The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-03
BIG CUBAN EXPEDITION.
TIE DAMMIT Ess USED AS a DECOY
TO DISTRACT ATTENTION FROM 4
u IL saia % No Asout 70 start IRE. the
west Coast OF E1orida ana IL the BtEGest
= EHpedittsn Vet OrEnntrea - steps Tnhen
10 Yrustrnts the Pinns OF the Yiirbusteru.

q IL saia % M Asout q start rren the
west Goast OF RIoridn asa Hs the BiGGest
Expedittsn Vet Orgnniaea - stops Tahen
10 Illustrate the Pia.s OF the Fiirbusteru.
WASHINGTON, June 2.-According to official
%nformatio received by Senior Dupuy DE LONE,
tho Spanish Minister, and communicated by
him to tho State Department, ono of the biggest
armed expeditions organized to assist tho Cuban
Insurgents Is about to start from a point on the
Suwanco River, on tho west coast of Florida.
Additional information to the Same effect has
come to the Navy Department and the Treasury
Department from naval and customs officers.
and steps have been taken to Illustrate the pur-
pose Of the hlibusters. There Is good reason to
suppose that the steamer Dauntless has been
playing q merry joke on the Federal nuthori'
ties, and particularly on tho commander
Of the cruiser Marblehead, which cap
turod the daring vessel on Monday night,
after n four hours chase. as told In THE sUH
yesterday and to-day. Senior Dupuy de Lone
received news severa. days ago that led him to
believe that tho Dnuntless was being used as
decoy TO distract attention from another expe-
dition than that in which she Yves supposed TO
be engaged, and n telegram received at the Navy
Department to day from Commander Elmer OF
the Marblchead confirms that suspicion. Com
mander Elmer reported that he had captured tho
Dauntless and turned her over to the customs
authorities at Key West. He added that moth
ing that would tend to incrimlnato her owner
and officers was found on board, thus support
ing tho dccoy idea.
Confirmation OF tho reports that a nlibuster-
Ing attempt was in preparation at Key West
came to tho Government to-day. presumably
from the Spanish Minister, who had spies at
work in Florida, and another telegram was sent
this afternoon to tho commander OF the naval
patrol fleet on the east coast OF Florida giving
him instructions to prevent the expedition got
ting away. Orders were also telegraphed by tho
Treasury Department to Collectors Of Gus
toms in Florida and the commanders o. reve-
nuo cutters engaged In patrol duty. A report
was recently received ut the Treasury Depart
ment that arms, ammunition, and stores were
being collected by Cuban filibusters ut II point
near Miami, Florida, and n fow days ago IA reve-
nue. cutter was sent to capture them. Since
then news has como that the munitions of war
and the stores have been transferred to the
Suwanee River on the west coast. where they
will be placed on board II vessel and conveyed to
Cuba. A force Of men is expected to accompany
the vessel.
Just what measures the executive depart.
ments have taken to Illustrate tho plans OF tho
hiibusters cannot be learned definitely; but 1t is
said that a revenue cutter and probably a naval
vessel have been sent to the Suwanee River.
The Collector OF Customs at Key West tele.
graphed the Treasury Department q brief report
about the capture OF the Dauntlcss, which was
referred by Secretary Gage TO the Attorney-Gen.
eral. who will take necessary legal steps against
the steamer unless 1t can be shown that she was
not concerned in any violation OF the neutrality
laws. The revenue cutters Colfax and Boutwell,.
which have been attached to the Hlibustering
patrol under the direction Of a naval officer.
have been transferred by the President back to
the Treasury Department. They will be kept on
similar work along the South Allan tic coast,
but will not cooperate with the patrol feet.