Customer Reviews

Rum War at Sea

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Probably no other era in American history has been more controversial than the prohibition period, extending from the middle 1920's through the early 1930's. This volume, presenting a history of the Coast Guard's participation in enforcement of the National Prohibition Act, is based on recently declassified official records and sources and represents the first organized presentation of the Coast Guard's role in the "Rum War." Although the Coast Guard seized literally thousands of vessels, which were engaged in transporting liquor into the United States from the sea, only seizures of special interest or significance are for the most part recounted in this book. Highlighting the interesting and well-written text are dramatic accounts of actual battle engagements and photographs of some of the men and vessels of the Coast Guard and "Rum Runners."

Malcolm Willoughby's book was "THE" book on how the Coast Guard enforced Prohibition when it was first published in the 1960's, and it remains the most popular work on the subject to date. (It has been re-published several times.) His book inspired me to write my own book on the same topic, although my approach was much different. Willoughby was considered the authority on the subject for his generation, which is why the Coast Guard historian's office keeps stacks of the book in thier inventory. When reading the book, however, keep in mind that it was originally published by the Treasury Department, which the Coast Guard belonged to at the time, so there is a bit of bias and tidyness to many of the accounts. Also, Willoughby was a retired Coast Guard officer. If this book captures your interest, then you will definitely like the newest book on the suject:
Alcohol, Boat Chases, and Shootouts! How the U.S. Coast Guard and Customs Fought Rum Smugglers and Pirates (Part I: 1919-1924)