Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-30
SOFT WORD NO Use,
BILLIARD DECLARES
coast Guard Means Bust.
ness" His Answer on
Latest Rum Killings.

By the Associated Press.
A blunt statement that the Coast
Guard means business" and cannot
stop liquor smuggling with soft words
and amiable gestures" was added today
to the turbulent controversy on prohi-
bition enforcement which has enlivened
the holidays for official Washington.
This assertion was made by Rear Ad-
miral Frederick G. Billiard, the Coast
Guard commandant, upon being in
formed that three men had met death
at the hands Of his service while at
tempting to run liquor into Narragan-
sett Bay.
"The Coast Guard" Billiard said last
night, has the job Of stopping liquor
smuggling at sea. It Is not a job that
can be handled with soft words and
amiable gestures. The Coast Guard is
used to carrying out any duty given to
1t TO do with vigor and determination.
Means Business" He Says.
cit means business about this matter
and acts strictly within the law. If q
liquor smuggler elects to defy the COM
mand of q Coast Guard craft to stop,
he runs q serious risk of getting hurt
through q course Of action that the law
has specifically authorized for hun
dred years." ....
In some quarters Billiards. statement
was interpreted as an answer to the de-
mands of the last week for more rigid
enforcement, in line with the Justice
Departments renewal Of an order that
no prohibition cases are to be nolle
pressed without the departments con-
sent.
Reverberations were expected from
the most recent statement Of Senator
Borah, Republican, Idaho, a scathine
arrangement Of enforcement personnel.
Meanwhile those identified with the
controversy looked forward to the pub
LEGATION Of q report by the Hoover Law
Enforcement Commission making rec
concentrations for lettering enforce
ment conditions.
The episode OF Naragansett Bay took
place early yesterday morning. In a
heavy fog the Coast Guard patrol boat,
commanded by Boatswain A. G. Cor
nell. came upon the speedboat C-5677
OF Newport and, a command to stop
passing unheeded, opened FIRE. The
boat was overtaken soon afterward, and
in addition to the three that were killed
wounded man was discovered on
board, together with 500 cases of alleged
liquor.
Admiral Billiard in his statement did
not comment on the capture of the
British ship Flor del Mar of Montauk
Point. The capture OF this ship brought
to three the number Of British vessels
that have been taken by the Coast
Guard within recent months.
The Betty and Billy and the Billy r.,
alleged British ships, were seized on
the South Atlantic Coast and the Brit
iSh government called for q report
upon their capture. No further action
was taken, however.
Two Canadian Ships Seized.
In addition, two Canadian vessels,
the Shawnee and the I'm Alone, were
fired upon by the Coast Guard and
brought an exchange of notes between
this country and Canada. After an
examination Of the Shawnee case the
expressing its regrets over the incident.
In the I'm Alone case the ship was
sunk, and q board of arbitration was
set UP to settle the differences between
the two countries.
News of the killing Of the three yes.
terday followed closely the shooting Of
Eueene e.E.s. -Downey, jr., of Buffalo,
Erie on Christmas day.
The Downey killing now Is being In
vestigated by the United States attorney
at Buffalo, and Seymour Lowman, AS
Sistant Secretary of the Treasury, has
given assurance that that department
would help to bring out the facts.
Lowman defended the action Of the
Coast Guard in the Buffalo killing, say
ing that they fred after the craft upon
which Downey was q passenger had dis
regarded signals to stop.