The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-12-09
THOSE FILIBUSTRRS.
Uncle Sans Efforts to Prevent Aid
l Going to Cuba.
TIE INCOMPETENCE OF SPAIN.

Had That Government Been as Active
as Has Our Government, Says Sec
rotary Gage, Not Man or Cartridge
would Have Been Landed.
Washington, Dec. 9.-secretary Gage
has submitted to the department Of
state his report upon the action Of
the treasury department in suppressing
nlbustering expeditions to Cuba in
viola ION of the neutrality laws. The
secretary points out the fact that dur
ing two years and half only six
American vessels, Of an aggregate Of
] .891 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 a
pilot boat, each of less than 100 net
tons, and obviously incapable of car
rying large numbers Of men or large
quantities of arms and ammunitions.
Three foreign vessels of an aggre-
gate Of 1,772 registered tons are al
legged to have been successful in the
same effort. Referring to these for
eign vessels, the Norwegian steamer
Leon, the Danish steamer Horsa and
the British steamer Bermuda, the sec
retary 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 i'm
pose on the masters of those vessels
various other duties to be performed
before the consuls. He suggests the
inquiry might be pertinent whether the
Spanish authorities informed these
consuls of the alleged expeditions and
whether, If not, some measure Of re-
sponsibility does not rest on the Span
ish authorities for the alleged depart
ure of these vessels, or, II the consuls
were notified, whether some measure
of responsibility does not rest upon
them. This suggestion is made
not to shift the 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 nee
| essary preliminary to clearance.
With the vessels referred to 1t is al
| legged there have been associated about
a dozen harbor tugs, three or four
/ lighters, a few small steamers and
about a dozen small sloops and schoon-
ers in all less than so. On the At
lantic and gulf coasts in 1896 there were
1066S sailing vessels under 200 tons and
2,917 steam vessels Of 1000 tons or less, a
total of 1885 American vessels of q
description and locality available for
hlibustering purposes. That only six
out of 1885 American vessels succeed
ed in reaching Cuba, and that less than
so had any share In these expeditions,
Secretary Gage says Is a demonstras
tion of the law abiding spirit of the
nation, of the obedience of the people
to the presidents proclamation, and of
a wholesome and repressive fear on
the part of those who might be dis
posed to be lawless.
Eight revenue cutters, with crews of
3l7 men, armed with 15 guns, have
cruised 75,76S miles, occupying 139
months in the aggregate, patrolling
the coast to prevent filibustering ex-
petitions. They have captured seven
vessels and lis men, have broken up
two expeditions and have held under
surveillance 13 vessels under suspicion.
From time to time several other reve-
nue. cutters have been employed on
temporary duty.
Perhaps the strongest statement IN
the report is this: If the Spanish pa
troll Of 2,200 miles of Cuban coast had
frustrated one-half the number of ex-
petitions which were frustrated by the
United States authorities along a coast
line of $40 miles, not one man nor one
cartridge would have been Illegally
landed in Cuba from the United States
Out of go alleged expeditions only foul
have been broken up by Spain.
Illustrating this statement he refers
particularly to the expedition that lef
on the Laurada from Baltimore ant
landed at Banes on March 21. Banes /,
an important seaport on the northern
coast of Cuba with which the United
States carried on a valuable fruit trade
until the Spanish order prohibiting the
export of bananas was issued. Yet 4
appears that the Laurada remained IL
this seaport two days, landing men anC
arms, and was not molested by thu
Spanish authorities In Cuba, who hat
been informed of her landing. Th
Spanish authorities have repeatedly as
serted that all of the seaports of Cub,
were in their possession.
In all go alleged expeditions are ex
amined. OF these Secretary Gage show
that 2S have been frustrated through
the efforts of the treasury department
five have been frustrated by the Unite,
States navy four have been frustratet
by Spain, two have been wrecked, on
driven back by storm, one failed from
D combination of causes and one, tn
Delaware, he has declined to recogniz
ne Otbar than q violation oF tho nrftfo1