Evening star., 1925-05-21
On War Footing.

II know or nothing comparable to
this problem that a maritime force has
had to solve in time of peace. The
Coast Guard has pursued this problem
unremittingly and as expedltiously as
Is consistent with the careful consid-
Grafton that must be given each step
taken.
while all of the additional boats
contemplated are not yet in commits
sion, the Coast Guard is now entering
upon the operation phase of It's plans.
The average person has not the slight
est conception of the difficulties and
obstacles that confront our operations
to prevent smuggling. The Coast
Guard is virtually on a war footing
but has not the freedom of action or
the advantage OF the popular enthu.
siasm and support that go with a state
of war.
ITO maintain a large fleet Of small
motor launches on the high seas, COW
ering a large area, and under all con-
ditions of weather and sea, presents
difficulties that the average landsmsn
cannot appreciate. Our officers cannot
be given explicit instructions as to
their legal rights with respect to SELF
ures in all cases. because the decisions
OF the courts differ widely on such
matters.
However, our forces have orders to
seize any American craft that makes
contact with a foreign rum ship lying
off our coasts. The enemy Qor surely
men who make business of violating
the laws of the United States and of
endeavoring to render of no avail a
provision of the Constitution of the
United States may be characterized as
national enemies) are we'll organized
and have unlimited funds at their COM
mand. They make every effort to
threaten, hamper and discredit the
Coast Guard in all possible ways, and
they are becoming more and more des-
perate In their efforts along these
lines.
Time Will Tell.
Enlisted men of the Coast Guard
are the same type Of clean-cut, young
American boys who are enlisting every
day in the Army, Navy and Marine
Corps. They are young, full of life
and the spirit of adventure, and have
the same Judgment and sense OF re-
sponsibility as are to be expected of
young men throughout the country.
If one Of these boys is found derelict
In his conduct, in any respect, the
Coast Guard takes immediate sum.
mary action by court-martiai proceed
ings, but the bootlegging fraternity
makes the most of the incident in an
effcrt to discredit the Coast Guard.
Through all these difficulties the
Coast Guard is pursuing the even
tenor of It's way toward a successful
accomplishment OF the duty assigned
it, namely, the suppression OF SNUG
Cling of liquor from the sea into the
United States.
"The Coast Guard is making no
statements, and intends to make none
as to what 1t expects to accomplish.
How long II will take, or what addi
| tional facilities, If any, will be needed
! to put down rum smuggling on all our
| coasts. only time and experience can
determine.~
II do n@ hesitate to say that there
are 10 finer, more devoted, or more
loyal men in the service OF the United
States, in their respective ranks and
ratings, than the officers and men of
| the United States Coast Guard, and
there is no organization with a finer
record Of devotion to duty, service and
successful accomplishment than that
| of the Coast Guard.
''The service is pitching into this