QUALIFIED SPIES.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10320, 1 February 1927, Page 5

QUALIFIED SPIES.

SECRET SERVICE METHODS IN

AMERICA

ESSENTIAL TO ENFORCE PROHI-

BITION LAW

GOVERNMENT AGENTS OPERATE NIGHT CLUB AS TRAP.

(United Press Assn.—Copyright.) WASHINGTON, Jan. 30. Following sensational disclosures that the Government employed socalled “under cover” men, who, in order to trap bootleggers, organised, elaborate night clubs, using Govern' ment moneys for the purpose, General Andrews sent a letter to the Senate explaining the reasons. The letter states: —

“The country is faced with numerous vast continuing conspiracies. It must recognise that the violations are nation-wide and almost numberless. The Federal Government to meet this condition must concentrate its efforts noon the large, well organised illegal operations. The “dry” agents, who are known to the criminal element, could never hope to defeat the unknown, intelligent and uscrupulous bootleggers, whose operations are necessarily enshrouded in darkness. It is similar to war; it is necessary for agents to lie employed who are quali--‘•d and do act as spies. No one likes the idea,, but it is as essential here as in war. Secret service methods and ‘under cover’ men are absolutely necessary if the prohibition law is to be enforced.”

The revelations, which aroused a great deal, of interest, showed that Government agents operated a night club for many months, selling liquor to the public and at the same time intercepting during delivery’ large orders for liquors placed with bootleggers. The club was later sold to a private individual, who shortly after was arrested.—A. and N.Z.C.A.

DEATH RATE FROM ALCOHOLISM LAST YEAR.

GREATEST SINCE 1917

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30.

The Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., the largest of its kind in America, announced that the death rate from alcoholism among the company’s I i. 000.000 policy holders was greater in 1926 than in any year since 1917. The rate during 1926 was 3.7 per 100,000 against 3.00 in 1925. The 1926 rate was six times as great as in 1920, in which year there was the lowest rate ever recorded. The highest rate was 5.3 in 1912. Tlie announcement states that unless the current trend of alcoholism deaths is checked 1928 will record a rate as high as any year since 1911, which is the earliest for which data is availalie for the industrial population.—A. and N.Z.C.A.