New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-17
UNFRTENDLY SWISS JOURNALS.
THE AWFUL PICTURE OF KEY WEST AS
ROBBERS DEN. PAINTED BY THE
BERNE "BUND."
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir: Allow me 10 show how the hostility
caused by the fact that Continental Europe
cannot forgive us its political and financial in
ability 10 fight against Anglo-American suprem-
acy is permeatng all Continental countries. The
following editorial article has appeared to-day
in the leading Liberal organ OF little Switzerland
the "Bund." Of Berne which. like all the SWISS
press. has shown the most hostile attitude tow
ard the United States. An American CORE
spondent protested some time ago in a New
York paper against the tone OF the Leading
Zurich Journal Now. the "Bund" OF Bernie
has been for forty-nne years the sem-oflcial
organ of the Government After announcing TO
its readers that the Americans have bombarded
Santiago de Cuba il expresses Itself as follows:
The Americans claim to have succeeded. but
this is doubtful. At any rate If this news were
true II would do them good. for after their
intoxicatlon following their first victory their
feelings have cooled down considerably, ana they
have even become very discouraged. The volun-
teers do not come up to any OF their eXpecta-
tons
Here follows a wonderful description OF the
American volunteers Ga motley crowd without
arms. without uniforms. whose toes can be
seen through their bootsO, and the Swiss OFF,
cial organ goes on thus
Is all the Army gathered in Tampa and Cape
Thomas (sc) like that? The reports coming
from there will answer the question. for our
war correspondent gives a vivid description OF
camp life In Key West. where the old piratical
traditions Of that former nest Of pirates are
being now resusctated. Since the sailors. the
cowboys. the Indian scouts (sic). the black req.
ments and the prairie riders have awakened
the old instincts the people are being reminded
OF their heroic past" and Key West is to-day
n den NJ robbers; the bOidest imagination could
not find colors bright enough 10 represent the
romantic traits Of ouch scene. The motley
mol dare fgf
everything which they lay hands, and
break into the hotels-mc fly lnprovised struct
ures-and into all Government buildings. 1t was
high time to proclaim martial law there. for
the Regular troops. who have but very vague
Ideas OF discipline have begun TO assist their
plundering brethren There between Tampa,
Cayenne. Hayti and Panama. there always
isted In times Of peace an innumerable crowd
II hroken-down fugitives from European law
courts Of adventures and desperadoes such as
no other region Of the globe even saw. Now they
have all met there. The ships captured
by the American Navy do not escape from such
'philanthropic' proceedings: on some OF them
everything movable has been stolen; whole car
goes Of wine and cigars missing. When
some time ago the Government decided 10 send
two OF those ships TO New-Orleans the sailors
rebeed and would not surrender them without
fight.
Allow 10 repeat that this Is the leading
editorial article (printed on the first page OF
the leading Liberal Swiss Government organ
n Journal holding the first place in the Swiss
press. Its rival. the journal" OF Geneva,
founded sixty-nine years ago. the ead'~y Con-
servative Swiss paper. noted for its high tone"
has been using similar language for the last
two months Some time ago Il gave evidence
Of the cautious perfdy'' Of the United States
Government. which attacked Spain in order to
annex Cuba. II stated that the Americans
would do there what they had already done
when they annexed the Hawaiian Islands. where
they plundered all the natives
These quotations are mere samples taken at
random. suppose that shall hear some
thing now IN Washington about the traditional
friendship OF Switzerland for the American Re
public" soon Swiss goods and Swiss ho-
tells cease to be much patronized by American
robbers" HENRY GAULLIEUR
Kiesen. Switzerland. June o 1898.