The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-09
SPAIN MOST TO BLAME,
UNITED STATES HAS TRIED TO SUP
PRESS FILIBUsTERING,
But Spanish COnsuIs Have Been Dere-
lict In Duty and the Cuban Pa
troll Fleet Inadequate.
SECRETARY CAGES REPORT
ON EFFORTS TO PREVENT VIOLATION
OF THE NEUTRALITY LAWS.
Details of a Recent Battle I'm the Rubi
Hills-Spaniards Hemmed In
and Badly Whipped.


WASHINGTON, Dec. S.-Secretary Gage
has submitted to the Department of State
his report on the action of the Treasury De-
partment in suppressing filbustering expe-
ditions to Cuba in violation of the neutral
ity laws, a synopsis of which, as furnished
by the department, is as follows: Secretary
Gage points out the fact that during two
years and half only six American vessels,
of an aggregate of 1881 registered tons, are
alleged to have successfully landed expedi-
tions from the United States in Cuba With
the exception of the Laurada, the six Amer
lean vessels alleged to have successfully
taken part IL expeditions in Cuban waters
are small tugs and pilot boat, each of less
than one hundred net tons, and obviously
incapable of carrying large numbers of men
or large quantities of arms and ammuni-
ton. Three foreign vessels. of an aggre-
gate of LIB registered tons, are alleged to
have been successful in the same effort. Re
ferring to these foreign vessels. the Nor
wegian steamer Leon, the Danish steamer
Horsa and the British steamer Bermuda,
the secretary invites attention to the fact
that the crews of these vessels are required
to be shipped before the consus of their re-
spective nations, in accord with the laws of
those nations, which also impose on the
masters of those vessels various other
duties to Sa 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 response
bility does not rest on the Spanish authori-
ties for the alleged departure of these YES
sells, or, If the consuls were notified wheth-
er some measure of responsibility does not
rJof.s do
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 other
nations, whose action was necessary pre-
liminary to clearance.
FEW VIOLATIONS OF THE LAW.
With the vessels referred to it is alleged
there have been associated about a dozen
harbor tugs, three or four lighters, a few
small steamers and about a dozen small
sloops and scilooners, in all, less than fifty.
On the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, in 1896,
there were 10,66S sailing vessels under two
hundred tons, and 2,917 steam vessels Of one
thousand tons or less, total of 3,5S5 Amer
lean vessels of a description and locality
available for flibustering purposes That
only six out of 1885 American vessels sue
ceeded in reaching Cuba, and that less than
Secretary Gage says, is demonstration,
first, of the law-abiding spirit of the Ma
ton and of the obedience of the people to
the Presidents proclamation, and second,
of wholesome and repressive 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 eff
forts would be frustrated by the authorities
of the United States, and that the risk Of
discovery and punishment greatly out
weighed any chance of profit from the ex-
ceptionally high. money rewards offered to
vessel owners by the Cubans
Eight revenue cutters, with crews OF 81
men, armed with fifteen guns, have cruised
75,76S miles, occupying 1S9 months in the ag
clustering expeditions They have captured
seven vessels and 115 men; have broken up
two expeditions and have held under surveil-
lance thirteen vessels under suspicion. From
time to time several other revenue cutters
have been employed on temporary duty.
Perhaps the strongest statement in the re-
port is this: If the Spanish patrol of 1900
miles of Cuban coast has frustrated one
frustrated by the United States authorities
along a coast line $40 miles, not enc 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 ex-
petition that left on the Laurada from Bal
timore and landed at Banes on March q.
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 prohibiting the ex-
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 land
ing and even infinitely where torpedoes had
been placed. Unless Spain is prepared to
avow the inability indisposition to
defend her interests 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 Legal
ti0n. The Spanish authorities have repeat
eddy asserted that all of the seaports Of
Cuba were in their possession
EXPEDITIONS FRUSTRATED.
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 Depart
ment. five have been frustrated by the
United States navy, four have been frus-
trated by Spain, two have been wrecked
one driven back by storm. one failed from
a combination of causes, one the Della
ware, he declines to recognize as other than
violation of the British foreign enlistment
act AS 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 in main
tanning it's obligations, and that a detailed
statement concerning each is unnecessary
Secretary Gage then examines in detail the
seventeen alleged successful expeditions
He points out that the partial success in one
case was due to the weakness of the Span
ish patrol of the Cuban coast; that in one
case the Spanish authorities at New York
have eXonerated the officers of the treasury
from all responsibility; that in one case the
Spanish minister disagreeS with the legal
adviser of the Spanish legation and also
disagrees with himself as to the date of the
alleged successful expedition, and the de-
partment has no information warranting it
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