The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-31

iSAbhilo VINO nave followed Harry A.
N Franch In his roamings from the van
tage point Of AN easy chair will ex-
pect much from his latest volume. this time
devoted to the West Indies, and they will NOT
De at all disappointed. Mr.. Franck c,nfesses
ehat ne writes for the arm chair tourist
ratner than for the increasing number of
americans who travel, and II Is precisely
Tor this reason that his books have coma
10 De known as something more than con-
ventional books of travel or stereotvped
guide books. Mr.. Franck is first of ali a
good reporter, infinitely observant of tho
places and people seen, but he is in addition
man OF interesting reactions. Best of all.
ne Is not romantic. Writing as he does
for a public of stay-at-homes. he avoids
the exploitation of the legendary picturesque
ness OF the West Indies. Cuba, Porto Rico
Hayti, Santo Domingo, the Leeward and
Windward Islands, Guadeloupe and Mar
Unique the Virgin Islands, are vividy but
honestly sketched; there is no translation
OF the dirty and the stagnant and the primi-
tive into terms of the picturesque 1t is the
faithful reporting Of man with n distast,
Tor sentimentality and with a sense of hu-
NOR.
In view Of recent revelations perhaps
the most interesting part of Mr. Franck's
book to American readers will be that deal
ing with the American occupation of Hayti
and Santo Domingo The full story of our
intervention IL told here; II is not wholly
pleasant reading for an American. But the
Justification In general of our course with
these two island nations comes with the evil
oence or the unfitness of these people to
govern themselves. The black kingdom cf
Hayu has been an American protecturate
since 1915, and the course of the American
FORCE OF occupation here has been smoother
and marked toy fewer unsavury incidents
On W.. pf..,
killing of Charlemagne Peraitp, the leader
or the Haytian banditry, Is one I'll to rank
with many of the most famous exploits OF
the Marine Corps
In Santo Domingo one finds American
military occupation. existent since 1915. un-
DER which the entire Government was taken
over by US. The sovereignty of the Domini-
can Republic has never ceased. it is ex
planned. out its functions are merely I'd
'ministered by the military government Of
the United States in Santo Domingo Our
record there IL not one Of which we can
DO unreservedly proud. Mr.. Franck says,
The rascally, brutal worthless pia-
mond DICK class OF American sometimes
gets into the Marine Corps as into every
thing else and tends to destroy the good
name OF the majority. Boys brought up on
dime novels and the movies saw at last n
chance to initiate their favorite heroes and
XIII people with impunity: some Of them. too.
were Southerners, to whom the Dominicans
were after all only 'niggers The great
majority OF the forces of occupation were
well meaning young fellows who lacked ex-
perience in distinguishing outlaws from
honest citizens. with the result that painful
injustices were sometimes committed.
The story of the killing of Vicentio. the
bandit chief In Santo Domingo, as related
by Mr.. Franck will enlighten many Amer
leans who find It hard to understand the
Latin American distrust OF our professed
International altruism. Summing upI Mr..
Franck says. The result of these thinrs
irregularities Of personal conduct), of q
certain amount Of crude autooracy, and a
tendency to let rcd tape have the precedence
over common sense. IL that our forces of
occupation are far less popular In santo
Domingo than they could be-" In spite of
thass hiArnishss ON our record Mr.. B'ranck