New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-09
SPANS CHARGE REFUTED.
WHAT THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT
HAS DONE TO STOP FILIBUsTERlNG.

.,o,,.- ,,po>, SECRETARY GAGE WHICH SHOWS
co,,c, ,,e,vr1.y THAT THE UNITED STATES
mas FULFILLED ALL IT'S oBLIGA-
TONS UNDER 1NTERNA-
TIoNAL LAW.
wouh,rg,on Dec. S-Secretary Gage has SUD-
n,itted TO the Department OF state MS report oh
tho action of the Treasury Department IN sup
pressing hlibusterinS expeditions TO Cupa III
violation of the neutrality laws
Secretary Gage points out the fact that curing
two wears and a half only six American 'esseIS
~ an aggregate OF 1881 registered tons are al
Iced 10 have successfully landed expeditions
IRON, tho United States In Cuba. With the ex-
os,tion ~ the Laurada. the six American YES
cole alleged 10 have successfully taken part In
exnedit,ons in Cuban waters are small 'ue'
and q pilot-boat each OF less then hunureu "''
tons and obviously incapable or carrying '
numbers Of men or large quantities OF a'i'' '"'
.r,r,urition Three foreign vessels of an asgre-
gate of 10 registered tons are alleged " nov
Sosr successful in the same effort. Referring 70
those foreign vessels. the Norwegian steamer
Icon the Danish steamer Horsa and the british
steamer Bermuda. the Secretary invites "''e
tion 10 the fact that the crews OF these vessels
are REQUIRED TO be shipped before the conSu'S
OF their respective nations. in accord win 'he
,ovs q, those nations. which also impose on the
masters Of those vessels various other duties "
Ia nerforrned before the consus. He suggests
that the INQUIRY might be pertinent whether the
Snan,sh authorities informed these consuls or
the alleged expeditions. and whether. II hot
some measure Of responsibility does not rest on
the Spanish authorities for the alleged departure
Of these vessels. or, II the consuIs were III
formed whether some measure OF responsibility
does not rest upon them. This suggesuoh IL
made not to shift responsibility. but 10 sho"
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 a necessary
preliminary to clearance.
ONLY SIX REACHED CUBA.
With the vessels referred to 1t is alleged there
have been associated about dozen harpor tugs
three or four lighters. a few sn all steamers ana
about a dozen small sloops and schooners. In all
less than fifty On the Atlantic and Gulf coasts
in 1896 there were 1O66S sailing vessels under
200 tons and 2917 steam vessels OF LOU tons
or less a total OF 1889 American vessels or
description and locality available for hlibuster-
ing purposes. That only six out OF 1890 Ameri-
can vessels succeeded in reaching Cuba, and
that less than fifty had any share 10 these ex-
petitions, Secretary Gage says. Is a demonstra-
81,
and Of the obedience OF the people to the Pres-
dents proclamation; and. second. OF whole
some and repressve fear the part OF those
who might be disposed 10 be lawless and violate
the obligations OF neutral Nation. and OF
belief that their efforts would be frustrated by
the authorities of the United States and that
the risk OF discovery and punishment greatly
outweghed any chance of profit from the ex-
ceptionaily high rewards offered to vessel-own
ers by the Cubans.
Eight revenue cutters with crews OF 81 men,
armed with fifteen guns. have cruised I5,76s
miles, occupying l39 months in the aggregate.
patrolling the coast TO prevent fibustering ex-
petitions. They have captured seven vessels
and 10 men: have broken up two expeditions
and have held under surveillance thirteen yes
sells From time to time several other revenue
cutters have been employed on temporary duty.
MORE ACTIVE THAN THE sPANIARDs
Perhaps the strongest statement In the repor:
is this
IF the Spanish patrol Of 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 3.iIo
miles not one man nor cartridge would ha,e
been city landed in Cuba from the United
States. Out Of sixty alleged expeditions only
four have been broken up by Spain" Illustrat-
ing this statement. Mr.. Gage refers particularly
to the expedition which sailed on the Laurada
from Baltimore and landed al Banes March
81 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 Span
ish order prohibiting the export OF bananas
issued. Yet 1t appears that the Iaurada re-
manned in this seaport two days. landing men
Cd hy DiC Oh
authorities. who had been Informed of her
movements. Unless Spain is prepared to avow
inability or ndsposition to defend her interests
In Cuba Secretary Gage holds that the responsi-
bility for the success Of this expedition may
properly be fixed Spanish officials In Cuba
who had been fully informed by the Spanish
Legation. The Spanish authorities have repeat
eddy asserted that all the seaports OF Cuba were
In their possession.
In ALL sixty alleged expeditions examined.
or these Secretary Gage shows that twenty
eight have been frustrated through the efforts
OF the Treasury Department. 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 a combination OF causes. and one, the
Delaware he declines to recognize as Other thai
| act AS Spain has suffered no injury from these
| forty-three failures. 1t Is assumed that they Will
be accepted by Spain as evidence or the success s
| tons and that a detailed statement concerning
| each Is unnecessary.
CASES EXAMINED IN DETAIL.
| 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 Spanish 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.
In case the Spanish Minister disagrees with
| the legal adviser Of the Spanish Legation and
| also disagrees with himself to the date Of the
| alleged successful expedition. and the Depart
| ment has information warranting II to re-
| quest that any proceedings be instituted In
| three cases ;he vessels have been wrecked and
| proceedings against them obviously mprac-
| ticable while the principal in case In impris-
| oned In five the principals have been l.
| fenced to imprisonment or ale in prison In ore
c.se the veseel is under British fiIrisdictfon and