Evening star., 1927-11-13
ssDRY NAVY" ENLARGED
TO COMBAT SMUCCLERS
Land and Sea Forces and
Equipment Developed in Effort to
Defeat Liquor Runners Off US.

midst of legitimate water traffic IN
crowded coast harbors. Rum ships
sometimes enter the Coast Guard
scouting area at night, making con-
tact with vessels from shore. and
escape far out to sea before American
boats can pick up the contraband
ships. But even with all their artful
tricks and ever-changing tactics. the
smugglers will find more and more
difficulty penetrating the blockade.
Reinforcement of customs. prohibit
ton and Coast Guard personnel and
equipment in east Florida and Gutf
waters has been ordered by the Treas
ury Department following the discov-
cry by intelligence agents that SNUG.
glers have planned operations on a
bigger scale during the coming Winter.
Smugglers have set up new liquor
bases at Bimini and other islands in
close proximity to the Florida coast
preliminary to making large move
ments of whisky toward southeastern
Atlantic and Gulf shores. The Gov
ernment has moved vigorously to
make better distribution of its en-.
forcement personnel to head off the
enemy in those waters. The reassign-
ment Of ships and men may involve
the shifting Of some forces now on
duty in other districts regarded as
less troublesome, in order to tighten
up the blockade against the smugglers'
chief shipping centers in the Bahamas,
Cuba, Haiti and Mexico. Many of the
converted destroyers and swift off.
shore cutters will be brought into ac.
ton in the south Florida waters. Some
OF them not now so busily engaged in
other districts probably will be di-
verted also to Gulf waters to stem the
tide Of foreign booze entering Gulf
ports.
Arplane Bases Established.
Airplane bases have been estab.
lished on the south Florida coast and
the Canadian border for the more
extensive use Of modern aircraft in
scout duty. The Treasury Depart.
ment has decided upon much wider
use OF aircraft generally and is now
considering the establishment Of ad.
d1tional bases to watch smugglers Off
the Mississippi passes, the Mexican
border. Texas coast and the Jersey
and New England coasts.
An elaborate system of communica.
tion has been built up that makes pos
sible the handling of the dry navy
fleet with great rapidity. The fleet
has under its control many radio sta.
tions and thousands of miles of tele-
phone and telegraph wires along the
coasts. Coast Guard vessels are in
constant touch with divisional head.
quarters, reporting movements and
locations OF foreign rum ships lying
far off shore. Rum ships flying for.
elgn flags cannot be boarded and
searched while they are lowering off
shore, although such vessels may be
suspected Of being rum ships. But
American patrol boats watch such
ships, prepared to blockade communi-
cation with shore, to prevent trans
fer OF rum cargoes to American ves-
sells. A recent report on foreign
liquor ship locations of the north
Atlantic coast showed one vessel 80
miles south Of Long Island, n. Y,
one vessel 100 miles southeast of
Nantucket Island, one vessel 20 miles
on the Maine coast, one vessel 20
miles southeast Of Block Island, two
vessels 100 miles south of Block Is.
land, and one vessel 80 miles off the
Massachusetts, coast.
Border Lines frightened.
Dry enforcement chiefs have tight.
ened the American patrol lines on the
canadian and Mexican borders. Re-
distribution OF the force of customs
and enforcement agents is now in
progress. Federal agents are being
concentrated in larger numbers at diff.
ferent points which have not been
well guarded. The tightening process
applies particularly to the Canadian
border. The problem of heading off
the smugglers at and around Detroit
Is admittedly difficult. Officials are
not overconfident regarding that stu.
alton.
This main gateway for foreign
LIQUOR for thirsty Americans Of.
fers innumerable handicaps to the
hopes and plans Of American enforce
ment authorities. Government Off.
Gals. however, are hopeful of great
er success In thwarting the rum
handlers, through assurances of closer
cooperation given by officials of the
Canadian government. Officials here
are placing much reliance upon these
assurances. 1t is the plan to use the
conspiracy statutes wherever possible
10 put the smugglers out of business.
The Governments intelligence
agents have been extremely busy in
recent months on both sides of the
border, learning the inside" of rum
smuggling activities. Information
thus obtained, officials maintain. will
be employed to clamp the lid down
on some of the recognized leaders in
the commercialized rum traffic. Much
OF the information in the Govern.
ment's possession was secured through
tne cooperation of officials at Ottawa.
Many OF the so-called ringleaders IN
the booze traffic are known to Govern.
ment officers. But they have hereto.
fore proved to be very crafty and
eiuslve, and always several jumps
ahead Of the Government pursuers.
Boss in Background.
Violators Of this type remain In the
background usually, and employ
others to buy liquor on the Canadian
side and transport it safely across the
Detrolt River to waiting trucks or
other vehicles. Government agents.
capturing these employees. flnd them
very secretive. The boss smuggler re-
mains hidden in the BACKGROUND. but
ne plays the game and goes the limit
IN providing bail and strong defense TO
alo MS accused confederates in escap.
ing punishment. The situation at De.
trolt Is made difficult because il 10
only a few minutes dash from one
country 70 the other, and all along the
Detroie River front are storehouses.
"here liquor boats may load. Piers
and little canals on the Canadian side
aHord smugglers, operating in small
boats, the utmost facility in getting
Dads quickly and making safe land
ngs.
Defense lines at many points along
ne Great Lakes, used chiefly by boot.
eggers and smugglers to ease booze
shipments through, have been greatly
strengthened by larger patrol forces.
:ogetner with considerable of tina
soast Guards small boat equipment.
Stafs OF customs and Enforcement
agents at principal ports along the
Atlantic and Gulf coasts also have
been enlarged. The Government has
oeen careful to refrain from making
known the exact numbers or locations.
involved by orders which have gone
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