SOLDIERS OF FORTUNE.

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 February 1911, Page 4

SOLDIERS OF FORTUNE.

Are there any agents travelling in New Zealand looking for volunteers to fight the battle of freedom and the foreign capitalist in Mexico and other parts of Latin America? We had news by cable the other day that efforts are being made to induce Canadians who fought in South Africa to shoulder arms for the Mexican revolutionaries, and now the Sydney "Sun," describes the operations in Australia of mysterious strangers who seem to have some such: similar end in . view. It is said that several Sydney men who took part in the South African war have been sounded by one or other of the strangers, whom they appear to have encountered cpiite accidentally. One of those spoken to was an officer who served with distinction in South Africa, and was badly wounded. The stranger met him at a, theatre, and in (lie interval the two men discussed military subjects. The stranger warmly eulogised patriots of the type of Garibaldi and Kossuth, and when he found that his new acquaintance shared his sentiments, went on to assert that opportunities for emulating these heroes awaited brave and capable soldiers today. He hinted that an officer of the capabilities of his friend might reach the high rank of a general in a few weeks, which seems to place the scene of action, in America. The Australian asked a few questions, but the stranger was caution personified. He spoke of honour, glory and great profits, but he would not say where these were to be obtained, and finding his companion has no inclination for more lighting, shortly afterwards disappeared. One morning recently a visitor called at a bit; Sydney factory and made enquiries as to" whether there were any men there who had served in South Africa. He said he wished .to obtain tidings of a man who had rendered signal service to a relative of his who had been desperately wounded in a night skirmish. The stranger interviewed two South African men, expressed his regret that neither was the. right man, insisted on buying drinks, and went on to paint the soldier's life in glowing colours, and to declare that he knew of a, coming campaign in which his two friends could win high rank and dazzling pay. The prospects held out were so dazzling that, the men looked on the stranger as more or less mad. Other men have also been approached, and at least one was so impressed by the prospects that at latest advices he was eager to become a soldier of fortune, and was looking for the agent.