TROUBLE FEARED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19498, 5 June 1925, Page 7

TROUBLE FEARED

NEW YORK WITHOUT CHAMPAGNE. EFFECT OP BLOCKADE. NEW YORK. May il. While the American Dreadnoughts ana engaged in mock warfare in the Pacific a migllty fleet of small, swift Government craft are maintaining off the north, eastern shores of the Atlantic a grim, relentless blockade of the far-flung liquid* smuggling fleet. The blockade extends from the southern limits of the New Jersey coast northward along the coasts of N.'w York, Connecticut, Rhode Island and .tq the extreme north of Massachusetts. This gives a total general coastline of nearly 600 miles, virile the mainland shore lina is nearly 750 miles, and the total shore line, including islands, is nearly 1600 mites. 1. . For the first time since marine Smug, gling was inaugurated the smugglers admit that the Government forces have placed an effective “stopper’ on tb-MT illicit and hazardous operations. The blockaders outnumber the smugglers by. two to one, but the smugglers are becoming desperate, and bloody warfare ia momentarily expected. 1 The Blockade was effected a fortnight ago. Since then all the available .stocks of fine liquors and champagnes in Net* York have been consumed.' Champagne is unprocurable for the first rime .since prohibition. The fact that all the eh ampagno in New York has been consumed in a fortnight attests the tremendous consumption in the metropolis. i The newspapers publish a story detailing the exploit of a daring smuggler, who slipped through the blockade during a dense fog, piloting a tiny, hut very rapid, boat under the noses of the Government guns, and arrived safely at the Long Island shore with 150 cases of champagne which sold at fabulous prices. Very thick fogs have boon hanging over the coast since. Saturday, and jfe is believed that other smugglers succeeded in evading the lynx-like eyes of the Government watchers. However, the authorities in charge of the blockade claim that it is impenetrable. Meai>while ’the price of Scotch whisky and other intoxicants, which have furnished by the smugglers have soared Upward-Smuggling-across the Canadian border* has been renewed on a large scale, requiring extra patrols of mounted constabulary and United States special agents. The Government believes that the marine smugglers are miable to obtains food supplies, and that soon they will weigh their anchors, hut the lanuggiers? agents in New York declare that' the liquor boats are determined to hold the line all summer if necessary. The blockade is attracting natter*, wide attention, and the public is wondering whether the ingenious smugglers will not discover how to circumvent flub blockaders. The commander of the blockading fleet has received written threats againstf his life. He has also been warned that his ships will be blown up unless thai blockade is lifted.