The evening times., 1898-05-23
THE CASE OF MIR. BOOK.
MilIi"rsire Cisarmaker's Efforts I
Return - Cuba.

Return u Cuba.
Key West. Fla. May 23.-The general
topic among naval officers here is the pos
| sibility of Gustave Book being allowed to
return to Havana by the Government.
Men familiar with the circumstances de-
clare that the whole blockade might as
well be lifted as to grant permits to all
with sufficient influence who wish to go
through the lines of the blockading fleet.
The fact that the French steamer Lafay-
cite obtained a permit to enter Havana.
and then, presumably. landed arms and
munitions of war for the Spanish officials,
is cited as a precedent why Book should
be compelled to remain away from the
country where he has passed practically
his entire life, and to which he is moving
heaven and earth to return.
Naval men declare they can see no ad-
vantage from any standpoint to the Unit
ed States to let the millionaire cigar man.
ufacturer go back to manage his import
ant business interests.
Evidence Is accommodating as to Bock's s
pro-Spanish inclinations. Many persons
who have visited the Cuban capital since
Marti raised the flag of insurrection de-
clare that no one there has been more
cAetSA a6ahhSt <AhCiiSa anu
than the man who now. under cover of
the German flag, seeks a boon almost
without parallel-running the blockade
with the sanction of the Government he
has SO repeatedly condemned. Many men
here have voluntarily come forward to
protest against granting this favor on
account Of words they have heard him
utter.
Those best informed declare that Book
- 49,
men in Cuba in assisting Spain during the
revolution. having contributed largely tc
equip volunteer military organizations.
They assert he was proud at one time to
be known as having offered SO 600 for the
dead body Of Antonio Maceo. when that
dashing officer was giving the most an
noyance to loyalists and Weyier was fret
ting in Havana.
Since his arrival in Key West Book has
said that not only himself but his parents
were Spanish. The only real claim ad-
wealthy. and Is inconvenienced. perhape
financially hurt, by being kept from his
business.
United States officials who originally in
dorsed his application for permit to 20
to Havana now regret having acted In
haste in behalf of a man whose services
have deserved the warm Of letter of en-
comium ne carrf1eS from SaGaSta and
Blanco.
Although Book does not now admit that
he Is colonel Of an Havana volunteer reSi-
ment, Americans who came in contact
with him In Cuba insist that they re-
member his active connection with the
volunteers as an officer and that he will
fight for his country If he succeeds in get
ting there.
His partisanship for the Spanish cause
is too well known to be concealed. At
the time Of the iweyIer demonstration in
Havana Books employees were loudest in
the mob shouting death to the Yankee
pigsv and Death to Leer All the men
who work in the great factory are en-
rolled as volunteers, and are regularly as
sessed for the benefit of Spain and the
Spanish cause In CHba. =
II Book returns to Havana, even IL he
wishes to take no part in the conflict, he
is in position to give valuable information
to Spain's omeers.