Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-31
Man Failure Effective Fighter in Guerilla Revolutions
~dIntO Time
etonby Own Cunnyi

Bonillas men. In the white palace
Bonilla made the former railroader q
brigadier general, and named him at
the same time police chief of the city.
For days the city was under what
amounted to martial law. and so
Christmas became, by virtue of his
position. judge and jury.
But Christmas wasn't satisfied. 1t
was as If, having found so unexpect-
eddy that fate apparently had always
intended him for soldier he itched
to make up for lost time. Word came
that trouble was brewing in Venezuela,
that President Castro wanted some
able American soldier of fortune to
reorganize his army against possible
revolt, Gen. Christmas went, at last,
to Bonilla, and sealing their friendship
with the pledge that he would return
and lead Bonilla's forces whenever
that President was in danger, resigned
his post.
Castro named him a general in the
army Of Vanezuela. and he set out for
that country, but he was hardly across
the border than Nicaragua declared
war on Honduras. Dispute had arisen
over a strip of land on the mutual
border of the two little countries.
Christmas hastened back to Teguci-
galpa and took command Of the
armies, but for once everything went
against him. Bonilla fled for his life.
Christmas got out of Teguclgalpa
with about 200 men. Still full of fight,
he planned to reach the mountain
Businesses and there rally his shat
tered forces.
But at Mani, two days away, the
enemy caught up with him. 1t was
a case of thousands against hundreds,
but with Christmas the best strategy
was always to strike first. He ordered
his little force to attack. He led them
| in an attempt to cut through the
strengthening Gordon of the enemy.
The fight was short and sharp. Sixty
of his men were killed, 100 wounded
and the rest scattered. Wounded, he
| himself was taken prisoner and
dragged back to the very prison into
which he had thrown ex-President
| Policarpo.
| THE next morning he was marched
out to the old wall where losing
warriors and Presidents were usually
shot. A climax made for the motion
pictures ensued. During the night
Christmas managed to get word to
| Guy Moloney, the present police chief
of New Orleans, who had served with
| him through several battles. When
dawn came it appeared that even this
| friend had failed him, or else could do
nothing to save him. Still Christmas
| fought on-with surprising subtlety
and craft He hit upon the idea OF in
sulting his captors, of engaging them,
in hope of delay.
| The firing squad drew up; the ironi'
cal Nicaraguan captain asked If he
wanted his body shipped home. Christ
mas began his stream of insults. He
called the captain and his men, with
deep calculation, all the vile things
he could think Of; he insulted their In
telligence as soldiers. their women,
| their country. The Nicaraguans-in
| their hearts the subtle savagery OF an
Indian ancestry blended with the
| fierce pride of Spanish blood that also
ran in their veins-became frantic.
| They pounded his face while his hands
| were bound, and he laughed at them,
and continued his taunts. They drew
away to consider what tortures would
| wash away this gringos insulting
| epithets. They glared, sneered, told
| him in detail all the cruel things they
| intended doing to him. They whetted