The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1910-11-27
State Department Officials
Say Career of General Val
ladares WoUldsdake Good
Comic Opera.
HE REIGNED BOSS"
OF LITTLE AMAPALA
Made Customs Duties What
He Chose and Pocketed
the Coin and the Govern
ment Made No Protests.
BY SIDNEY ESPEY.

Washing gton, Nov. 26.-General Jose
Maria yalladares, the turbulent revo-
lutionist of Honduras has at last reach
ed the end Of his opera bluffs career.
The general is now member of the
Down and Out Club" but the ques-
ton that is bothering state depart
ment officials is Can General Jose
Maria, etc. come back?'
There never was anything so really
comic in the world as General Valla-
dares' revolutions" state department
officials will tell you, and in fact the
tales of the actions of the Honduran
chieftain, as they have filtered out
from Tegucigalpa, the Honduran capi-
tol. and Anapala, the generals strong
hold, would convince almost anyone
that the doings of the general, if
staged, would prove a decided comic
opera success. ...
AmapaIa, the Pacific coast port of
Honduras, occupies an Island twenty
miles from the mainland. 1t is forti-
fed as Notifications go in Honduras.
The few boats that make up the Hon
duran navy-three barges, an ancient
tug; two little launches-are under
the jurisdiction of the commandant OF
the Notifications" at Amapala, who
is also governor of the island and the
boss" of the city. In addition, he is
customs collector.
His First "Revoiute."
Four years ago, early in 1907. Gen.
eral Valladares decided to "revolute.' .
His ambition was to CONQUER Hon
duras and incidentally to reign as con
queror of all the Central American re
publics. He revolutioned successfully
by taking command as the .hbss' q
Amapala. The government, at Tegu
cigalpa, was glad the general was sat
isfied. 1t had neither money, soldiers
or navy to attack Amapala, and
therefore. let Valladares reign in
peace. He collected the customs du
ties making them what he pleased
The yearly revenue from this source
is said to be considerable. All of the
provisions. machinery for mining, etc
pass through the port of Amapala
With the customs receipts the general
built up an army of devoted, tire
less warriors. Soldiers to the number
of 400 enlisted under his standard, and
better yet, stayed enlisted for they re
ceived their pay every day--ten cents
in United States money-to the man
The army" was wonderful thing
and never before in the history oil
Central American revolutions has its
like been seen.
Everybody who soldfered for living
wanted to join the army. The general
had his pick of recruits.
Events moved rapidly for the gener
al. His success was heralded through
out Honduras and the Central Ameri
can states. He was the admitted
boss" of Amapala, and government,
did not question his title He kept all
of the revenues and reigned supreme
Troops Fond Of Him.
His soldiers were devoted 1t is said
that the general was held in great fear
An official of the state department
who knew the boss of Amapala' de
scribed him as a little old dyspeptic
man, constantly i'll of chills and fever
His soldiers did not fear personal viol
ence but dismissal, for. unless they
soldiered for General Valladares the
prospects of joining another army
which paid wages were remote in
deed.
A year ago, however, the general
took it upon himself to assume nation
al importance. His reign at Amapaia
filled him with ideas of making the
rest of Honduras part of his domain
He struck popular cord when he be
gan to abuse, intimidate and threaten
foreigners who live in Amapala. and
to raise the customs duties on imports
To show his contempt for the United
States he christened his yellow dog
president Taft" Then he began tc
get real frisky and ordered his sold
iers to bully" the foreigners
The United States stepped in then
Complaint was made to this govern
ment about the generals conduct
These came from foreigners at ANA
pala, who are mainly German. The
Americans there are few and Ameri
can interests nil. The complaint sci
the state and navy departments te
working The gunboat Princeton, loaf
ing in Pacific port of Mexico. was
ordered to Amapala. General Valla
dares heard she was coming and tried
to square" himself.
Protested Friendship.
He protested to Commander Hayes
arrived, that he was a real friend to
the foreigner. The protest was not
taken seriously, however, but valIa
dares promised to go to Tegucigalpa
and square matters with President
Davila- He went. ostensibIy resigned
his position, promised obedience TO the
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