Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-09
HAVE DONE 0URDUTY
WE HAVE MADE EVERY EFFORT
TO PREVENT FILIBUsTERTNG.
THE RESPONSIBILITY OF SPAIN.
If Her Patrol Hal Been Half ns
tion Would Have Been Landed I'm
Cuba--So Reports Mr.. Gnge.

| WASHINGTON, December S.-Secretary
| Gage has submitted to the Department of
State his report upon the action OF the
Treasury Department In suppressing fill
clustering expeditions to Cuba in viola
ton Of the neutrality laws, synopsis
of which. as furnished by the depart
ment, is as follows:
secretary Gage points out the fact that
during two years and a half only six
American vessels, of an aggregate of
1881 registered tons, are alleged to have
successfully landed expeditions from the
United States in Cuba With the ex-
ception of the Laurada. the six American
1 vessels alleged to have successfully taken
| part IN expeditions in Cuban waters are
! small tugs and a pilot-boat, each OF less
| than 100 net tons and obviously incapable
of carrying large numbers Of men or large
quantities OF arms and ammunition.
Three foreign vessels. Of an aggregate Of
lib registered tonnage, are alleged TO
| have been successful In the same effort.
"Referring TO these foreign vessels, the
| Norwegian steamer Loon, the Danish
steamer Horsa. and the British steamer
| bermuda, the Secretary invites attention
to the fact that the crews of these YES
sells are required to be shipped before
the consuls of their respective nations,
in accordance with the laws Of those ma
tions. which also impose on the masters
of vessels various other duties to be per
formed before the consuls. He suggests
that the inquiry might be pertinent
whether the Spanish authorities informed
1aa oil
and, whether, if not, some measure OF
responsibility does not rest on the Span
ish authorities for the alleged departure
of these vessels, or, If the consuls were
not informed, whether some measure OF
responsibility does not rest upon them-
This suggestion is made, not to shllt
responsibility. but to show that II these
| alleged expeditions started without the
knowledge Of the Treasury ofhclals' they
also departed without the consent OF the
officials of other nations. whose actlon
was a necessary preliminary TO cieatanee
FACTS AND FIGURES.
"vyith the vessels referred to 1T IS al
legged there have been associated about
doger barbor-tugs. three or four lighters
. few small steamers. and about dozen
email sloops and schooners, in all less
than fifty. on the Atlantic ana nuii
coasts in 1896, there were 1O56o salllhs
vessels under 200 tons, and 2S. steam
vessels of 1000 tons or less, totai oI
1855 American vessels or uescrlptioi
and in n locality available for nilousteEI- E
,,-S ,,,,rooses. That only six out of 13.5S5
American vessels succeeded in reachlhg
| Crha and that less than fifty had any
share in these expeditions, Secretary Gaee
savs is n demonstration OF the Ia"
: abiding spirit of the nation, and OF tne
| obedience of the people TO the fIesluen, .
proclamation; and second, OF who'o
some and repressive fear on the part ol
tbose Who might be disposed to be law
less and to violate our obligations as
| neutral nation, and of n belief that thelr
: efforts would be frustrated by the au-
, thorifies of the United States, and that
the risk of discovery and punishment
ereatIv outweighed any chance or pront
, Sroro the exceptionally high money re-
r wards offered TO yessel-owners py inc
Cubans. ,.,
, "Eieht armed revenue-cutters, with
crews of 3l7 men. have cruised 'o,'oo
T miles. occupying 129 months in the az
eregate, patroling the coast, 10 prevent
flibustering expeditions. They nave cap
tnred seven vessels and lis men, have
broken I'D two expeditions, and nave held
under surveillance thirteen vessels uhueI
snsnicion. From time to time several
other reyenue-cutters have been enl-
: ployed on temporary duty.
SPANISH RESPONSIBILITY.
"Perhaps the strongest statement in the
report is this If the Spanish patroi o,
. 200 miles of Cuban coast had frustrateu
one-half the number of expeditions Whlch
: were frustrated by the United StateS 3
! authorities along the coast-lne OF 9ffo
. | miles not one man nor one cartiu5e
would have been illicitly landed In Cupa
from the United States. out or Sixty al
legged expeditions, only four nave peeh
brolxen uD by Spain. Illustrating this
, | statement he refers particularly 10 tho
! | exnedition that left on the Laurada from
, | Baltimore and landed at Banes on Mdrch
, olst Ranes is an important seaport on
tho northern coast of Cuba. with Whlch
the United States carried on vegetable
and fruit trade Yet it appears that the
I ! T,ourada remained in this seaport TWO
d1vs landing men and arms, ana was
NOT molested by the Spanish authoIl.'eo
In cuba. who had been informed Oh heI
landing. Unless Spain is prepared TO
avow an inability or indlsppsl'loh 10 ',. W
fend her interests in Cuba, SecretdIS
Core holds that the responsibility lor
the success of this expedition may pro-
/ nerIv he fixed upon the Spanish oihciais
IN Cuba who had been fully informed
= Inv the Spanish legation. The spanish
authorities have repeatedly asserted thal
: all of the seaports of Cuba were IN 'heir
possession ,,., Ao,.o
.In all. sixty alleged expeditions nave
heen looked into. OF these, Secretary
caoe shows that twenty-eight have been
frustrated through the efforts OF the
Treasury Department, five nave peoi'
frustrated by the United States navy
: four have been frustrated by Spalh, l"o
l have been wrecked, one has been driven
bocl by storms, one has failed from
combination of causes, and one the
| delaware. he declines 20 recognize as
other than a violation OF the BRUSH
: foreien enlistment act. AS Spain has sur
fored no injury from these forty-three
failures il is assumed that they VIII DC
T accented by Spain as evidence Of the sue
d coss of the United States in maintaining
: ire obligations and that a detailed state-
a | ment concerning each Is unnecessary.
= THE ALLEGED SUCCESSES.
= secretary Gage then examines IN oe-
tau the seventeen alleged successful eX-
> pedtions. He points out that the paIlia'
: success i'm one case was due 10 the weak
ness of the Spanish patrol OF the Cupdn
coast: that in one case the Spanish au,
horities at New York have exonerateu
the officers Of the Treasury from an re
sponsibility; that in one case the op"ilsN
Minister disagrees with the legal ao'
vIsers OF the Spanish legation, ana ais.
disoprees with himself as to the oate oi
= the alleged successful expedl,loh' aiiu s.'o
denartment has no information resai iuins
a n. that in three cases the vesseis nav. nay.
Tt..rrs nnfli