Hostage to Honor

Encircled and under bombardment, Colonel Jose Moscardo, heroic defender of Toledo's Alcazar in Spain's Civil War, still refused to surrender his fortress to the Loyalists. To break him down, the Loyalists forced his son Luis, a prisoner, to speak to him by telephone across the lines.

"Papa," began Luis.

"What is it, my son?"

"They say they will shoot me if you don't surrender."

"Then commend your soul to God, cry Viva Espana and die like a patriot."

"A big kiss, papa."

"A big kiss, my son."

The Loyalists shot young Moscardo.

Last week, as their short-lived civil war sputtered to a close (with some 260 dead, 800 wounded), Bolivians recalled the oft-told story of the Moscardos and told a moving father-&-son story of their own. It concerned ex-Army General Froilan Calleja, commander of the rebel forces, and his 25-year-old son, Froilan Calleja Jr., a lieutenant in the regular army.

At the height of the revolt, the general, learning that his son had been ordered to the capital, demanded by radio whether the government meant "to repeat the terrible situation in which Spanish Republicans put Colonel Moscardo." The government in La Paz, whose transfer of young Lieut. Calleja had been wholly routine, saw a chance to put itself in a chivalrous light. It radioed the rebel general that his son would be sent to him in the safekeeping of the Brazilian military attache.

But the young lieutenant had other ideas. "The oath I took when I graduated as an officer," he declared, "binds me to the duty of defending my flag and nation according to the principles of the constitution." Then he sent a telegram: "Dear Father, with pain I have declined the opportunity to join you, requesting instead return to the post of duty to which I am bound according to the principles of personal and military dignity you taught me. Your loving son, Froilan."

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.