The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1897-12-16
SPAIN. IS At, FAULT
Secretary Gage Reports on
Fi1ibustering Expeditions.

Secretary Gage Reports on
Filibustering Expeditions.
TREASURY OFFICIALS EFFORTS
with Equal Watchfulness on the Part
Of the Spanish Autr critics, Illicit
Tramc Might Have Been Stopped.
Washington, Dec. 10. = Secretary
Gage has submitted to the department
of state his report upon the action OF
the treasury department in suppressing
filibustering expeditions to Cuba in
violation of the neutrality laws, syn
Iopsis of which, as furnished by the de-
partment, is as follows:
+ Mr.. Gage points out the fact that
during ~ years only six American
vessels of an aggregate Of | 1871 regis
tered tons are alleged to have safely
landed expeditions from the United
States in Cuba. With the exception of
the Laurada, the American vessels al
legged to successfully have taken part in
expeditions in. Cuban waters are small
tugs and a pilot-boat, each less than
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 1,773 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 Ber-
muda, the secretary invites attention
to the fact that the crews of these yes
sells are required to be shipped before
the consuls of their respective nations
in accord with the laws of those ma
tions, which also impose on the masters
of those vessels various other duties to.
be performed by the consuls. He sug-
gests the inquiry might be pertinent
whether the Spanish authorities in
formed these consuls of the alleged ex-
petitions, and whether some measure
of responsibility does not rest on the
Spanish authorities for the alleged de-
parture of these vessels, or, if the con-
suls were notified, whether the same
measure of responsibility does not rest
upon them. This suggestion is made,
not to shift responsibility, but to show
that if these alleged expeditions started
without the knowledge of the secretary
of the treasury, they also departed
without the knowledge of the officials
of other nations, whose action was a
necessary preliminary to clearances.
With the vessels referred to, it is al
legged there have been associated about
a dozen harbor tugs. three or four
lighters, few small steamers and
about dozen small sloops and schoOn-
ers, in all, less than so. On the At
lantic and Gulf coasts in 1895 there
were 1868 vessels, under 200 tons,
and 2,917 vessels of ! 100 tons or less,
total of Is, 585 American vessels OF
description available for filibustering
purposes. That only six out of Is. 585
American vessels succeeded in reach
ing Cuba, and that less than so shared
in expeditions, Secretary Gage says is
a demonstration, first, of the law-abid
ing spirit of the nation, and of the
obedience of the people to the presi-
dents command; and, second, of
wholesome and REFRESHING fear ON the
part of those who might be disposed to
lawlessness and violations of our obliga
tions to the law of neutrality.
Eight revenue cutters, with crews of
BIT men, armed with Is guns, have
cruised 1879 miles, occupying 1879
months in the aggregate. patrolling the
coasts to prevent filibustering expedi-
tions. They have captured seven ves-
sells and l15 men and have broken up
two expeditions, and have held under
surveillance TIA 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 patrol of 1900 miles
of Cuban coast had frustrated one-half
the number of expeditions which were
frustrated by the United States authori-
ties along coast line of $40 miles,
not one man nor one cartridge would
have been illicitly landed in Cuba from
the United States. Out of the 60 al
legged expeditions, only four have been
broken up by Spain. $50
i Illustrating this statement, he refers
particularly to the expedition that left
on the Laurada from Baltimore and
landed at Banes, March 81 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 prohi biting the
expectation of bananas was issued. It
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
infinitely where the torpedoes had been
placed. Unless Spain is prepared to
avow inability or indisposition to defend
her interests in Cuba, Mr.. Gage holds
that the responsibility for any filibuster-
ing expedition may be properly fixed on
Spanish authorities in Cuba, who have
been properly informed by the Spanish
legation. The Spanish have repeatedly
asserted that all the seaports In Cuba
were in their possession.
In Pennsylvania new law forbids
the possession, sale or transfer Of dis
eased trees.
Rumor Of Terrible Catastrophe.