Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-07-25
THE PRUSsIAN GENERALS.
acknowledgements, BARON vo!
MOLTKE.

HELMUTH-CHARLEs-BER BARON vO,
MoLTKE.
Helmuth- Charles-Bernard, Baron Vor
Moltke Chief of Staff of the Prussiar
forces, and the man upon whom devolvei
the conduct of the war in behalf of Prus
STA, was born at Gnewitz, in Mecklen
burg, on the 26th day of October, 1900
and is, therefore, at the present time
about seventy years old. While YET
young he entered the service of Den
mark, having already received theoretic
knowledge of military science, and being
recognized as a man of more than ordi-
nary ability in the profession which he
had chosen. AT that time serious com
plications had already arisen between
the crown of Denmark and the Duchies,
the chief point upon which there was dis
pute being royal succession. it was
thought that the male line in the reign
ing family would soon become extinct,
and prospect Of the independence of
the Duchies thus afforded. The project
of annexing Schleswig to the German
Confederation was even openly adyo-
Gated in the Provincial Assembly, and
young Won Moltke SO sympathized with
the German side of the dispute that, in
1922, he entered the service of Prussia.
Here for ten years he remained in subor-
dinate positions, displaying in each such
marked superiority that, in 1882, he was
promoted to a place on the staff.
Three years afterward he visited the
East, and was presented to the
Sultan, Mahmoud ii, who was then
!. n
measures ofreform than bad been effected
by any of his predecessors, intending, if
possible, to make the Ottoman Empire
one of the first powers of the world.
The Sultan knowing that Won Moltke
had already achieved reputation in his
own country for his careful study and
exact knowledge of the art of war, re-
quested him to initiate him into the new
stragetic theories of Europe, and for sew
eral years Won Moltke was engaged in d.
rectiDg military reforms in Turkey--the
results of which were afterward shown in
the Crimean war-and assisted in the
Syrian campaign of 1889. For seven
years after this he saw much OF European
life, wandered about the world perfeeting
himself in his vocation. In 1916 be re-
turned TO Prussia, and was appointed
aid-de-camp Of Prince Henri, living at
Rome, and who died in the following
year. After having been engaged in
several departments and in important
missions, he became in 1856 the aid-de-
camp of Prince Frederick William of
Prussia, and two years afterward was APP
pointed Chief of Staff Of the army, and
vet holds that position. In 1859 he pre-
pared the plan of an expedition, the
carrying ont of which was prevented BY
the prompt conclusion of the treaty Of
peace between the Emperors Of France
and Austria, at Yillafranca, on the
llth day of July. 1859, shortly after
the battle Of SOlferino. For some
years previous TO 1864, the chief feature
Of the foreign policy Of Prussia had been
the incessant pursuit of a plan for the
annexation Of the Duchies of Schleswig-
Holstein and Lauenburg. The crown
jurists Of the Government prepared a
statement according to which the King
of Denmark, and not the Prince of Au-
gustenburg Ia matter about which there
had been much dispute), had been, mp
to October 30, 1864 lthe date Of the
treaty Of Viennal, the lawful sovereign
of the Duchies, and by which it would
appear that his right had been ceded by
treaty TO the King Of Prussia and the
Emperor Of Austria. Prussia, therefore, 4.