Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-06-29
BY BONITA WITT

LEI MIL AAANAA.s o0lf 80
whats that? The United States
government is sending hundreds Of
men and boats into the Detroit river
area TO make one final attempt 10
stem the tide Of liquor Surging
across the placid waters? The river
has been turned into a vast proving
ground 70 determine whether or not
prohibition really is enforceable in a
locality where islands. slips and in
lets form a bootleggers' paradise?"
"Boshl" retort enforcement agents.
"Of course we are trying. 70 the
best OF M ability. TO dry up the
river. but II isn't true that forces
have been augmented 70 such tire
mendous extent. Does II sound
likely that Washington would send
every boat on the lakes 70 Detroit
and leave other expectation points
unguarded? RidiculouSi The re-
ports have been highly eXagger-
ated."
Dry Force Inadequate
Although the land and river forces
have been enlarged since the recent
shakeup in Detroit's dry army. one
AAANAA EAAAAA0A AAAAAAAAAEA W int MLANEL
that the present squad is inadequate
70 entirely cope with the situation.
Give us the equipment and we'll
dry up the river IN short order" he
promised. However" ne continued.
fifty per cent less liquor + coming
across the river today than a year
ago"
The ~bootlegger's answer 70 that
statement well leave 70 another
article.
Just al present Detroit Is more in
tereSted in restraining river dry
crews from stopping yachts which,
II contends. are purely pleasure
craft. than in the efforts OF the dry
men TO keep rum runners from
reaching their shores. Yacht club
officials protest that the lives Of
their members are in constant dan
ger when they venture out on the
water after dark. Boat manufac-
turers say the sale Of boats has been
seriously hampered since the adj
VEN OF armed cruisers. manned by
enforcement men.
Armed with Pistols
Charges that border patrol boats
have been moleSting pleasure boat
owners and subiecting them "a un-
necessary searching are denied by
the authorities. one border patrol
official points out that his men are
armed only with pistols. Lately"
he declares. my men have been
stopping pleasure craft 70 inspect
them for violations az the naviga-
ton laws. We gradually are be-
coming familia- with the rum run
ners' boats and can distinguish
them from the Others.
Many OF the yachtmen who have
complained about the searching had
q couple Of bottles concealed in their
boats I'll the time they were protest
ING. Border patrol men have orders
70 shoot only IN self-defense. and
yachtSmen have no need q fear for
their lives when they are out for an
evenings pleasure"
AlthOuEh border patrol men have
pistols. the coast guard cruisers have
One-pOund pieces and machine guns
mounted on their decks. and charges
Of careleSSrcSS in the handling OF
weapons often have been placed
against them. Residents a one Lake
Erie island complained when the
hcatswain Of n coast guard cutter
persisted III holding afternoon target
practice OFF lis shores. unmindfui Of
the fact that the machireEun bull
7 lets had an uncomfortable habit Of
occasionally Ringing their way into
the crane rows where the islanders
were &c work.
Rum Flow Partially stopped
Bearing out the officials state
Ynent that 50 per cent less wet goods
Is corning across the international
boundary line than a year agO are
the walls az thirsty DetrOiterS who
complained that they are beinE
forced 20 drink alley beer because
nttle ~ the Canadian variety Il
available. Reasons for this short
sce vary-depending on whether
vol are talking t0 N %bOCtlegger OF
6rv agent. More OF that la-s--
are bOCtleEgerS really setting into
their beats and departing fCr more
peaceful ShcrcS2
Let's take a ride down the stream
rast the notorious EcorSs CCClC-s
Nighwev. which IS wen worn bv tHe
vnspls Of hCCtiecgerS' trucks. around
v-eal-nv Crosse lie and across =
Ar,herstburg where the WHISKY run
rars and bee toterS toad before st-
+emDtinz t0 run the river blockade
and see for ourselves
NJ. -