WAR ON RUM RUNNERS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, 14 May 1925, Page 7

WAR ON RUM RUNNERS.

Enormous Foreign Trade.

STATEMENT BY SECRETARY OF COMMERCE.

liy Cable —Press Association —Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. WASHINGTON, May i2.

In the annual report ot the Department of Commerce, the Secretary (Mr H. C. Hoover) estimates at 40,000,000 dollars the cost of bootlegged foreign liquor last year. This is said to be a low estimate.

CHASING THE RUM FLEET.

LIVELY TIMES ON CALIFORNIAN

COAST.

By Cable —Press Association —Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. VANCOUVER, May 12.

Messages from San Diego state that the Californian coastguard forces there admit they are badly hampered in their efforts to counter large ships (four of which are carrying the British flag and one the Belgian), which are now cruising off the California coast. Their decks are piled with liquor. The ships and small boats which go out for cargoes are all speedier than the Government craft. The cutter Tamaroa, now in port at San Diego, found the fleet on May 4, and gave chase to one of live vessels, which scattered in different directions.

The Tamaroa was unable to overtake her fleetier quarry, and was forced to return to San Diego for provisions and fuel. Officers of the Tamaroa state that the rum fleet is receiving able assistance from confederates ashore. The Belgian ship, Gertrude, is the first of the disintegrating Atlantic coast fleet to appear in Pacific wavers according to the Tamaroa’s officers. SUCCESS OF DRY FLEET. FLOOD OF LIQUOR STEMMED. By Oabla— Press Association—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. Received May 13, 9.30 p,m. NEW YORK, May 12. . The Federal Government’s claim that the Dry Fleet, consisting of fifty patrol boats, has effectively blocked the illicit liquor traffic off the East Coaßt, is apparently substantiated. Following upon the blockade lasting a week, during which time the liquor vessels have been uhable to obtain supplies, and only one small boat succeeded in running the gauntlet, many liquor craft are dispersing and are seeking other inlets. Five have already appeared off San Diego, California, and ethers have landed cargoes at Halifax. The most interesting feature of the campaign, however, is the report that the blockade has been so successful that the Eastern liquor traffickers have now turned their attention to the Pacific Coast. Numerous liquor ships already have attempted unsuccessfully to outmanoeuvre the San Francisco coast guards, who have been given orders to shoot to kill, if their cutter is fired on. Precautions are also being taken' to counter the flood of liquor from the Canadian border, which has decreased since the Atlantic trade grew extensively. State police motor vehicle inspectors are now concentrated along the Canadian border, awaiting developments. The Commerce Department has officially estimated that 40 million dollars’ worth of liquor has boen smuggled into the United States during 19?4, an increase of 10 millions over 1923.