CAPTAIN CORTES CONQUERS MEXICO

Without posing the question of the rights or wrongs of the Spanish conquistadores, Mr. Johnson has presented the figure of Cortes, conqueror of Mexico, in as favorable a light as possible. From any angle, the conquest is a dramatic and exciting story and an event of vast significance. The story here starts with Cortes' disobedience to Velasquez and his hasty departure with his ships from Cuba; it goes on to the landing in Yucatan -- battles and conquest and the famous march; the relations with Montezuma- and his attempt to be fair- within the Spanish definition- to conquered; the setbacks as the Aztecs rallied; the inevitable brutalities and betrayals- as Spaniards turned against Spaniards and the faith of the Mexican rulers was sacrificed. And finally, Cortes the conqueror becoming Cortes the ruler. This is not a biography of Cortes. We leave him in a position of power. It is definitely the story of the Conquest of Mexico, told in story form.