The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-04-25

Counts unexpected death caused great sor-
row in the city.
Hemuth Karl Bernard Won Moltke, the great
est military straegist OF modern times, Is dead
and all Germany mOurns his loss He was born
at Pafchim, In MeckleGburg Schwerin, october
2G, 1900, and was the third son OF Baron Won
MO!tke. a retired officer Of the PIuSSian army.
Baron Won NlOke, man of considerable means,
had married daughter of FranZtaih Paschen, a
wealthy and honOred citizen OF Hamburg. but by
the tim that Helmulh was born the fortunes of
his father and grandfather had already been
greatly diminished during the financial panics
that were caused by the NapOleonic wars. In
1903 the Won Mnltkes removed from Parchim to
Lubbock aud resided IN the latter city until 1897.
During these years The family patrnOny grew
smaller and smaller until finally 1t was almost
Oblueraed By the ravages OF the conquerng
Frenchmcu; the climax OF misfortune being
reached in 1906 1u the awful battle OF jena
Prussia had passed through the hnmilia ion OF
after def"at, but Marshal Butcher with a rem
uanl OF tie a. my made a last desperate stand in
The city OF Lub-cK In The month OF November
the French attacked him In overwhelming force,
Storm and captured The city aud then sacked
tan order being issued that the victorious
troops could riot and plunder for three days.
During this period OF horror Baron Won Mo- ke's
house was almost totally wrecked, everything OF
value IN it being stolen, and before another year
had passed lie was comparatively a ruined man.
Then II was tha Helmulh Won Molkt became
imbued with an intense hatred for the French,
and 1t is on record that the six-year-Old child
corded a vow OF vengeance against the ruthless
invaders. How lie Kept that vow The world
knows, bui IN It's fulnlllug there was no talnt OF
rapIne or needless slaughter.
THE RETIRED PRCssIAN OFFICER
Finding himself and family stripped of wealth
and almost lacking The very necessities OF life,
applied for and obtained a position in the Danish
Army, and ere his death rose to the rank of
Lieutenant-General in that service. In the
meantime his sons were sent to the noted school
of Pastor kuckbein, III the village of HOheu-
ielde, aud II While here that Helmuth gave
the first marked evidence OF his ability as mill
taTy straIeGist. Moltkes Island" pach OF
land in the center of a little lake or pond, is
pointed out a. the scene OF his trst victory, Tor
at The age of 10 he, as The commander OF squad
OF boys, by a clever ruse Captured this island
and ITS defenders, the leader OF the defeated
force being his elder brother. During the fol-
loving year lie was sent To the military academy
at COpenhagcn aud remained six years in that
institution. To this period of his life he always
referred IN DltieT Terms, anu long aitrfWafd he
wrote Of the academy " We were treated rig0r-
Ously, nay, even harshly, and to this day am
convinced that the regulations were lu all re-
Speets too sever. The sole benefit l derived
from such treatment was thai It Injured me 10
every kind Of priYation."
Poverty was probably the most painful feature
OF his academic eXperlence. Tor he was unable to
Join In the pleasures OF his comrades, aud there
fore led an almost friendless, lonely life Am
bition spurTtd him on, however, and he studied
so diligently and inlelllgentiY that / The eXaml.
nation III 1918 lie took III first place on the list
of candidates for tile position of officer in tie
army. According Is Danish custom he for one
year performed the duties OF page at the court,
and then received commission as SECOND Lieu
tenant in the luxembourg Regiment OF Infantry.
AT this time Denmark was In 4 disOrganiZed
condition, for, as The ally OF Napoleon, she had
been forced 70 share the penalty OF his defeat
Her treasury was bankrupt, her politics dis
tuTbed aud her future prospects dismal to con-
template. A career in her army held out there
fore, few Inducements for ambitious men, and
many OF the young officers resigned their com
missions TO take service under foreign govern
ments. MOlke was one of lie number.
Being, on account OF his fathers poverty, en-
tlTely dependent upon his own resources, and
EnaI as. ufuIN Nhara F
him practically no hope OF either distinction or
promotion, lie decided 10 cast In his lot with
Prussia, This was no hasty decision, made
IN A MOMENT cF PETULANCE
Or discomfort, but was arrived at after three
years of service In the Danish Army; years of
privatiOn hat promised no bettermenI. de-
scriptOn or him at this time says lie was "a
graceful young man, with fair hair and good
numored, blue eyes, with a quiet courtesy Of
manner and frank sincere cOuntenance, over
shadowed at times with pensye melancholy.
There was no difficulty, however great, which
his indomitable energy aud hXity OF purpose
could not overcome. His comrades respected
him greatly, aud this lie knew, but lie forbOrc TO
profit by IL. While in social Intercourse free of
conversation and communicative, he maintained
In his official capacity stern reserve, and was
notably InDued with an unfnchng devotion 10
duty coupled with a rare splllt OF conscientious
ness"
On Christmas day, 1921, he wrote the follow.
Ing letter 10 the KING OF Denmark:
Tout Puissant Seigneur: / have the honor to ask
your Majesty for my dismissal from the Danish
Army. 1t is with great regret that have come to
this determination; but believe that l can easily
enter the German Army. where l sure OF rapid
prom motiUn, as one branch OF my family occupies a
high rank in Germany repeat that my regret is
great leaving country which, under The scepter
of your Majesty, presents the picture OF happiness,
but my personal interests demand the sacrifice.
also beg your Majesty to grant me In addition an
allowance oil three months pay in order to cover
the expenses OF my removal, which would other
wise greatly embarrasS my purse exceedingly light
just now. l await with confidence a favorable re-
ply from your Majesty, who is paternal with all
his subjects. Would that circumstances should one
day place ii In my power to use the position am
about to obtain abroad in way prove my devo-
tion to my native country as well as to your
Majesty.
II viii be noticed that In this document the
writer claimed 10 be native OF Denmark, aud
also that he asked for pecnnary aid. The natal
claim may be regarded as dn eXcusaDle misstate-
ment, as his early childhood had been passed in
Denmark, but the request for money coming
from man Of his independent character inol-
cafes his extreme poverty at that time especially
when one remembers what a w0eIuy small
amount the three months pay OF Second Lieu
tenant IN tie Danish Army represented. The
resignation was accepted, but no record appears
that the petition for ezra pay was granted
With the order OF dismissal came letter which
stated that ''hls wish had been granted because
the Danish Army would suffer no great loss by
the withdrawal OF Second Lieutenant Won
MOtke." This cruel insult coming as the sole
reward Tor long years of hard work and prlVa-
Iion must have been terrible blow 10 the sensi.
tive and somewhat misanthropic young man,
and In the light CT that letter can any one won
der that Moltke leadiy aided IN forcing upon
Denmark the humiliation OF 1864?
few days after receiving this contemptuous
discharge lie went TO Berlin, brilliantly passed
bis examination aud shortly thereafter was given
a commission as Second Lieutenant OF the Eighth
Infantry Regiment. According to his biog-
raphers, from this time on lie ardently aud
asSidu0usly pursued his
MILITARY AND OTHER STUDIES.
More particularly geography. strategy, tactics
and fortihcatiOn, 10 which ho soon attained such
high proficiency that lie was jocI1arIy nick
named "the compendium OF military SCIENCE"
IL Is perhaps q singular fact that M0tke was
one OF the most distinguished liugulsts Of
Europe, IN view Of the other fact that, like Will
lam OF Orange and our General Grant, he was