The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-07-30
TWO PRUSSIAN GENERALS.

sketcht of General VOC Bittepfrld and General
Won StetnutetZ.
Below we give sketches of two prominent
Prussian leaders WHO are destined to figure pro-
minently in the war, but who have heretofore
not been noticed at length in our columns
dbalIes kberhard Herwartb Won Bittenfeid,
General of Infantry and Commander of the
Sth Army Corps, was born September a. 1885,
entered the Frnssan army at the age of 15
fought at the battle of Leipsic, and took part in
the invasion of France by the Allies in 1874
where he served with distinction in several en-
gagements and at the siege of Paris. During
the second campaign in Schleswig- -Holstein, in
1864, be achieved one of the most brilliant Veto
ries over the Danish army, and virtually brought
the war to a close by taking possession of one
of the most important positions of the enemy
the Island OF Alsep, and by almost annihilating
the troops who were ordered to defend the
place. The war of 1866 again called him into
active service. He was assigned to the command
of the Elbe army, and gave many proofs of his
superior talent military leader and organizer.
His participation in the battle of Sadowa was
glorious one, and his behavior on this and
several preceding occasions was such that he is
now considered one of the bravest most skilful,
and talented commanding officers in the Prus-
sian army.
Charles Frederick Won Steinmetz,
General of Infantry, and commander of the 5th
Army Corps, was born December 81, 1896,
was sent to the military school at Cum at the
age of ten years, and soon showed O decided
sixteen years old when he was ordered to Berlin
and assigned to the corps of General York. Two
years later he received his commission as lieu
tenant, was wounded at the battle of Dannig-
kow, fought with distinction at Konigswartha,
where ball took away one of his fingers, while
another wounded him severely in the thigh.
But such was the ardor of his warlikc temper
that, although unable to walk, he insisted upon
taking part IN the battle at Bautzen. in May,
1918, on hora ulck. He fought in France iu
nearly all the Engagements of 1914, and entered
Paris with the armies of the Allies. During the
long term of peace which now followed he
studied military science to great advantage, and
after advancing rapidly to the rank of captain,
he was soon after assigned to the staff. During
the dispute between Austria aud Prussia In 1850,
on account OF the electorate of Hesse, Won
steinmetz was ordered to Cassel and a'terward
appointed commandant of the place. Although
it was his earnest desire to participate in the
second campaign in Schleswig- Ii olsten in 1864,
he was ordered elsewhere, and had to remain
inactive agail lst his will. During the campaign
agaiDst Austria, Won Steinmetz commanded tue
9th Army Corps, aHd vanquished fand dis
persed three different Austrian army corps
four days. Here it was that the Prussian cavalry,
who had been hitherto considered as inferior to
the Austrian or rather Hungarian horsemen,
proved that they were not only their equal bat
in many respects their superiors. His trium-
phant victory at Skalitz against forces of more
Than twice the numerical strength of the corps
he commanded procured for him the name "the
Lion of Skalitz." Throughout the entire cam
paign Won SteinmetZ did not meet with single
reverse, although he was often compelled to
fight with the odds decidedly against him.