Evening star., 1928-11-18

wall around the far-f1ung Occidental
Coast. OF course, that would not dc
away with submarine smuggling, but
another has solved that problem by
specifying that a steel drag net be hung
from the wall base.
Many moons will pass before Con-
gresS authorizes the Chinese wall
Meantime, what about the customs
service? With thousands of miles OF
coast line as an unofficial port of entry
and a fleet of rum runners manned by
a navy of salt water bootleggerS, the
field marShalS of customs intelligence
are enlisting more recruits than Ma
poleon commanded at Waterloo.
Take the fifth or sixth line of de-
&anse, our grand Coast Guard. This
arm of Federal Government is specific
ally charged with preventing the ar
rival in port of ships outside customs
lines" The organization of control con-
sistS of approximately 33 cruisers, 25 de-
stroyers. SO off-shore patrol vessels. 277
Coast Guard stations, all manned by
1000 officers and men.
These regiments are mobile men and
can be moved swiftly by an elaborate
system of radio telephone and tele-
graphic communication.
In addition to the Coast Guard, we
have liaison agents in the diplomatic
service, and active support in the Pro-
l1ibition Unit, Lighthouse Service, Coast
and Geodetic Survey, the American
citizenry at large. Amsterdam merch-
ants and Partisan dressmakers. Indeed,
the ends of these relations are so en-
tangled and far-1ung that they take on
the aspect of secret court OF mterna-
tional intrigue.
Like the Prohibition Unit, the Gus
INN1c; &c
rendering detailed reports to the public
at large; and aside from the account
ing of expenditures and receipts, secrecy
wells the movements of agents in all
corners of the globe and the methods
employed by inspectors in ascertaining
the innocence or guilt of incoming yes
Sels and travellers.
Certain professional sn1ugglers and
members of the demi-rnonde claim they
can recognize or detect customs
agent, no matter where they see him.
Hence the customs gendarmer1e take
great pains in cloaking their identities.
They might pose as wanderlusting sons Ms
of American stove manufacturers or
simply as respectable bootleggers.
Who knows?
WHILE Federal agents are privy to
all the common tricks of snug
Cling, they learn every day that lust
for easy money is the undisputed mother
of invention. If sleutts knew all the
schemes that might be hatched in fer
tile minds of smugglers there would be
no need of special customs agents dig
ging out evidence in novels and palaces
of the Old World.
No sport has such a wide assortment
of enthusiasts who embrace, discuss ana
practice nefarious business. Indeed, II
a tabulation were made of the pro-
fessions that have made smuggling a
hobby it would include practically all
that are known.
Putting it over on Uncle Sam is easy.
And then, again, it's not SO easy Gus
toms cops have a Suave way of telling
rnilady that somewhere on her person
is diamond tiara that she bought only
last week from jeweler on the Rue
de Ia Paix Remember that little shop
with the gilded front? Let's see, milady
entered about 2 o'clock in the afternoon
and stayed there about an hour. After
that she promenaded on the Boulevard
de l. Opera, just around the corner
Before retiring to her hotel she slipped
cierni-taSse at cafe.
disturbed nlilady's memory. Does
milady remember? OF course, if she
can't recall would she do the great
kind Government at washington
favor by stepping into this little booth
for a moment?
Now, if milady smuggler is astute
she will suddenly blare amazenent from
her frozen lips and, uttering strange
symptoms over her lapse of memory
cry cut thus:
little purchase / made for my daugh'
ter. You see, it was birthday sur.
prise, and I didn't want any one tc
know.
Here it Isl she will say, pulling q
chamois purse from her bosom. I've
been keeping it there for safety" She
smiles. She is benign and sweet.
And what did you pay for this?'
asks the inspector, pointing to the
ieweled tiara he had described for her
only $5,000," she answers naively.
Him. remarks the agent, "but why
did you pay the salesman sll ,ooo?"
Here milady'S decision must be haSty
too, for if she insists that she paid onl,
$4,000 she must face the music of {
fine or trial before the Court Of Gus
toms. If the agents proof is good
rarely fails hin-and milady insists Il
having her tiara, she will have to pa.
the agents price, which is highly usuri
Gus. In fact, after paying fine arlt
duty charge the tiara will cost abou
$4,000.
Suppose milady insists she has NJ
tiara, never bought tiara, or neve
head of one. She Is spirited away ant
asked to enter booth-juSt for mo
ment, the attendant coaxeS. What hap
pens in the booth? Well, it's the sam
story of how science has come to tn
aid of detective and polizei, as machine
guns have strengthened the fortiflca
tions of gangsters, etc.
Suddenly and without her knowledge
rnilady is translucent, and pair o
sharp eyes analyses her person for ar
TlcleS alleged to be on it. X-rays pierc
her shoe leather, the buttons on he
coat, and even the rosebuds on he
sWanky chapeau. Emerging from tn
booth, milady learns the decision
Guilty or not guilty? If she is limo
cent, she is allowed to depart withou
even Thank you" for her kind indul
kence. She has served the Government
81 It's ends. She may be dissatisfied o
wounded in her pride, but she can't su
Uncle Sam in retaliation, nor can sh
strike back at the Jealous inspector.
X X
IT'S a great game, defrauding tn
Government. And judging by tn
number of smuggling syndicates an
the high stakes laid on gambling table,
we may expect some remarkable coup
to be planned and executed on bot
sides. The world is losing some Of
best detective stories when the
ernment refuses to unfold the ofiUli
records.
There is sad need of autobiographici
literature on the lives of customs mel
The time is probably far of when the'
sleuths will be allowed the privileG
nenerallu accorded To TRANSPLANT