The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1888-08-31

Helmuth Carl Bernhard Won Moltke was
born at Parchine, in Mecklenburg, in 1sO0, and
was, therefore, but little younger than the
late Emperor w illiam. His father, who was
Danish general, educated him in the cadets
academy at Copenhagen. While cadet he
received state aid, and as recompense was
compelled to act as page at the Danish court
TOR year, waiting on the table on grand
occasions After this he Joined his regiment
and became an officer in the Danish army.
He soon after surrendered his commission to
enter the Prussian service. His promotion
was at first slow. Fourteen years passed be.
fore he became first lieutenant, but with
his first promotion he was transferred to the
general staff
In 1885 Won Moltke secured leave Of
absence which was extended to four years.
During this time he was appointed by the
sultan to reorganize his army, and Won
Moltke spent ell the time Of his leave as the
sultan's adviser. He married soon after this,
and the marriage was happy one His
wife died in 1868, without having seen her
husband elevated to the highest rank among
generals by his management of tho Franco
Prussian war two years later.
When Prince William afterwards en-
peron succeeded to the regency in 1857, he
appointed Won Moltke chief Of the general
staff. This virtually made him commander
OF the army. The emperor is the commander
of the German forces, just as the president
Of the United States Is commander of the
United States army and navy. The presi-
dent has no staff, delegating his authority to
the general-in-chief. BY the German system
there is no commander-in-chief except tho
emperor, who commands through the chief
of the general staff Won Moltke also event.
ually attained the highest rank in the army,
that Of field marshal general
In 1864 Won Moltke planned the opera
tions against Denmark, and in 1866 against
Austria; on the former accompanying Prince
Frederick Charles, and on the latter King
William. After Sadowa he prepared to
march on Olmuth and Vienna, but the Aus
trians made peace and rendered the move
ment unnecessary. For this campaign he
was rewarded with the order Of the Black
Eagle. But it was in the Franco-German
war that Won Moltke achieved his greatest
reputation as general When that war
came he was prepared for it, and acted with
the greatest promptnese. Moving his army
of 100000 men and $4,000 cavalry to the
frontier, he deployed his cavalry in his front,
thus masking the movelAents Of the infantry
behind In his movement from Metz he set
at naught one of the Oldest maxims of war,
which says that general should never leave
a fortified position in his rear in the hands Of
his enemy. Putting sufficient troops around
Metz.t hold its force in check, Won Moltke
marched onward into the heart of France.
Metz surrendered, and the Prussians besieged
Paris. For his services in this war the
general was made count.
Won Moltke has one characteristic which
he possessed in common with Gen. Grant.
He is called "the Silent, ," as Grant was called
.'the Sphinx" He wears a wig, which was
formerly chestnut, but after the general
got to be over 80 years old he adopted one
wherein was a mixture Of silver He has
long been member Of tho reichstag, but
never goes on the tribune.
Won Moltke's figure is well known in Ger
lin. In fine weather he has been accustomed
to walk out from his home on Koenigsplatz,
on the corner of Moltke and Bismarck
streets, and called the General Stab;" a tall,
thin man, with sallow, beardless, wrinkled
face, out of which shine pair Of stony gray
eyes, wrapped in a long, dark, military coat,
q cap on his small head, faultlessly dressed
in a generals uniform-a gentleman born in