The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-12-09
ONLY SIX REACHED CUBA
OUT OF MORE THAN $4,000 AMER
ICAN VESSELS.
A VERY COMPLETE COAST PATROL
And Less Than Fifty Ships Have Had Any
Share in Cuban Blockading- -Spain's
Coast Patrol Not Equal to Ours,
Says the Secretary.

Washington, D. c.. Dee. S.-Secretary
Gage has submitted to the department
of state his report upon the action of
the treasury department in suppressing
flibustering expeditions to Cuba in yio-
lation of the neutrality laws, a synopsis
of which was furnished by the depart
ment is as foleWs:
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 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 Gu
ban waters are small tugs and pilot
boat, each of less than 100 net tons,
and obviously incapable of carrying
large numbers of men or large guam
titles 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 Refer
ring to these foreign vessels, the Nor
wegian steamer Loon, 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
nations 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 the inquiry might be pertinent,
whether the Spanish authorities in
formed these consuls of the alleged ex-
peditions, and whether if not, some mea-
sure of responsibility does not rest on
the Spanish authorities for the alleged
departure of these vessels, or, if the
cOnsuls were notified, whether some
measure of responsibility does not rest
upon them. The suggestion is made,
not to shift the responsibility, but to
show that if these alleged expeditions
started without the knowledge of the
treasury officials, they also departed
without the knowledge of the officials
of other nations, whose action was n
necessary preliminary TO clearance.
'With the vessels referred to, it is
alleged that there have been associated
about a dozen harbor tugs, three or
four lighter ships few small steamers.
and about half a dozen of small sloops
and schooners, in all less than fifty. On
the Atlantic and Gulf coasts in 1896,
there were 10,66S sailing vessels under
200 tons, and 2,917 steam vessels of
1000 tons, or less, total of 1855
American vessels of a description and
locality available for filbustering pur-
poses. That only six Of 1855 American
vessels succeeded in reach .ng Cuba. and
that less than fifty had any share in
these expeditions, Secretary Gage says,
is a demonstration, first of the law-abid-
ing spirit of the nation, and of the obedi-
ence of the people to the presidents
proclamation, and second, of a whole
some and repressive fear on the part of
those who might be disposed to be law
less and violate our obligations as a
neutral nation, and of a belief that their
efforts would be frustrated by the au-
thorities of the United States, and that
the risk of discovery and punishment
greatly outweighed any chance of profit
from the exceptionally high money re-
wards offered to vessel owners by the
Cubans.
. Slight revenue cutters with crews Of
317 men armed with fifteen guns, have
cruised 75,7SS miles, occupying 129
months in the aggregate, patrolling the
coast to prevent flibustering expedi-
t1OnS. 1uey nave captured seven NeSSelS
and 115 men; have broken up two ex-
petitions and have held under surveil-
lance thirteen vessels under suspicion.
From time to time several revenue cut
ters have been employed on temporary
duty.
"Perhaps the strongest statement in
the report is this: If the Spanish patrol
of 2,200 miles of Cuban coast has frus-
trated one half the number of expedi-
tions which were frustrated by the
United States authorities along a coast
line of $40 miles, not one man nor one
cartridge would have been illicitly land
ed in Cuba from the United States. Out
of sixty alleged expeditions only four
have been broken up by Spain. Illus
trating this statement he refers particu-
larly to the expedition that left on the
Laurada from Baltimore and landed at
Banes, on March 81. Banes is an inn
portant sea port, on the northern coast
of Cuba, with which the United States
carried on valuable fruit trade until
the Spanish order prohibiting the export
of bananas was issued. Yet it appears
that the Laurada remained in this sea
port two days, landing men and arms.
and was not molested by the Spanish
authorities In Cuba, who had been in
formed Of her landing and even minute
ly where torpedoes had been placed.
Unless Spain is prepa 70 avow the
inability or indispositiUn to lefend her
interests in Cuba, Secretary Gage holds !