Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-03-27
BIsNARCK's SUCCESSOR.

GENERAL Won CAPTuvI has sud,
denly Ccme into prominence, n:
successor to Prince bismarck. He
is necessarily an object Of interest,
and as but little is known of him,
the following biographical sketch
will DOUBTLESS be perused with in
terest:
George Leo Won Caprivi de Caprara
de Montecuculi Is the full name Of the
man whom the young Emperor has
called to step into the shoes Of Bis
marck. The name would lead one to
believe thai he was a DESCENDANT Of the
great general, the Count of Monteru-
Gull, the associate Of Prince Eugene
and the greaI Earl Of Marlborough,
the man who is credited by tradition
with the now famous uiierance that
three things are necessary for war, Of
which the first Is money, the second
money, and the third more money.
But there Is no connection between
Caprivi and the two living branches
OF the Montecuculis. Gen. Caprivi Is
jus. such a man as the young soldier
emperor would be likely to select
He Is soldier. what the Germans call
''sehnedig." That seems to exhaust
what Is known about him TO the world
in general. whatever the Emperor may
know Of him privately. Caprivi has
never been prominent in any diplo-
matte capacity. he is at present chief
Of the admiralty. holding mself the
rank Of vice Admiral, and has occupied
that position since 1883. The great
progress of the navy Of she German
empire during those years and the
well known personal interest Of the
young Emperor in that branch OF the
service may partly account for his
sudden and entirely unexpected pro-
motion over the heads Of those who
have grown old in the diplomatic ser
vice and who were trained under the
Bismarck regime.
"Caprivi was born February q,
1851. in Berlin, the son Of a high ju-
dicial officer. Alter graduating from
one Of the gymnasiurDs'-pre
colleges-of the capital he went in.o
the military service April /, 1919, join
ing the Kaiser Franz Guard Grena-
diers. In 1850 he became second
lieutenant, having in the meantime
gone through a course at tho military
academy. and was made rirst lieuten-
ant in 1859. He obtained caplaincy
in 1861. He went through the war Of
1866 in the Prussian army with the
rank Of major. In 1870 he was made
lieutenant colonel. and after the Fran
co-Prussian war became colonel In 1872
and was placed at the head OF a de-
partment in the ministry Of war. He
was major general Ia 1877. commander
OF brigade OF infantry at stettin in
ISIS, and Of 4 brigade Of the guards
in Berlin in 1881. In December, 1852,
he was transferred to Metz as the CON-
of the Thirtieth division. that
being a most responsible post owing to
the then unsettled condition OF affairs
II Alsace-Lorraine, Of which Metz is
the principal fortress. In March Of
the following year, upon the resigna-
lion Of siosch. he was placed at the
head Of the admiralty, being pro-
noted for that purpose TO the
rank Of q vice-admiral and be- |
coming a member Of the clbinet- |
His choice created n great deal /
II dissatisfaction among naval OH GERS
Zen. Baisch, who was next in rank to
zen. Stosch. resigned in consequen c
4 the slight put upon him. but con-
enied to remain in Office At the re-
Iues; Of old Emperor William. Gen.
,aprivi remained al the head Of the
lavy until June, 1883. when he retired
n consequence Of some disagreement
n relation 10 matters OF organization
he emperor then conferred upon him
he Grand Cross OF the Red Eagle and
laced him in command Of the Tenth
rmy corps, which is st toned at Ham
yer. This position he held at the
me of his present appointment