Evening star., 1926-10-15
The Battle of Eliza beth.


Pride In American progress in civili-
1ation has, of late years, been severe
ly shocked by repeated and increas-
ing outbursts Of crime. LawIessness
has developed on the part Of a large
part of the population. Banditry in
the most crowded centers OF inha bita-
ton has become the occupation Of
thousa nds of men and women. Mil
lions of dollars in vahIables are stolen,
not by the former methods Of stealth
and craft. but by military assault hy
raids. hv organized compa MES Of
armed comba nts. Lives are taken
without mercy. A reign Of terror has
come TO pass.
Yesterday eight men, using motor
cars for hlockading and esca ping. at
tackled Government mail truck in
the streets Of Elizabeth. y. j., opened
fire with highly effective weapons.
killed one man and wounded two
others. opened the truck with special
tools, and escaped with currency to
the value of from $3.50. 900 to $500. 900.
according to present varying esti-
mates. This was the most darin
crime Of it's character ever committed
in this country. The men are now
at large, pursued by State troopers
and police
There is every evidence that these
robbers had information rega riding
the contents OF the mail truck. This
Is not the first case In which robbers
have worked on mail conveva noes
with certainty of loot. Several wears
ago when mail wagons were being
held up and robbed the suspicion was
entertained that inside informa ton"
had heen given TO. the thieves. The
Elizabeth crime suggests that there
In treachery in the postal service,
thought that. though abhorrent in
view of the high standard and excel
lent record Of postal employees. would
seem to be justified by the circum
sta ances.
Men do not engage in such daring,
desperate crimes merely for the love
OF adventure. They are after loot
and they go after it with the belief
that they can get away with it,"
mat they can escape unharmed and
Undecided to enjoy the product of
their Illicit enterprise They are en-.
couraged In these ventures by Ger.
tain percentage Of chance in their ia.
"a
pons for the attack. They use speedy
automobiles for their escape. They EN-.
ploy military methods of assault.
They have reduced crime to a svs.
tenn. Some of them escape the law
altogether. Some when caught are
able To evade the highest penalties
and after short term in prison re-
turn to their criminal activities.
In every city in this country the
transport Of valua bles through the
streets is now virtually military
maneuver. Armored cars and trucks
are employed, guarded by men with
the most efficient weapons. Innocent
and unoffendins persons using the
highways are required TO De on tnelr
guard consta ntly against attack. The
other day in New Jersey man and
his little son were killed and his wife
WAS grievonsly injured by band of
criminal raiders. perhaps the same
gang which operated in Elizabeth
yesterday. These men, it is believed,
We're on their way to hold up an air
plane carrying valuables The
frontiers of early days held no greater
terrors or perils for pioneers than do
the streets of our cities and the roads
of settled country.
Our progress toward civilization
has. indeed. been checked. Our sa fe.
guards NJ law and law enforcement
have failed. II they are not restored
70 effectiveness through the speeding
cf judicial processes and the thor.
cugh execution OF the utmost penal.
tles for law breaking and law defiance
this country will suffer irrepa ra bly,.