The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-11-05

ter-of-faet reeita1s OF history can do
The story is not particularly well told
and contains many bIe,nishes, showing
absolute and inexcusable disregard Of
historical proba bility in many directions.
AS an instance Of this it may be men
toned that the hero is said to have been
recovered from a shfpwreok together
with his mothers body, both being found
fastened to a. bale of cotton. AS the Pc
riod of the story Immediately antedates
the surrender of CORVALLIS forces it
seems quite hard to understand how a
bale of cotton could have been among
the cargo Of that vessel on its way from
England to the colonies.
In spite of such biunders as these and
the evident lack of literary skill on the
part of the writer the book is one which
will be read with the deepest interest by
all lovers of Revolutionary heroism. 1t
is essentially Juvenile book and is, no
doubt, intended for young readers. To
them its defects will be less apparent,
while by it's sustained action it suff1ces
to keep the attention Of the reader from
the beginning to the close.
E'NYarching- with Gomez"
Marching With Gomez by Grover
Flint, With an historical introduction
by Prof John Fisk and illustrations
by the author. Houghton, Miff1in &
Co. For sale by the. ST. Rdul. BOOK
and Stationery company:
Amid the multiplicity of publications re-
lating to Cuba and Cuban affairs which
are now finding a market we doubt If
there can be said to be one of more value
in the exact and intimate knowledge af-
fCrded of the operations of the Cuban
revolutionary army, or of the social con-
ditions prevailing on the island immedi-
dtely antecedent to our recent war with
Spain. The story is from the notebook
kept by the author as war correspond
ent during four months With the Cuban
army The writer determined to judge
for himself as to the facts concerning
the struggle then being made for Cuban
liberty. At considerable risk he entered
the interior and marched and fought with
one or another of the disconnected bands
OF Cuban patriots until he succeeded in
reaching the headquarters of Gen. Co
mez. To those who assume, from preju-
diced newspaper reports, that the Cuban
army was practically non-existent, and
that its military operations were prac1
tically on paper, this book will assure a
complete awakening.
From the moment of establishing his
connection with the Cubln patriots during
every hour of four months, Mr.. Flint
was a participant in the events of actual
war 1t is true that there were few pitch
that period, and that what they call their
impedimenta or baggage trains. were Of
q character which, as a matter of fact,
very little lmpeded the movements IF the
Cuban forces. But, while these forces
were ever on the move, they nevertheless
frequently encountered the Spanish
troops, and on every occasion gave a
good account of themselves
One of the most interesting and valua-
bic features of this work is to be found
In the admirable series of pen pictures
which it presents Of Gen. Gomez AMI his
staff 1t presents the old San Domingo
hero to view as most rigid disciplina,i-
ar, as well as a most uncompromising
foe of Spanish dominion. 1t needed a
heavy hand such as his to hold he 10 csely
connected forces of the pa riots to the
work before them and TO ihstili into the
mind of the Cuban soldier the stern Truth
that there was a very broad line OF de-
markation between soldiers fighting vol
UNFAIRLY for liberty and bands of guer-
rilIas operating rather to intensity the
existing social chaos. Gen. Gomez spar
ed neither his own soldiers nor natives
of the districts in which he operated
whose loyalty to the Cuban cause might
be called in question His frequent re-
sort to military executions showed the
iron nature of his rule. while they give
to the author opportunities fer MANY of
the thrilling recitals of his experience
and observation.
The historical preface by the authors
father-tn-law, Prof. Fisk would be Of
more tangible value Were the writer
able to conceal the religious prejudice
which succeeded In so completely effac-
ing his judgment, and which renders his
preface blot upon the book rather than