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Liberty: The Story of Cuba

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Rubens, Horatio Seymour 1932 (republished 1970) Liberty, the Story of Cuba. Ayer (Arno) Press, New York SBN-10 040502049X ISBN-13: 978-0405020490

This book has first hand information on the weaponry and supply to Cuban independence forces in the 1895-1898 War which culminated in the Spanish Cuban American War. This book is both a fascinating read and an essential source for studies of Cuban American relations. One notes the author's tact and knowledge of events. For example describing the successful assault on the strategically important block house complex at Victoria de las Tunas in 1897, Rubens tactfully refers to my grandfather using his mother's last name as Calixto Enamorado, but at the same time lets the reader know by use of the word "favorite" that he as well as his half brother Carlos, is one of the general's sons. Thus an attentive reader of the present era can gather information on the mores of that time and the personalities of the Cuban leaders.

In this way a careful and informed reader can readily fill in the blanks, e.g. Page 306 "In August, '97, García attacked the town of Victoria de las Tunas. Here again his artillery played and important part. Funston was in charge of the Hotchiss gun, assisted by Devine; and Portuondo was firing the dynamite gun with Carlos M. Poey and José Martí, son of the "Master." Mario Menocal was again in charge of the preparation, and again he headed a charge, This time he was wounded in the leg. General García, then took personal command. His feelings of pride and anxiety may be imagined when his son Carlos charged at the head of his men on various occasions, against blockhouses and forts; and again when another of his favorites (and also son L.D.), Lieutenant Colonel Calixto Enamorado, whose forces had been concealed in a thicket, charged straight into the fire of another fort which he captured (threatening the fort by inserting his long flexible paraguayo machete into the rifle slots L.D.). ..."

A note in passing on the wording "... José Martí, son of the "Master." ..." these are exactly the same words used by Raul Castro almost a century later to describe his own mentor the patient, devious and ruthless stalinist agent Fabio Grobart.