LIQUOR SMUGGLING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 12 May 1925, Page 7

LIQUOR SMUGGLING.

COAST BLOCKADE. U.S. PREVENTIVE MEN AT WORK. by cable—press association—copyright. NEW YORK, May 9l The war between the coastguard officials and the rum-runners, which has now lasted for five days, represents a determined effort by the Government to stamp out the illicit liquor traffic carried on on a gigantic scale along the New York and JSiew Jersey coasts. It is on the largest scale since prohibition wa s enacted, the President having decided that it is essential to compel the big liquor ring to respect the law of the land. The blockade against “Rum Row,” situated thirty miles from the New York coast, has so far proved most effective, thirty vessels laden with liquor having been unable to land a single case since May •5. and not daring to attempt to break through the line of fifty Government craft of all descriptions drawn up opposite them. The latter have the advantage of being furnished with food from the shore, while the runners’ supplies are daily growing scarcer. The coastguard is also operating a number of patrol boats, armed with machine guns and one-pounder s , along the Great” Lakes, attempting to stop the traffic there. The Canadian Government ba s not yete protested an unofficial observer claims that such armament violates the Canadian-American Boundary Treaty. . . Washington officials admit that ft is impossible to encircle ten thousand miles of the nation’s coastline with their personnel, which consists ol eight hundred men and live thousand craft of all descriptions, but, nevertheless, the.v believe that profitable liquor points' have been effectively shut off from the source of supply. One Government boat was sunk by a mysterious gasoline explosion. Another was severely damaged when a small piece of iron was cleverly inserted in a steam turbine. Another was scuttled at the dock, and another was ruined when ground glass was placed in the bearings, while explosions in others have been- frequent, occasionally causing deaths. The Government officers and authorities are convinced that the liquor ring are employing expert machinists to do this damage. Meanwhile the crews of the liquor boats are composed of such desperate, murderous men that the Government officers have now been given orders to -dioot and kill if necessary.

FOG ON ,“RUM ROW.” MANY “THIRSTS” IN BROADWAY. NEW YORK, May. 9.' Wireless reports received by coastguard headquarters state that with the arrival of a- fog in “Rum. Row” on Saturday, several of the largest vessels departed seaward to parts unknown. The fog resulted in the Government forces being increased by a dozen patrols and. a few chasers. “Ruin runners” are expected to take advantage of the mists in ail attempt to land liquor to relieve Broadway’s aridity, which is reported to have greatly increased during the past few days. -—Reuter.