TOBACCO SMUGGLERS FIGHT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18025, 25 February 1922, Page 8 (Supplement)

TOBACCO SMUGGLERS FIGHT.

POLICE FIRE ON LORRIES.

The village of La Chapelle, near Sedan, has again been the scene of a desperate fight between smugglers and frontier guards. The customs officers, having re* ceived information that two motor-lorries loaded with tobacco would probably be driven across the frontier near the wooded region round Sedan, sent out a number of armed patrols. Shortly after midnight two lorries dashed across the frontier toward La Chapelle. The guards snooted to the drivers to stop. The lorries, however, continued at full 6peed flown the hffl to the main street of the village. The customs officers fired at the ™ M *"J revolvers and rifles, but SSiu***? bullets raltl «l off steel SSft a fix l ed . won , d the seats. WLu*' s,lot hit the driv <* of the first lorry, wounding him severely while another damaged his etErffSE and crashed Into a cottage A man umped out and run m ? lon .? "le road, mane deaperau e "- forts to.climb into the second lorry which was still going at fuU , d W> ™ his footing and Ming under th w Is 0 f the heavy vehicle, was killed The customs officers kept Up ' a heavy fire at the fl-WMiing lorry 1 but we7e unable to bnng it to a stop and had to b e contend with the one they had can :fired. B contained more than 3 tinso higblypn tobacco,