Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-08
FILIBUSTER REPORT
Secretary Gage on the Action of the
Treasury Department.
ONLY SIX AMERICAN VESSELS LANDED
Vigilance of the United States Pa
troll Shown.
SP ANlSH INEFFICIENCY


partment Of State his report upon the ac-
lion of the Treasury Department in sup
pressing hlibustering expeditions to Cuba
IN violation of the neutrality laws. The re-
port consists of about 12,0OO words and Is
manly critical examination of the state
ments OF fact in the elaborate brief of Mr..
Calderon Carlisle, legal adviser of the Span
ish legation.
AT the outset Secretary Gage points out
the significant fact that during two years
and half only six American vessels of an
aggregate of 1881 registered tons are al
legged to have successfully landed eXpedi-
tions from the United States in Cuba. With
the exception of the Laurada, the six
American vessels alleged to have success
fully taken part in expeditions in Cuban
waters small tugs and a pilot boat,
each of less than 100 net tons. and obvious
ly incapable of carrying large numbers of
men or large quantities of arms and am
munitions.
The Foreign Vessels.
Three foreign vessels of an aggregate of
1.t'2 registered tons are alleged to have
been successful in the same effort. Re-
ferring 10 these foreign vessels, the Nor
wegian steamer Leon the Danish steam
er "Horsl'' and the British steamer Der
muda. the Secretary invites attention to
the TACT that the crews OF these vessels are
required to be shipped before the consals
III their respective nations N accord with
she laws oil these nations, which also I'M
pose on the masters OF those vessels var
ioLs other duties to he performed before the
coisuis- He suggests the inquiry .nisnt be
pertinent whetHcr the Spanish authorities
informed these consuis of the alleged ex-
petitions, ami whether. Il ret, some meas
ure of responsibility does nos rest the
Spanish authorities for the alleged depar-
of fhkSE8 .fV1
notified, whether seine measure of reSpOn-
sib,i!ty does not rest upon them. This sug-
gestion Is male. Tot to sniff responsibility,
but TO srow that If these alleged expedi-
tions started without the knowledge of
treasury officials. they so departed with
out the hn'wieGge OF officials OF other na-
tions, whose action was a necessary pre-
HmiEary 10 clearance.
With the vessels referred 20 it Is alleged
there have been associated about a dozen
hGrbGr tugs, three or four lighters, few
small steamers and about dozen small
Sloops and schooners. in all less than fifty.
On the Atlantic and gulf coasts in 1896
there were IU.66S sailing vessels under 200
tons. and 2.?1T steam vessels of 200 tons
or less. total of 13,:'%5 American vessels
of a description and locality available for
hiibusterng purposes. That only six out
OF 13,-tS5 American vessels succeeded in
reaching Cuba, and that less thar fifty had
any share in these expeditions. Secret9ry
Gage says is a demonstration, first, of the
law-abiding spirit of the nation and of the
obedience of the people 20 the Presidents
proclamation. and second, Of a wholesome
and repressive fear the part OF those
who might be disposed to be lawless and
violate our obligations a neutral nation,
and of belief that their efforts would be
frustrated by the authorities IF the United
States, and that the risk of discovery and
Pun ishment greatly cutweishei any chance
of profit from the exceptionally high money
rewards offered TO vessel owners BY the
CubdnS
The Patrol Fleet.
Eight revenue cutters with crews of 317
men. armed with fifteen guns, have cruised
Is, 76S miles, occupying 10 months in the
aggregate, patroling the coast to prevent
flibustering expeditions. They have cap
tured seven vessels and 115 men; have
broken up two expeditions and have held
urder surveillance thirteen vessels under
suspicion. From time to time several
other revenue cutters have been employed
ON temporary duty.
Perhaps the strongest statement in :he
report Is this:
IF the Spanish patrol of 2,2OO miles of
Cuban coast had frustrated one-half the
number of expeditions which were frus-
trated by the United States authorities
along coast line of $40 miles, not one
man nor one cartridge would have been
i.licitiy landed in Cuba from the United
States"
Out of sixty alleged expeditions only
lS-
trating this statement he refers partic,r-
Esrly to the expedition that left on the
l-aurada from Baltimore and landed at
Banes on March q. Banes is an import
ant seaport on the northern coast of Cuba
with which the United States carried on
a valuable fruit trade until the Spa nish
order prohibiting the export of bananas
issued Yet ii appears that the Laurad,
remained in this seaport two davs. landing
men and arms, and was not molested hv
the Spanish authorities in Cuba, who had
been informed Of her landing and even
ninuteiy where torpedoes had been placed
Inless spain Is prepared to avow the ina
Diliiy or indisposition to defend her i,tar
ests IN Cuba, Secretary Gage holds that
expedition may properly be fxed ,,nnn
spa nish officials In Cuba, who had hesn
Iuliy informed by the Spanish legation Tn
spanisn authorities have repeatedly assert
Ell that all of the seaports of C,nba Yrara
IN their possession. S
Vigilance of the Trea.urx D
On the other hand. as illustrating the y;,
nance or the Treasury Department. Secre-
lary daSe points out that from Kew We,
put ninety miles distant from Cuba. no al
iegauoh mas been made by Spanish author
tues that even one successful flIbusterinp
expedition has left. though the course to
'uDa could readily be run in the houre ~
aLy aark night TIE success of the treas
ne attributes In part to the fact that tha
prevalence or yellow fever every year in
havana and other Spanish seaports in
CUBA, ana the generally unhealthy condi-
tion OF those cities. constituting NOT only
an Injury to the commerce of the IrnitaS
States. hut also menace to the health Of
our people, have for many years rendered
IL necessary for the Treasury Department
TO Keep intercourse between the United
States ard Cuba under stric. watch.
The report takes as basis the Ia bile ~
forty-two alleged expeditions found in the
Carlisle brief for the Spanish legation and
adds 20 these the several expeditions SUD-
posed to have been undertaken since. lime
~. where the Spanish brief ends, up TO
October so. 1t also includes fourteen al
legged expeditions against which the Span
ish legation has urged the treasury to act.
and which for some reason have not been
Included In the Spanish brief. In all, sixty
alleged expeditions are examined or
these sixty expeditions, Secretary Gage
shows that twerty-eighk have been frus-
trated through the efforts of the Treasury
Department, five have been frustrated by
the United States navy. four have been
frustrated by Spain, two have been
wrecked. one driven back by storm, ore
failed from a combination of causes, one.