The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1900-08-29
THE GERMAN COMMANDER
He Outranbs all tho Other Onicers
in China.

Count Won Waldcrsee, field marshal
OF the German army, will rank all the
commanders of the allies In China
The emperor has decided to send the
famous strategist to the scene OF the
lighting over sea. The other pow ers
have agreed to accept Waldersee as
supreme commander.
GCrmany's Ield marshal is q soldier
OF the nrst magnitude. He is q veteran
| OF two wars, the legitimate successor OF
Won MOltke, and was selected by that
great general, it ia said, rs the most
promising candidate for military hon
ors in the empire. For more than
1000 years Waldersee's family has
been conspicuous in the military af-
fairs OF Prussia. His grandfather was
the author OF Is standard work on the
regulations in the German army,
There are two editions of this BOOK
called Tho Big" and 1.-The Little
Waldersee," and into the hands OF
every new German recruit was placed
copy OF the latter. In 1868 half a
dozen Waldersees were officers In the
Prussian army. a brother Of the count
was killed at the battle OF Bourget
Another brother was commander In
the navy, and other members OF the
family were we'll known for their pa.
| triotism.
While yet u captain the count was
| honored with position on the staff OF
the general Of the army, and he dis.
tinguishcd himself in Berlin, as an
earnest student and thoroughly com.
! potent and scientific officer.
| Few OF the prominent military men
OF Europe are as distinguished In bear.
ing and appearance as the field mar.
shall. Tall and commanding as he is,
he has little Of the imperious style
which is common to the European OIL.
Ger, and, oddly enough, he has passed
through all the grades Of the German
army without acquiring that brus.
! queric almost inseparsble from the
military idea. The count, on the con.
tracy, Is suavity personified, but be
hind all his polish OF manner and ap
parent complacency is force which
those best know how to guage who
have met it In opposition to their own
wills.
1T Is not surprising that such man
should be brilliant courtler as well
as an iiiustr,ous soldier. This was The
impression which Lord Roberts took
with him from Hanover. where he me,
WaiGersce In the military mancuvers
there seso.a! ycG'2 agc ahd WAS the
recipient OF much admirable hospital
ity from the German officer.
Just before he was raised to his pres
ent high rank Count Waidersce dis
tinguished himself at tho Stettir
maneuvers and 80 outgeneralcd the
kaiser himself as to win the unstinteC
/ praise OF Bismarck, King Hum bert, O.
Italy, and others. The emperor did
not conlinc his admiration to words
bnt promoted Count Waldersee at once
to the rank OF field marshal
The generals wife Is us much fav
orite with the emperor as Ia the grea
soldier himself She was formerly Mis-.
Mary Lea, daughter Of n wealthy New
York merchant. AT 2G she was mar
ried to Prince Won Noer, who, at hi
death, left his widow an estate worth
81 100000. The emperor OF Austris
created her Il princess In her c"r
right, and after two years OF widow
| hood she married the dash!ng Wader
SEQ. She Ia said to he even more bril-
liant than her "aouand as courticr
and her Influence In German politics 1
proverbal