S00,000 cases of liquor valued as high as $4O,O00,00O at bootleg prices.
 The boat captured by t'ts mariH1 police today was the Maybe, zoo horsepower, bullet proof, capable Of speed. Five policemen wera Gooarl the patrol boat Gypsie II when the Maybe was sighted off |hS Fort Hamilton side of tho na. ."ows. The men aboard the Maybe ignored q command to halt and after putting on all speed forward began firing at the policemen. The police started in pursuit, returning the 'ir".
 Hand to Hand Fight.
 After fifty shots had been inter changed. the fugitive boat was over taken. Two policemen jumped from the patrol boat, while both crafts were still speeding, and after q hand to hand struggle suhdued the five men on the Maybe. The police said the prisoners had intended to land the 200 cases of champagne from an East river pier convenient to the Broadway district
 E. 0. Merrick. chief federal proIi- bition enforcement officer fin this district said the drive for a dry celebration had begun today when c squad Of men departed with war rants for liquor dispensarics that operate only in daylight.
 Tonight we will have 200 men circulating and none of them will get a wink Of sleep" he added, We will obtain warrants for resorts when possible and in all other cabarets and hotels will have men stationed at the tables as guests
 No Personal search
 There will be no personal search HerTick said. but officers will be pre- pared 10 add the pain Of arrest to the sweet sorrow of parting with inc old year in cases Of guests who flash Tasks.
 Private parties will not be molest- cd unless evidence justifying war rant can be obtained, MT. Merrick said. An increase in the number Of alcoholic deaths is to be expected, he added. because any man who ever takes a drink will do 1t at this sea son and tho ordinary drinker will trust his bootlesger in preference to his doctor.
 Although a gay celebration was forecast. Merrick said that in his opinion, liquor would be less plenti- ful, than last year because the price quotations from rum TOW were more than twice those at that time.