The evening times., 1899-11-18

country thousands Of human beings look
ing like ghosts. and men, women and
children dying OF hunger in the public
roads. sad contrast to the condition oil
that war fought on the pretext OF humani-
ty.''
Part of the volume is devoted to argu-
ment and the citation of authorities 10
prove that the United States had no right
to cut the telcgraphic cables connecting
Cuta with the rest Of the world.
in order to isolate US completely" he
says. they sought 10 cut the cables con-
Meeting us with Europe. Spain. after four
centuries OF dominion in Cuba. did not have
a single cable OF her own connecting her
with her wealthy and much coveted colo
nies Let the reader make his own com
ments on this fact. which is one more item
on the list of criminal negligence.
In Cuba We harbored the hope that, in
asmuch as the cables are protected by in
ternatioaal Law, the United States would rot
dare do anything against them. But such
was not the case. The intention of de-
strcying was very obvious from the begin
ming for, as previously shown, the Sec
retary of the Navy. Mr. Long, suggested
it to Sampson in his preliminary instruc-
tions. before hostilities had broken out.
Hence the Americans never thought of re-
specting this sacred property. On the con-
it, and succeeded in cutting us off from the
rest of the world and from the mother
country so that toward the end OF the cam
paign the only means of communication
from Havana was the cable by way of Key
West of which the Americans had taken
possession.
Captain Nunez admits that SIMPSONS S
feet. was finely officered." He takes is
sue with Sampson in the American Rear
Admiral's statement that he could have
taken San Juan. Nunez contends that If
this were possible Sampson would have
done so to make himself popular. In speak
ing of the American naval force he says:
1T was under the command of Mr. Samp
son. at that time captain, who was very
anxious to attack Havana. although he is
said to have expressed the opinion that the
battle of Havana would have to be fought
at the expense of some of his ships, and
in view of the equality which was supposed
to exist between the United States naval
forces and those of Spain and the recent
loss of the Maine. that would have been
serious calamity"
The writer criticises his government for
not permitting the Oquendo and the Viz
caya to remain in Havana harbor, instead
of recalling them to Spain to join Cervera's
squadron. He expressed the opinion that
a much better showing would have been
IDdue l0t lUlttu States IL hdu
participated in the defence of the Cuban
capital.
An earnest argument in behalf of coast
defence is made by Captain Nunez. He
wants Spain TO begin at once to fortify her
ports, initiating general scheme by in
stailing medium caiibre rapid-f firing guns in
the fortress along the Spanish coasts and
on the coasts of Africa and the BalsarIc
and Canary Islands. He expresses his ad
miration for the foresight and strategic
judgment of the United States Navy De-
partment end follows this with an asser-
zion that ION our side everything was con-
fusion. incompetence and terrible discord.
Some of the footnOtes in the book are
amusing. 1T was stated he said pa
thetically. that during the blockade of Ha
vana even beefstske and fried potatoes
were daily sent TO the crews of the flee,
from Key West.
OF the capture Of the Spanish steamer
Argonauto on April 80. 1888. he says: The
vessel was looted in a barbarous manner,
and has this equally ridiculous assertion in
a foot Tote; "A trustworthy person told
US that as the passengers rushed 10 the
boats hot water and steam were thrown
upon them