The record-union., 1897-12-09
Upon the Action Of His Department in Sup
pressing Them.
This Government Had Done Its
Full Duty, and Had Spain Prop
erly Patro1led the Coasts of
Cuba, Not Man or a Cartridge
Gould Have Been Landed III the
Island.

y
Gage has submitted to the Department
OF State his report upon the action Of
the Treasury Department in suppress
ing filIbustering expeditions to Cuba in
violation of the neutrality laws, a syn
opsis of which, as furnished by the De-
partment, is as follows:
Secretary Gage points out the fact
that during the past two years and
a half only six American vessels, of an
aggregated 1,331 registered tons, are
alleged to have successfully landed ex-
petitions from the United States in
Cuba. With the exception of the La
rauda, the six American vessels al
legged 10 have successfully taken part
in expeditions in Cuban waters are
small tugs and pilot boat, each of less
than 100 tons, and obviously incapable
of carrying large numbers of men or
large quantities of arms and ammuni-
ton. Three foreign vessels of an ag-
gregate of 1,173 tons are alleged to
have been successful in the same eff
fort.
Referring to these foreign vessels, the
Norwegian steamer Leon, the Danish
steamer Horsa and the British steamer
Bermuda, the Secretary invites atten-
tion to the fact that the crews of these
vessels are required to be shipped be-
fore the Consuls of their respective ma
tions, in accord with the laws of those
nations, which also impose on the mas
tiers of those vessels various other du-
ties to be performed by the Consuls.
Says the Secretary: This suggests
that inquiry might be pertinent wheth-
er the Spanish authorities informed
these Consuls of alleged expeditions,
and whether some measure of respon-
sibility does not rest on the Spanish au-
thorities for the alleged departure Of
these vessels, or if the Consuls were
notified whether the same measures of
responsibility does not rest upon them.
This suggestion is made not to shift
responsibility, but TO show that if these
alleged expeditions started without the
knowledge of Treasury officials, they
also departed without the knowledge of
officials of other nations whose action
was necessary preliminary TO clear
ances. With the vessels referred to, it
is alleged there have been associated
about dozen harbor tugs, three or
four lighters, few small steamers and
about a dozen small sloops and schoon-
ers, in all less than fifty.
ION the Atlantic and Gulf coasts in
1895 there were 1066S vessels under 200
tons and 2917 vessels of l 100 tons or
less, total of 3,5S5 American vessels
of a description available for filibus-
tering purposes. That only six out
of 13, $50 American vessels succeeded
in reaching Cuba, and that less than
fifty had any share in these expedi-
tions." Secretary Gage says, "is a
demonstration. first, of the law abiding
spirit of the nation and of the obedi-
ence of the people to the Presidents
proclamation; and second, of a whole
some and repressive fear on the part
Of those who might be disposed to law
lessness and violations of our obliga-
tions of the law of neutrality.
Eight revenue cutters, with crews
of 81 men armed with fifteen guns,
have cruised 1S.SSS miles, occupying
100 months in the aggregate, patroling
the coast to prevent filibustering expe-
ditions. They have captured seven
vessels and 115 men, and have brought
up two expeditions, and have held un-
der surveillance thirteen vessels under
suspicion. From time to time several
other revenue cutters have been en-
ployed on temporary duty"
Perhaps the strongest statement in
the report Is this: IF the Spanish
patrol of 2.200 miles of Cuban coast
has frustrated one-half the number of
expeditions which We're frustrated by
the United States authorities along a
coast line Of $40 miles, not one man
nor one cartridge would have been IL
licitly landed in Cuba from the United
States Out of sixty alleged expedi-
tions. only four have been broken up
by Spain
Illustrating this statement, he refers
particularly TO the expedition that left
on the Laurada from Baltimore and
landed at Banes on March Dist Banes
is an important seaport on the north
ern coast of Cuba. with which the
United States carried on a valuable
fruit trade until the Spanish order pro-
hibiting the expectation of bananas
was issued.
1T appears" says the Secretary.
that the Larauda remained IN this sea
port two days. landing men and arms,
and was not molested by the Spanish
authorities in Cuba who had been in
formed of her landing and even mi
nutely where torpedoes should be
placed"
Unless Spain is prepared to avow
the inability or indispositfon TO defend
her interest in Cuba, Secretary Gage
holds that the responsibility for the
success Of this expedition may properly
be fixed upon Spanish officials in Cuba,
who had been fully informed by the
Spanish Legation. The Spanish au-
thorities have repeatedly asserted that