Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-22

further praise is due them. The reward
was theirs, but the Americans made the
sacrifice
A tribute is paid to Admiral Cervera.
who advised strongly against the sortie
from Santiago harbor. yet. when the
order to go out was received from his
superior determined that his own flagship
should lead the way and bear the brunt
of the battle.
The story Of the siege and capitulation
is told. and the correspondence between
the commanding generals of the oppos-
ing forces. leading up to the surrender. is
given in full. The famous so-called
Ground robin - of August J. 1898 receives
attention. The writer says the general
officers OF Skaters army should not be
adversely criticised for urging the neces-
sity for the speedy withdrawal OF the
9TH Corps from the island. The chief
harm, he points out consisted Of giving
| the letter to the press, that act being In
violation of army regulations and seri-
Gus breach of military discipline.
OF strictly local interest is mentioned
the arrival of the LIST District of Columbia
Volunteers at Siboney. the regiment be-
ing ordered to the front and placed in
position to the right Of Gen. Wheeler
division. and the fact that when Gen.
shafter rode forward. formally to accept
the surrender Of Gen. Toral he was es-
corted by 100 mounted men Of the I'd
United States Cavalry. under the COM
mand of Capt. Lloyd NJ. Brett. The lat
ter is now on duty az adjutant general
of the District of Columbia Militia
From start to finish the recital is dis
passionate and clear. couched in master
ly English. and shows that the author
has fine conception of strategy and
tactics.
issue might be joined with Col. Sargent
is the awarding of fulsOme praise to
Spanish valor. The view may be taken
that an army fighting from behind in
trenchments a force of equal or nearly
the same strength should not. unless IL
strike an offensive blow. be credited with
great personal valOr. The defenders Of
Ell Caney. being outnumbered several
fold. it will be admitted. are entitled to
they were acting a holding force and
did their full duty. even to the sacrifice
of the greater portion of their numbers.
Narrative of Gotty's Doings Ashore
and Af1Oat, With an Account of his
Voyage of Discovery on Shrimping
Bawley in the English Channel. BY
Arthur T.. Coping. With Twenty
Four Illustrations by VIII Owen.
New York: Mitchell Kennerley.
a new type of seaman is sure TO mean
delight to lovers of true humor. Gotty
is a delightful compound of racy humor.
eccentricity and good nature. The reader
who meets him as did the Guv'nor. ac-
companies him to his home, sympa thizeS
with his loss of a position. profits of his
wisdom as to the sea and other things.
will not wonder that the Guv'nor before
long found himself the owner of a bawley
which carried Gotty as skipper The de-
light Of ownership. the pleasures and
hardshpS of cruising in little fighting
vessel along the channel. the tonic of
salt air. hard work and simple compan-
iOnship were tic owners reward for the
money that went into the Betty, into new
canvas and paint pots. The account Of
the last trip. which brings them bankrupt
into Cornwall and home before hurri-
cane. is a fitting close to capital story.
And Gotty himself is a new friend in
feeling braced for conflict with all the
blue devils Incident to a season of late
suppers and heated rooms.
SYRIA; THE DESERT AND THE
SOWN. BY Gertrude Lowthian Bell.
With FrOntispiece in Color by john
Sargent. RIA. Also Many !;lustra-
tons and Map. New YORK: T.. p.
Dutton & Co.
Unique among books of travel is this
record of days and nights on the plains
of Syria over paths bunlit;ic Travelled save
by native races. In the first place. the
equipment OF tho author is an unusual
one--a knowledge OF the history CT the
wild people among whom she found both
hospitality and friendship. acquaintance
with oriental characteristics. the tact Of
a skilled traveller, and. above all. familiar
ity. not only with the native Arabic but
with the many dialects spoken by the