The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-12-10
FlLIBUSlER EXPEDITIONS
REPORT OF SECRETARY GAGE
ON THIS SUBJECT


Many Have Been Frustrated by Our Gov
ernm-nt and How Many by spAin-Dere.
llction of,,hs Latter In Preventing Lane
ling Of Such Expeditions
Washington, December S.-Secretary
Gage has submitted to the department
OF state his report upon the action Of
the treasury department in suppressing
filibustering expeditions to Cuba in
violation Of the neutrality laws, a
synopsis OF which is furnished by the
department 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 exception of the Laurada the six
American vessels alleged to have sue
cessfully taken part in expeditions in
Cuban waters are small tugs and
pilot boat, each of less than 100 net
tons, and obviously incapable of carry
ing large numbers of men or large
quantities Of arms and ammunition
Three foreign vessels of an aggregate
Of 1,773 registered tons are alleged to
have been successful in the same effort.
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
ters OF vessels various other duties to
be performed before the cOnsuls. He
suggests that the inquiry might be
pertinent, whether the Spanish author
titles informed these COnSulS Of the al
legged expeditions. and whether, If not,
some measure OF responsibility does
not rest on the Spanish authorities for
the alleged departure of these vessels
or, If the cOnsuls were notified, wheth-
er some measure Of responsibility does
not rest upon them. This suggestion is
made, not to shift responsibility, but to
show that il these alleged expeditions
started without the knowledge OF the
treasury officials they also departed
without the knowledge of officials of
other nations, whose action was a nee
essary preliminary to clearance.
with the vessels referred to, it is
alleged there have associated about
dozen harbor tugs, three or four light
erS, and about a dozen small SiOOpS
and SchoonerS, in all less than fifty. On
the Atlantic and gulf coasts in 1896
there were 1868 sailing vessels under
200 tons and 2,917 steam vessels of 1000
tons or less, a total Of 13, $50 American
vessels Of a description and locality
available for filibustering purposes.
That only six out of 1855 American
vessels succeeded in reaching Cuba, and
that less than fifty had any share in
these expeditions Secretary Gage says
is a demonstration, first, of the law
abiding spirit Of the nation and Of the
obedience of the people to the preSi-
dents proclamation. and, second, of a
wholesome and repressve fear on the
part Of those who might be disposed
to be laWless and violate our Obliga-
tiOnS as a neutral nation. and of g. be-
lief thattheir efforts would be frustrated
by the authorities OF the United States,
and that the risk of discovery and pun
iShment greatly Outweighed any chance
of profit from the exceptionally high
money rewards offered to vessel own
el'S by the CubanS.
Eight revenue cutters with crews of
81 men. armed with fifteen guns. have
cruised 757SS miles. occupying 129
months in the aggregate patrOllng the
coast to prevent filibuStering eXpedi-
tiOns. They have captured seven Ves-
sells and 115 men: have broken up two
expeditions and have held under sur
Veillance thirteen vessels under suS-
picion. 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 2.2C0 miles
Of Cuban coast had frustrated one-half
the number Of expeditions which were
frustrated by the United States author
tties along a coast line of 5.4I0 miles,
not one man nor one cartridge would
have been illicitly landed in Cuba from
the United States. Out Of sixty alleged
expeditions. 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 21st. Banes
is an important seaport on the northern
coast OF Cuba with which the
United States carried on val
liable fruit trade until the Span
ish order prohibiting the ex-
port Of bananas was issued. Yet he
AYERS that the Laurada remained in
this seaport two days, landing men and
arms, and was not mOlested by the
Spanish authorities in Cuba, who had
been informed of her landing and even
m1nuteIy where tOrpeGoeS had been
placed. Unless Spain is prepared to
avow the inability or indisposition 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
Ivy the Spanish legation. The Spanish
authorities have repeatedly asserted
taht all Of the seaports of Cuba were in
their possession.
In all, sixty alleged expeditions are
examined. OF these Secretary Gage
shows that twenty six have been frus-
trated through the efforts of trade, five
have been frustrated by the United
States navy, four have been frustrated
by Spain, two have been wrecked, one
driven back by storm, one failed Ffron
"A combination of causes, one (the Del
aware) he declines to recognize as
other. than violation of the British
foreign enlistment act. AS Spain has;
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