Well it seems that I'm running out of space again so here are a few quick reveiws that I've come across; Insurrection or Loyalty; the Breakdown of the Spanish American Empire , by Jorge I. Dominquez, pub. Harvard University Press, 1980, 264 pages with additional 34 pages of notes. This book uses four countries during the period of Independence [and before] to give a comparative approach to the political upheavals that produced the revolts or non-revolt in Chile, Cuba, Mexico and Venezuela. Although primary of a political and social theme it does help one's idea of how events happened as they did. A very good read. A good one to get from the library on a winters night. La Batalla de Maipu, by Francisco Javier Diaz, pub. Editorial del Pacifico S.A. Chile, 1946, 156 pages with two maps and two order of battle charts. It also lists the names of the officers [ Colonel - Sub-Lieutenant] of the various Patriot units that fought at the Battle. The text starts after the Battle of Chacabuco. An interesting book if you can find it? The War With Spain In 1898, by David F.Trask, pub. Macmillan Publishing Co. New York, 1981, 486 pages with an additional 138 pages on notes and book references! 9 maps. Sorry no order of battle for the U.S. or Spanish troops although some may be hidden in the text. A good modern history of the events leading to and during the war. No photographs. I bought this one from the History Bookshop in London, but it took nearly six months to arrive due to delays in the States. Ouvrard; Speculator of Genius 1770-1846, by Otto Wolff, pub, Barrie and Rockliff, London, 1962, Although not really of Latin American interest one might think, this French finacial entrepreneur had many dealings with Spain during the Napoleonic Wars. One was that during the Peace of Amiens the silver bullion which Spain had ammassed in Mexico [350 million francs] due to the British blockade could be brought to Europe as the blockade had been eased [20 million francs was owed to Ouvrard by the Spanish Government for supplying their navy vessels trapped in French ports up to that time]. 165 million francs worth of Spanish silver bullion could have been shipped over to Spain and then to Europe [France] but Napoleon put a stop to it. So British bankers using the U.S. as the middle men stepped in when Spain became an ally, creating surplus cash for the British and Spanish Governments to help topple Napoleon. Then in 1824 Ouvrard drew up a plan for the Spanish Government whereby it would create a "Compagnie Armee Espagnole au Nouveau Monde" something on the lines of the British East India Company, with an initial force of 30,000 men, consisting of Spanish and Swiss volunteers and would subsequently be reinforced from the native population. These were to protect the company's interests in Spanish America which were a monopoly of trade with America for a period of 30 years. All state owned installations in the Spanish Colonies were to be ceded together with all that they contained to the company. The company was to have the right to intervene militarily and also to undertake political negotiations regarding the status quo and the form of government in each individual territory. One can only wonder what could have happened if this plan had been produced and passed in 1819 and given a speedy and determined execution by the Government of Spain, but in 1824 the British Ambassador at the Spanish Court, Sir William A'Court managed to wreck this scheme before it could take shape. A very interesting man and book, while easy to read. Found it in an Oxfam shop in Hull for 50 pence. Dassault-Breguet Mirage III/5, by Salvador Mafe Huertas, pub. Osprey Air Combat, London, 1990, three chapters on the Falkland/Malvinas War, 45 pages out of 191 pages. Back to Table of Contents -- El Dorado Vol V No. 1 Back to El Dorado List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1992 by The South and Central American Military Historians Society This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com