Evening star., 1925-05-23
500 RUM ROW CRAFT IRE ROUTED
BY COAST GUARDS IN gLCCKADE|
Departing Liquor-Iaden Vessels Are ''Shadoroed
Far to Sea by U. S. Boats Prevent Their Setting
Up Business Outside Other american Ports.

land, he is a terror afloat. He 1t was
who commanded the Seneca during
the World War, and patrolled the
ocean lane from Gibraltar to Britain
In doing so. he fought IL gun duels
with submarines, sinking several and
establishing a fighting record for the
service.
Engaged In the blockade were 20
squadrons of patrol and picket boats
each squadron commanded by a cut.
ter or converted destroyer. The lat.
ter, resurrected from inglorious idle.
ness to which they had been consigned
by Navy that had no work for them
to do, and brought back to efficiency
and speed of 35 knots, are the fast
est Coast Guard vessels afloat.
twenty of these vessels have been
recondftioned and put into service. If
these are not enough, the Navy has
nearly 300 more just like them
enough to plant one every 80 miles
along the coast. East and West. An
act of Congress would be necessary to
enable them to get into the rum-fight-
ing service. The forthcoming session
of Congress will be the dryest vet, and
as the last Congress was about 80
per cent dry. it will be seen that the
votes could be had, If necessary.
IL Will not be necessary, in the
opinion OF those who are conducting
the present campaign. The force au.
thorlzed by Congress-, which exceeds
500 vessels of all descriptions, prob
ably will be found ample. Operating
In swift squadrons, 1t can quickly GO
from point to point and lay a block.
ade as it did off New York.
Liquor Industry Huge.
Inc extent of the Illicit liquor in.
oustry was estimated a few months
ago for this correspondent at $500.
100000 year by Wayne B. Wheeler,
general counsel of the Anti-Saloon
League of America. A survey of con.
ditlons indicated that DIR. Wheeler s
estimate was low-that the retail total
OF bootleg liquor dealt in at that time
approached more nearly 81. 600 600 600
year and that perhaps half of this
quantity was smuggled in from Rum
Row.
II the Coast Guard Is successful. as
1t expects to be, and if there is no an.
preciable increase in the volume of
liquor smuggled in from Canada and
Mexico, and if the land forces are able
TO hold distilling at its present volume
three big "ifs"-the campaign of the
coast Guard fleet will result in cut.
ting down the bootleg industry in the
United States to half it's former pro.
portions.
Nobody knows the number of whole.
sale and retail bootleggers and dis
tiliers ashore. DR.. Wheeler estimates
That there are about 1000, 900 regular
and reliable drinkers in the United
states and a larger number of casual
drinkers who take it when 1t is easy
to get. Supplying this demand, 1t is
estimated, are hardly fewer than 1OO,.
000 bootleggers, nearly half of whom.
perhaps, depend on smuggled goods.
The possibilities, therefore, are that
a successful Coast Guard campaign
along our eastern and western shores
may put $4,000 bootleggers and others
out OF QlsiEess. The process will be
slow, for it is believed there are large
stocks ashore. On the other hand, the
campaign may put only a few out of
business and operate to lower the
volume OF business done by those who
continue to sell.