Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-19
NAVY HUNT HALTED,
|SH|P LANDS DRUGS
Cargo and FOG Chinese
Reach U. S. After Planes Are
Withdrawn From Search.

Carrying a cargo of 200 Chinese men.
6 Chinese women Slaves" and 3 tons OF
opium, an Oriental vessel. the Mara.
bella. masquerading under the flag Of {
Central American republic, succeeded
of narcotics following a refusal by thP
Navy to continue q search for the al
legged smuggler of the West Coast, IL
was learned today.
What happened to the men ano
women Slaves" remains a mystery.
international diplomacy and the re-
sources Of the United States were mar
shaled in an effort to catch the ship,
but just as the capture seemed immi-
nent the Navy. which previously hac
agreed to help, withdreV Its aid.
From the Central American power,
whose flag the ship was flying, author
1ty was given through diplomatic
channels to capture the vessel, regard
less Of her flag, as she was sailing
under false colors.
Jahncke Orders Search.
The Navy was asked to help, and
Assistant Secretary Ernest Lee Jahncke
issued orders to the Navy command in
the Pacific to Cooperate fully in the
effort to apprehend the smuggler.
The order apparently was given pub
licity, as news story printed in San
Diego said San Diego naval force;
af1oat and in the air hummed into az
ttvity during the week end with reports
that the Marabella had been sighted
in this vicinity"
The Navy cruiser Detroit, destroys~
force flagship, according to the same
story, was under orders at one TIM
to proceed to a sea rendezvous fo~
further orders, and liberty was restrict
ed pending the departure. Later the
liberty restrictions were relaxed. Nav@
air forces are on ready duty status s.,
begin sea patrols for the ship from
China"
Other papers in San Francisco gave
the Navy credit for chasing the dope
ship.
One San Francisco paper declared
Navy planes hunt slave dope ship on
California Coast" This story went on
to explain that Navy planes sent out
from the plane carriers Lexington and
Saratoga today sought q mystery ship
which left China for San Francisco
over a month ago." This story also told
Of cooperation between the Navy and
other forces. such as prohibition.
customs and Coast Guard.
in Washington today the Navy orders
sent West by Assistant Secretary
Jahncke were never executed and the
planes never few of their carriers to
search for the Oriental smuggler.
Naval officers in the West, it Is re-
ported, communicated in some way
with the Navy Department here. Sec
rotary of the Navy Adams Cancelled the
orders issued by his assistant secretary
and the Navy deserted the rest Of the
Government forces trying to corner tho
IN INF
Secretary Adams said today that the
Navy had been requested to authorize
the use Of some of its planes to search
for the opium ship. This was granted
and for part Of day naval planes
searched for the vessel, but apparently
did not locate her. There was no sur
face naval vessel involved in the re-
quest, as far as the cabinet oficer could
recall.
Requested to continue the practice Of
using naval planes to spot the opium
ship. the Navy Department declined to
do this. holding that this action would
be outside its legal authority. In tax ,
ing this attitude, Secretary Adams said,
the department was following the prac-
tice set by the Attorney General some
years ago, when he held that the Navy
could not be used for enforcing the
prohibition law.
Al OtAC OPAIAOn VI Lie Naval oecIC-
tary, the Navy is not chargeable with
enforcement Of the customs or rev.
enues laws, this duty being assigned
to the Coast Guard. In line with the
Attorney Generals ruling on prohibi-
ton and the Navy, Secretary Adams
believes that using the Navy through
Its planes or surface ships Is outside
the bounds Of its Jurisdiction.
Jahncke told The Star that he had
mo comment to make" on the case.
He declined to affirm or deny whether
or not he had issued an order which
was later countermanded by Secretary
Adams. Mr.. Adams was likewise in
definite on this point.
Disposed Of Cargo.
The Marabella. despite all efforts Of
various combined forces Of the Govern
ment. continued to ride the waves Of
the $aciflc, cruising about 100 miles on
shore. She made contact with smaller
boats AMI got rid of her 8 tons Of
opium.
Finally, after smuggling her cargo,
the Marabella put into q Mexican port
for supplies to carry her back to the
Orient. In this Mexican port she was
boarded by representatives of the
United States for the first time.
There was no trace of opium left
No action could be taken against the
ship by the American officers. She has
sailed for the Orient.
Other arms of the American Govern
ment engaged in the battle to prevent
the smuggling Of contraband goods are
at loss to understand why the United
States Navy withdrew its aid.