The Portland daily press., 1897-12-09

Secretary Gage Submits Report To State
Department-says If Spain Had Been
Halfa Vigilant as This Country Not a
Cartridge Would Have Been Landed In
Cuba.
Washington, December S.-Secretary
cage has submitted to the department of
s6ate his report upon the treasury de-
partment in suppressing flibustering ex-
petitions to Cuba in violation of the
neutrality laws. Secretary Gage points
out that during two years and q half only
SIX American vessels of an aggregate Of
1851 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
vessels alleged to have successfully taken
part In the expeditions in Cuban waters
are small tugs and pilot boat, each of
less than one hundred net tons and OBJ
yiously incapable of carrying large num-
beFs OF men or large quantities of arms
and ammunition. Three foreign vessels
OF an aggregate of 1772 registered tons are
alleged 90 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 says that
the crews of these vessels are required to
be shipped before the consuls Of their re-
spective nations in accordance with the
laws Of those nations which also impose
n G ~ oTe ...s,r-
other duties to be performed before the
oonsuls. He suggested the inquiry might
be pertinent whether the Spanish authori
ties informed the consnls of the alleged
expeditions and whether, If not, scme
measure of responsibility does not rest
on the Spanish authorizes for the alleged
departure of these vessels, or II the con-
suls were notified whether some measure
of responsibility does not rest upon them.
With the vessels referred to it is alleged
there have been associated about dozen
harbOr tugs; three or four lighters, a
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 100, 66S sailing vessels under
200 tons and 1917 steam vessels OF 1000
vessels of a description and locality avail
able for filibustering purposes. That only
six out of 1S, 5S5 American vessels sue
ceeded in reaching Cuba and that less
than fifty had any share in these ex-
petitions Secretary Gage says is q demon
stration, first of the law abiding spirit OF
the nation and of the obedience Of the
and, second, of wholesome and re-
pressive fear on the part of those who
might be disposed to be lawless and
violate our obligations as neutral nation
and of belief that their efforts would be
frustrated by the authorities of the United
States and that the risk of discovery and
punishment greatly oatweighted any
high money rewards offered to vessel
owners by the Cubans.
Eight revenue cutters with'crews of SIT
men, armed with Is guns have oruised
rs, 76S miles, occupying 159 months in the
aggregate, patrolling the coast to prevent
flibustering expeditions. They have
captured seven vessels and 1l5 men; have
broken up two expeditions and have held
under surveillance thirteen of the vessels
under suspicion.
Perhaps the strongest statement in this
report is this: eff the Spanish patrol of
22O0 miles of Cuban coast had frustrated
over half the number of expeditions
which were frustrated by the United
States authorities along q coast line of
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 the Score
tary refers particularly to the expedition
that left on the Laurada from Baltimore
and landed at Cares on March 21. Banes
is an important seaport on the northern
coast of Cuba with which the United
States carried on valuable fruit trade
until the Spanish orders prohibiting the
expectation of bananas issued. Yet 1t I'D
pears that the Laurada remained in this
port two days, landing men and arms
and was not molested by the Spanish au-
thorities in Cuba, who had been informed
of her leaving the United States. Unless
Spain is prepared to ayow inability OF in
disposition to defend her interests in
Cuba. Secretary Gage holds that the re-
sponsibility for the success of this expe-
0ition may properly be.fxed upon Spanish
officials in Cuba, who had been fully in
formed by the Spanish legation The
Spanish authorities have repeatedly as
serted that all of the seaports in Cuba
were in their possession.
In all sixty alleged expeditions are ex-
anined. Of these Secretary Gage shows
that % have been frustrated through the
efforts of the treasury department.; i've
have been frustrated by the United States
navy, four have beef: frustrated by Spain,
two have been wrecked, one driven back
by storm, one failed from combination
| Of causes, one, the Delaware, he declined
to recognize as other than q violation oil
the British foreign enlistment act. AZ
Spain has suffered no injury from these
| forty three failures, it is assumed that
they will be accepted by Spain as evidence
of the success of the United States IL
maintaining it's obligations: Secretary
Gage then examines in detail the seven
teen alleged successful exp editions
A PATRIOTIC SPANTARD.
Madrid, December 8.-The Marquis
Villanaior. q member of the Senate has