Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-28
FATHER or SPANISH
LEGION DUE SOON
Gen. Astray, Scared in 100
Desert Battles, Hopes to
Find a Certain "Yanqui."
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press
TETuANi Spanish Morocco Africa.
August 26.--Wlth an arm shot off and
an eye shot out, bullet hole through
Ms fece and the scars of a hundred
dc5ctt battles on his body. Cen Jose
milan, Astray, founder Of the Spanish
Foreign Legion, is on his way to
America.
He has been invited to Mexico as an
honor guest by President Ortiz Rubio
and the secretary of war; Gen. Joaquin
Arnaro. He expects to reach Vera Cruz
September on the Alfonzo Ill after
a stop in Havana August 80, and prob
ably will reach New York october S.
The general would like very much to
md in the United States a certain
Yanqui," one of many roamers and
auventurers, who at one time or an
other have chosen, for reasons best
known to themselves, to enlist under
any name that pleased them in perhaps
the hardest-boiled body of fighting men
on earth--not excepting the French
Foreign Legoin-for the Spanish outfit
prldes itself on being, If anything,
harder than the French.
This "Yanqui' was lying wounded in
Q Spanish-Moreccan hospital and the
wife of Gen. MILAN AStray, as was her
custom, visited there and gave him a
few cigarettes, smile, pat on his
forehead and word of cheer. She did
that to thousands. ITO 10000. all in
tray. reminiseing. But of all those
thousands that sYanqui did something
no other Legionnaire ever did. When he
could walk he went to the town market
and, from his few coppers, bought lit
tie bouquet of flowers and four pieces
of candy. He limped out to my house
and requested to see my wife. With
great dignity, yet simplicity, he pre-
Sented her the little flowers and the
four pieces of candy.
She was very touched. And I was
although, of course, could never let
him know so because of discipline. Only
q Yanqui did, or could do, that I
should love to see that YanQui when I
am in the United States-but, of course,
never will do not even know his
name, or whether he is alive.
I'VE have had fine 'Yanquf fighting
men in the legion. Some Negroes have
been especially notable-black men
from the south of your country. They
will fight, those men. remember one
who called himself Jack johnson. OF
course. he was not the prize fighter.
I never had a. better non commissioned
officer. I don't know his real name.
AL we ask in the legion is that man
be a soldier and Indifferent to hardship
But God help the man who thinks it
Is a place for weaklings."
More than Is years ago King Alfonso
conceived the idea that Spain might
well organize foreign legion, on the
lines of the French body of that name,
in Spanish Africa. MILAN Astray. then
a captain of infantry, son of one of
the most brilliant police officers of
Spain, and with a fine army record,
was selected to do the job. For IL years
he headed it, fighting African tribes
men When, after many less serious
wounds. he was one-eyed, one-armed
and full of lead and dagger thrusts,
spear gashes and saber cuts, the Span
ish government did something 1t has
done in modern times to no other OF its
oficers. Instead of retiring him as
physically unfit 1t elevated him in the
active army 1ist-the highest honor
that could be given this fighting man.
He is an inspector general OF the army
and honorary colonel of the legion
which he made.