AMERICAN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 December 1923, Page 2

AMERICAN ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. LIQIOU LAW. AVASTI INGTON EXCITED. WASHINGTON, December 21. 1 lie antheuities are continuing investigations into the operations of the illicit liquor syndicate row ntlv unearthed and have made eight further arrests. They decure that some powerful group is working against them, for a li-t containing 1300 names of prominent Washingtonians who hud purchased liquor mysteriously disappeared from police headquarters after the directors of both the Anti-Saloon League it ml the Association against Prohibition had demanded that tile authorities should publish the names, without fear or favour . The State* Depattment which has taken charge of the cases denting with a foreign legation, has effectively stopped the publication of information appertaining thereto until further evidence lias been collected and definite charges ran be made openly. Th incident is causing a shmp flurry of excitement in the capital.

RF.QEESTS TO CONGRESS. WASHINGTON. December 24. The scandal over the liquor syndicate here continues to grow. Congress is now being asked to invtvdiguto certain incidents. 'Hie police continue to make extraordinary charges against the syndicate, declaring that a prominent group of bankers is behind the ring. It is even declared that the syndicate Inn! two Cabinet members among its customers. T\SK OF ENFORCEMENT. WASHINGTON, December 21. The Prohibition Commissioner, Mr it. A. Haines, teviewing the progress of enforcement during 1923, stated that tin:: object of the A’olstead Law was manifestly being realised in even the mo.-t difficult sections of the country more rapidly than many people believed. “I’rogivfis .nationally has been no thing sho: t of marvellous. A iolators who operate on a large scale are being apprehended, and smuggling on the borelo’s and the coast has been materially curtailed, as has also home distillation. There are more than 200,000 local officials and 1022 Federal agents engaged in the enforcement of national prohibition. The latter, in the past fifteen mouths, have mane Sooo arrests and have seized property valued at 1 000.000 dollars. M•• Haines eemclmleil: ‘'The difficulty, that have been presented, and ate being pteseuted, are but the ‘ultimates’. Tin* record ol accomplishment is ample justification tor large hope for the futu re.’ CHRISTMAS DEMAND. WASHINGTON, December 24. On the eve ol the holidays prohibition is becoming the major item of national news, in view of the bootleggers' efforts to supply the Christmas demand. Ocean rum-runners on the Atlantic coast are taking extraordinary risks to hint! their consignments of liquor and arc often successful. Tint authorities estimate that 2-30,000 dollars worth was landed yesterday ah tie. A despatch from Marion, Illinois, states that a small group or Federal agents, witlmut ?u formation from the local authorities, enlisted the «i<l of a large posse, of Ku Kiux Klan, and laidcd many liquor resorts, making .many arrests and engaging m gun battle's in which four persons were setioitsiy wounded.

AIK ARMAMENTS. NEW YORK, Dee. 24. The Washington correspondent of the “New York Herald'’ interviewed the Duke of Sutherland, who reiterated his opinion that a eonlerenee should be called to discuss thh question of limiting air armaments. The Duke added that Britain was not competing in aircraft with France or any other power. “Our programme,” 'lie said, “is based on die exigencies ol Imperial defence. It is easier and more economical lo use aircraft for defence than troops. This is particularly the ease in outlying possessions—Mesopotamia, for example. “Britain finds that the - most important aerial development relates to larger bombing ’planes. torpedo ’planes and ’planes for transporting troops. We have found the military status of the last named especially great, and expect that more extensive use will he made ot them in the tutu re. The correspondent added: “I he Duke of Sutherland discussed the purpose of his mission with Mr C. LHughes. Secretary of State, Mr EDetihy, Secretary of tin* Navy, and Mr J. \Y. Weeks, Secretary of War.” GALLIPOLI CONTROVERSY. NEW YORK, Dec. 24 The National Security League, which is conducting a discussion among military and naval .men regarding Mr Winston Churchill's memoirs, has published the opinion of Major A. C. Lejune, Commandant ot the United States .Ma'ine Corps, who agrees with Mr Churchill that the attack on Gallipoli was the turning point ot the war. Major Lejune, however, states that a few thousand Allied marines at the psychological moment of the battle would have meant the taking of Gallipoli and the winning of the war. A general declares that the first attack upon the peninsular took the Turk's bv surprise. They fled and a small landing parly could have captured the fortifications, hut the Allied fleet was obliged to steam away, owing to lack of marines, and when it returned the Turks were re-entrenched and strengthened and.tho assault proved ineffective.