The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-04-11
DRY NAVY
FTTSFOR
FIGHT
Prepares Intensive Summer
Drive When Pacts Are
All in Force
Bv LLOYD LEHRBAs.

In its efforts to draw. the pro-
hibition net still tighter around
the country the State Department
expects soon to announce the ne
gotiation of several new rum
treaties which authorities believe
will go far toward checking the
flood of illicit liquor that is still
pouring into the United States.
Ten Already Negotiated.
Ten liquor treaties already have
been negotiated with foreign gov
ernments, including the principal
maritime nations of the world, and
Secretary OF State kellogg expects
shortly to sign a convention with
Mexico that will plug up a few OF
the holes along the southern border.
A treaty with Canada, designed
TO Illustrate the bootlegging fratern-
ity along the northern boundary,
already has been completed and
awaits only royal approval in
London.
Cuba which supplies thousands
of cases of liquor to the rum
when that is completed the United
states, theoretically at least, will
be completely rfnged by dry safe
guards.
Coast Guard Drive Planned.
At the same time the Coast Guard
is making final plans for the most
highly concentrated drive against
foreign rum runners ever under
L.
twenty naval destroyers and 5000
the middle Of June the. greatest
law enforcement campaign in pro-
hibition history will be in full
swing.
Since the first anti-rum ship
treaty was signed with Great
Britain similar treaties have been
negotiated with Germany, Sweden.
Norway, Denmark. Italv, Panama;
France. the Netherlands. The
treaty with France has not yet
been ratified by the Chamber of
Deputies. Under these treaties the
United States has authority TO seize
rum ships flying the flags of those
nations within distance that can
be traversed in one hour by the
vessel carrying the liquor.
5000, 600 Cases Struggled
Over 6,000,0O0 cases of liquor
were struggled into the United
states last year. according 10 un-
official estimates, and the Coast
Guard seized only 10000 cases.
But with the increased "dry navy"
and the ten treaties in full effect,
smuggling is expected to be re-
duced to a minimum and seizures
materially increased.
During the past year Department
OF Justice investigations show that
332 foreign ocean going vessels
have been visitors to rum row."
sixty-three being anchored there
at the one time OF the rum ships
spotted during the year, 307 flew
the British flag and the effective
operation of the British treaty Is
therefore of the greatest Importance
TO the prohibition enforc ement init
and the Coast Guard. Norway was
represented by ten ships and
France by four.
The treaties made ocean oJot-
Logging 10 smaller speed boats
vastly more difficult. as they force
the rum ships TO stay thirty TO
forty miles off the American coast.
and as the smaller American speed
bOdNE Ndil ne SGIZSu any N1lEES. "
lures are easier in ratio, as the
rum ships are forced to anchor
farther from shore.
Seized 1000, 900 Cargo
The dry navy" has seized
twenty-three foreign rum runners
since the first treaty became ef-
fective in May. 1924. most of them
British. All yielded rich seizures
of liquor, the cargo on the British
steamer, Quadra, seized off Sal
Francisco, being worth $1,000. 900.
Most of the smuggIers have
operated from British bases-HaE
fax, Nuremberg, Sydney and Var
mouth, Nova Scotia; St. Johns,
Newfoundland; Bermuda, Nassau
and the islands of Bimini and Gun
Cay in the British West indies.
and Victoria, Vancouver, Windsor
and BelleVille, Canada.
TLIPn MIEE WING PlHLT