The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-04-02

/ it is our duty to see that the flag nevel
leaves the island"
Campaigning in Cuba" by George
KEENAN,, author of siberia and the Elk
lie System" The Century Company
George KEENAN, is absolutely frank
and fearless in all that he has to say
He proved that long ago in his stories
of Siberian life when his writings were
prohibited from circulation in the Rus
sian empire by imperial decree. II
earned for him then the everlasting
gratitude of humanity and it will be
strange if the American people do moi
display an equally eager interest in his
story of the Cuban campaign.
Immediately following the outbreaf
of the war Mr.. KEENAN, started for the
front as a correspondent Of the out
look. The material which he contrib
uted to that paper makes the basis
of his book, although revisions have
been made and new matter has beer
added. He deals Interestingly with
the condition of the army at Tampa
and his picturesque description of Key
West is worthy a place in every IL
brary in the country. Mr.. Kennan
who, by the way, is the vice president
of the American Red Cross Society
Joined Miss Barton on the state OF
Texas" and assisted in relieving the
West he accompanied the American
fleet to Santiago, going thence to Gu
antanamo and back again to Santiago
where he abandoned the state OF
Texas" as soon as the war was over
and shifted for himself in the half-de-
serted city. Santiago and MORO Cas-
tie are described with Photographic fl
deity.
Graphic accounts are given of the
Mo cf no n
antanamo, of the regulars and volun-
teers at Guasimas, Ell Caney and San
Juan. and of the brilliant achievements
of the navy.
The chapter devoted to the work OF
the war correspondents is absolutely
fascinating. I'm the first two months
of the war" said he, 1.-The corps of
field correspondents, in proportion To
its numerical strength, lost almost as
many men from death and casualty as
did the army and navy Of the United
States" Was there ever fidelity sur
passing that of Chamberlain, the ia
nous war correspondent, to the inter-
ests of his paper? Here is his con-
versation with Admiral Sampson: Can
you give me any directions, admiral
with regard to approaching your boat
n hostile waters? l don't want to inn
peril my own vessel or inconvenience
yours. WI here 10 you plOppoC " 81
inquired the admiral. Anywhere,
replied Chamberlain, ''or rather every
where that you go" The admiral
smiled dryly and said: Approach us
in the daytime if you have occasion to
do so: but if you come within five miles
of the feet at night, there is likely to
be trouble We can't afford to
take any chances of torpedo boats.
* We shall fire first and ask
questions afterwards When he had
returned to the dispatch boat, Mr..
Chamberlain said to Mr. Kennan IF
l were in the admiral's place ! should
doubtless act as he does but it's my
business to watch that fleet, and I can
do it if l keep five miles away at night.
/ think I'll go within two miles and
take the chances. Some of us will
probably lose the numbers of our mess
down here" he added cooly, IF this
thing lasts, but 1 don't see how it can
be helped"
Mr.. KEENAN, served in the field hospi-
tai, where the wounded were brought
for treatment during the fighting that
preceded the fall Of Santiago, and the
picture that he paints Of 1t is as ter
rible IN its realistic touches as any
thing in the history Of the war. THE
field surgeons worked heroically, and
with a devotion that l have never seen
surpassed, but they were completely
overwhelmed by the great bloody wave
of human agony that rolled back in
ever increasing volume from the battle
line" And of the wounded "A more
splendid exhibition of patient, uncom-
planning fortltude and heroic self-con-
troll than that presented by these
wounded men, the world has never
seen"
In his closing chapters, what a world
there is of sarcasm on the commissary
department of the army, what a world
Of praise for dear old Clara Barton. I
cannot refrain from saying that ! did
not happen to see any United States
quartermaster in Cuba who, I'm the
short space Of five days had unloaded
and stored 1400 tons of cargo, given hot
soup daily to 10000 soldiers, and supplied
an army Of $4,000 with 10 days rations.
It is a record, I think, Of which Miss
Barton has every reason to be proud"
It is to be regretted that the ap-
parent haste to reach the book stalls
has given some laundering bookbinder
the opportunity to scatter the pages
through the book at random, without
any regard for continuity. But the ma
terial is good even if one has to do a
little searching.