The Great Round World and What Is Going On In It, Vol. 1, No. 60, December 30, 1897

If the Krupp process is satisfactory, armor-plates will not have to be made so thick, and the smaller quantity of steel in them will perhaps make them cheaper and enable the Government and the manufacturers to agree upon a price that will be satisfactory to both.

The Secretary of the Treasury has handed in the Currency report mentioned by the President in his Message.

It proves to be very dry reading for all but men interested in the money market, and would not interest you at all.

He suggests a plan, which is supposed to be a very wise one, for removing all uncertainty about the soundness of our money. It is, however, thought that the plan cannot be put into effect at present.

The Secretary of the Treasury has also made a report on filibustering, which is much more interesting.

Spain has accused us of not taking proper steps to prevent these unlawful expeditions.

If she can prove the truth of these accusations, she can demand that we pay her a large sum of money as damages for every expedition that has reached Cuba.

She would be quite justified in making these demands if the United States willingly and wilfully helped Cuba to defy Spain, for every shipload of supplies landed enables the Cubans to hold out so much longer against Spain.

Under these circumstances, it is interesting to learn from the official statement of the Secretary of the Treasury that we have done our duty to the best of our ability.

Mr. Gage's report, like the Cuban remarks in the Message, has an added interest from the fact that it is absolutely true.

Many of the reports we get through the newspapers have to be changed or contradicted, no matter how careful the news-gatherers may have been in selecting their information. This is because the reporters do not have access to the official documents, and are obliged to base their reports upon rumors or uncertain information.

When, however, a report comes direct from the Government, there is no hearsay in the matter. Each department of the Government has the documents relating to its business, and the reports it issues are made from the actual letters that have passed between countries—despatches and diplomatic documents which no outsider can ever hope to see.

Here, then, is Mr. Gage's report on filibustering.

He says that during two years and a half only six American vessels are said to have successfully landed filibustering expeditions from the United States in Cuba. Three foreign vessels are said to have been successful in the same effort.

With the vessels referred to it is said that a dozen harbor tugs, three or four lighters, a few small steamers, and about a dozen small sloops and schooners have been associated.

That only six American vessels out of all our large merchant navy succeeded in reaching Cuba is, the Secretary thinks, a proof of the law-abiding spirit of the American people.

He says that eight revenue-cutters, with 317 men, have cruised 75,768 miles, patrolling the coast to prevent filibustering. These vessels captured seven ships and 115 men, and broke up two expeditions.

He goes into the close examination of sixty expeditions which Spain complains of.

Twenty of these he shows were stopped through the efforts of the Treasury, five by the United States Navy, four by Spain, two were wrecked, and one driven back by storm. One which is laid to our credit the Secretary declines to acknowledge as belonging to us at all.

Of the successful expeditions, Mr. Gage points out that much was due to the weakness of the Spanish patrol. In all the cases where the offenders have been caught, he shows that they have either been punished or are awaiting trial.

Concerning the case of the Silver Heels, the Secretary says that the Collector of the Port of New York informed him that a representative of the Spanish Consul stated to him that he did not desire the vessel to be seized at the dock, but captured after departure therefrom. It was not, therefore, so much negligence on the part of the Government, as speed on the part of the Silver Heels, which enabled her to slip away from her pursuers.

While we are on the subject of the Silver Heels, it will interest you to know that she has been taken into custody.

She arrived at Wilmington the other day, and was at once seized by the collector of that port.

An examination was made of the vessel, but nothing was found on board to indicate that the ship had been engaged in unlawful work.

The crew have been subjected to a severe examination. Each man has had to make a statement before the court.

The master and mate of the vessel swore that the Silver Heels left New York bound for Wilmington, N.C. Her cargo consisted of one hundred tons of coal designed for sale in Wilmington.

On account of head winds she could not approach the coast, but was buffeted about until a few days ago, when she cast anchor in Wilmington harbor.

The two officers declared that no other cargo than the coal had been on board, and that there had been no passengers.

The collector found the amount of coal in the ship that the master and mate swore was there—and so far everything goes to prove that they have been telling the truth.

The statements of the crew have been sent on to the Government, and the vessel will be kept in custody as long as it is necessary in order that a proper investigation may be made.

After thinking matters over, the Spaniards have decided that President McKinley's Message was not so friendly to them as they at first supposed.

They have arrived at the conclusion that the part of the Message which refers to intervention on our part in case Home Rule does not succeed, is highly offensive to them.

Señor Sagasta is reported to have said that if the United States should try to interfere between Spain and Cuba, Spain would be found ready to protect herself and defend her national honor.

The heads of the Government then decided that Spain ought to increase her navy, so that she should be ready in case of trouble. An endeavor has been made to raise funds for this purpose, and one of the Spanish Senators has suggested that a public subscription be opened for the purpose.

A meeting of the Carlists has been called to protest against the interference clause of the Message, and the Spaniards generally are much annoyed over it.