Though China is usually considered the old stand-by of the glamor lous soldier of fortune, there is one part of the world that runs a close second, if not indeed equals the (Celestial Empire, in the continuance of such guerilla warfare and in-/surgent "revolutions" as delight the heart of-the world-travelling man lusting for the smell of powder.
Central America is the spot in mind. The most casual glance over the histories of the minute states south of the Rio Grande reveals a series of "wars" that challenge the belief of one not versed in the annals of those countries.
Almost from the days of the Spanish Conquistadores the people have been both thrilled and dejected by the continuation of gun play. Thrilled because they are keen for physical action, literally yearning for something new every moment, and dejected if the family finances did not permit of moving to those neighbouring states where fighting was in progress. For it was always safe to feel that there was action underway next door, if not at home, land the feeling was seldom wrong.
What with the Nicaraguan affair quieting down for a few moments, Mexico but awaiting the match to blaze again, Honduras and Guatemala embroiled over a land dispute that to the insider is seen as a bait to concession seeking foreigners, Ecuador still farther south witness-
1 a coup de tat that unseats her presidente, rumours of an un-@ereurrent in' Panama, and the Venezuelan Indians always a fertile field, to-day's soldier of fortune has but to choose that country whose climate best suits him, serene in the knowledge that he will find what he is looking for.
Consider such names as San Dreben, Tracy Richardson, Guy 'Molony' and General Lee Christmas, to mention only a few.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.