Omaha daily bee., 1909-12-26
DARING SOLDIERS OF FORTUNE
Types Of the Adventurer
who Seeks Danger from Mo-
tives All His own.

Recent events in Central America bring
to mind the existence. even in modern
times, of a most picturesque Individual
the soldier Of fortune. The soldier Of for
tune is an institution as old as the insti-
tuition OF war. Present facts hardly indi-
cate, however, that his existence will be as
long continued. Whether the soldier of
fortune is the same sort of a man as the
soldier of fortune of earlier days Is, more.
ever, quite another question.
Various motives there are. which lead
men to wander over the earth fighting
under alien flags with people, who are not
their people. for causes winch are not their
oauses. It is sometimes pure love OF ad.
venture, as in the middle ages; sometimes
an unquenchable desire to gain rank,
power. even kingship in a country where
these things are not so hard to gain; some
times It is political exile which forces able
leaders to take their place in a cause
which does not reject their powers; some
times it is an exile less brilliant-that Of
the many nameless ones who are forced
to leave their homes for crimes, great or
petty, who seek to retrieve themselves
among and who oftentimes end
where
" an alien turf enfolds us.
And none there are to tell them where
We lie.
1t is curious to read in history of the
famous soldiers and adventurers who
served under flags no their own--Henry
Hudson, an Enslishman, who sailed under
the standard of Holland: Christopher CO.
lumbus, q Genoese. who discovered a con-
tinent in the name Of Spain; Kosclusko and
POla slit POIfah nafrfofa uyha fot,ohk 20.
American Independence. and Gordon. who
gained distinction in the service OF the
emperor Of China. Passing, over entirely
the obscure periods of the middle ages.
when adventures moved like wolves back
and forth all over Europe, one has only
to study the bureaucracy Of Russia to find
a potent example of the highest type Of
soldier Of fortune. Russia, at its regenera-
ton, needed leaders OF every kind-sol-
diers statesmen. bankers, organizers, and
all were brought in from outside. At the
control of things their descendants remain
today. White, Rosen and countless others
these are not Russian names, nor were the
ancestors OF these men Russians.
In somewhat similar manner when
America was fighting for its independence,
there were many foreigners who were
needed in the organiaztion-Baron Steuben,
the Prusslan; Pulaski and Kosciusko, the
Poles, and Lafayette, the Frenchman. OF
all these II can be said that they were
fighting, not only for America, but for the
cause OF freedom, which was also thor
own; but they we're soldiers Of fortune,
nevertheless.
There were many soldiers Of fortune IN
the Italian war for freedom, and Garlbald.
had been one. himself. serving In the
French navy and in the army of the IRE.
public OF Rio Grande"-the present ITru-
quay, Even after the height OF his fame
had been gained. he with his sons, served
In the French army in the Franco Ptussiar
war. In the wars of servia and Bulgaria
there were Austrians, Russians and many
other foreigners. while in Spain one ha,
only TO study The names Of present states.
men TO see how many Irishmen have
served under the standard OF the mos
Catholic king. The wars in Africa we-c
won by o'Donnell, who was born in Spain
but whose ancestry is well betrayed. A
warrior, named o'Hisgins, was famous In
the wars of the Argentine. In China. the
leaders have been. time ana time again
men OF western race. and II would be IN.
teresting to know how many graduate.
VI Hhhs4'oilS nave served In the Chinese
navy. In Morocco Il was only the Other
Gay that Ksid Mclean was at the height
Of his power.
The way I'm Central America was paved
by William Walker, who has had counties,
others following In his path. But there
are many other things that combine e
make the trade Of the soldier OF fortune
less picturesque than II formerly was
Walkers efforts were defeated by the gold
OF a steamship company; other soldiers al
fortune have az their motive a force M
less mercenary. But war today lie a much
more highly organized thing than II wa,
years ago. Before they fight, nations arr
apt to sum uD carefully the forces with
which they have 20 fight, and every stet
which Is taken In organisation means ons
less place for the soldier OF fortune am
his trade-Hartford Times.
Baa Want Ada for Husfnaaa Roosfara