The herald., 1897-12-09
As Regards FiIibustering
Expeditions
ONLY SIX LITTLE VESSELS
CLAIMED TO HAVE TAKEN ARMS
TO CUBA
IF Spain Had Done as Well Not Man
Nor a Cartridge Would Have
Been Landed
Associated Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
WASHINGTON. Dec. S.-Secretar,
Gage has submitted to the department
Of state his opinion upon the action
the treasury department in suppressin!
flibustering expeditions to Cuba in VIC
lation Of the neutrality laws, a synopsi
of which, as furnished by the depart
ment, is as follows: Secretary Gag
points out the fact that during the twt
years and half only six American yes
sells 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 successfully taken part
in expeditions in Cuban waters are small
tugs and q pilot boat, each Of less thar
100 tons, and obviously incapable OF
carrying large numbers Of men or large
quantities Of arms and ammunition
Three foreign vessels Of an aggregate
Of 1773 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 Bermu-
da. the secretary invites attention to the
fact that the crews Of these vessels are
required to be shipped before the consuls
of their respective nations, in accord
with the laws Of those nations, which also
| impose on the masters Of those vessels
various other duties to be performed by
the consuls. He suggests the inquiry
= >. ,fc1,
authorities informed these consuls of
the alleged expeditions and whether
some measure of responsibility does not
rest on the Spanish authorities for the
alleged departure Of these vessels, or II
the consuls were notified, whether the
same measures of responsibflatyss-do do
not rest upon them. This suggestion is
made. not to shift responsibility, but to
show that II 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 nee
essary preliminary = clearances.
with the vessels referred to 1t Is al
legged there have been associated about
dozen harbor tugs, three or four light
ers, few small steamers and about
dozen small sloops and schooners, In all
less than fifty. On the Atlantic and gulf
coasts in 1895 there were 1O,66S vessels
under 200 tons and 2917 vessels of HOO
tons or less, total Of 1855 American
vessels of description available for
filibustering purposes. That only six
out Of 49, 5S5 American vessels succeeded
in reaching Cuba and that less than fifty
had any share in these expeditions, Sec
retary Gage says, Is q demonstration
that the law-abiding spirit of the nation
has prevailed, and is evidence of the
obedience of the people to the presidents
proclamation.
Eight revenue cutters with crews of
317 men, armed with fifteen guns, have
cruised 7S.SSS miles, occupying 1863
months in the aggregate, patrolling the
coast to prevent filibustering expedi-
tions. They have captured seven ves-
sells and lis men and have brought up
two expeditions and have held under
surveillance thirteen vessels under sus-
picion. From time to time several other
revenue cutters have been employed on
temporary duty.
Perhaps the strongest statement in
the report is this: If the Spanish patrol
Of 1900 miles of Cuban coast has frus-
trated one-half the number of expedi-
tions which were frustrated by the
United States authorities along q coast
line of $40 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 H.
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 valuable fruit trade
until the Spanish order prohibiting the
expectation of bananas was issued.
ut appears 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
minutely where torpedoes should be
placed. Unless Spain is prepared to
avow the inability or indisposition to de-
fend her interests In Cuba, Secretary
Gage holds that the responsibility fo*
the success OF this expedition should be
properly fixed upon Spanish officials in
Ouons wiz HAu Dccu Auliy INFORMED by
the Spanish legation. The Spanish au-
thorities have repeatedly asserted that
all Of the seaports Of Cuba were in Brit
ish possession"
In all sixty alleged expeditions are ex-
amined. OF these Secretary Gage shows
that twenty-eight have been frustrated
through the efforts of the treasury de-
partment; 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 from q combination Of causes:
one. the Delaware, he declines to recog-
nize as other than a violation OF the |
British nag enlistment act.
AZ Spain has suffered no injury from
these forty-three failures. Il is assumed |
that they Wtll be accepted By Spain a. |