The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-06
FIELD MARSHAL COUNT
VON WALDERSEE IS DEAD,
FAMED AS A SOLDIER
Beloved by the Kaiser and Every
German Who Wore an Army
Uniform.
SKETCH OF HIS CAREER
Skilled in Warfare and Diplomacy
His Widow a Former Amer
lean Woman.

HANOVER, Prussia. March 5.-Field
Marshal Count Won Waldersee died shortly
after o'clock this evening. The doctors.
Prof. Orth. of Berlin. and Prof Eppstein.
OF Gettingen, the great experts in intes-
final maladies. sent by Emperor William TO
attend the field marshal. to-day announced
there was hope for the counts recovery.
he continued TO sink during the day and
passed away tonight.
Count Won waldersee was born at Potts
cam. province of Brandenberg. April s.
1892. AT the age Of eighteen years he left
the Cadette Corps Military SCHOOL, to en-
ter the army as second lieutenant OF the
Guard Artillery. Fourteen years later. in
1864. he participated in the Prussian-Danish
war. His extraordinary ability attracted
the attention OF King William. who ap-
pointed him adjutant TO his brother, Prince
Karl. in whose staff he served during the
opening Of the Prussian-Austrian war In
1866 This war gave him an opportunity to
study Moltke's tactics when he was de-
tailed to the general staff, whose chief was
the great strategist.
In 1870 Count of waldersee was sent 10
Paris as attache to the embassy. The re-
ports which he sent TO his government
previous to the war. embodying his views
how to fight the French army, were of
such correctness and eminent judgment
that he was made an adjutant TO the royal
Headquarters. In this capacity he showed
his great knowledge of men and his fine
tact, when the King ordered him to ac-
company the army of Prince Frederick
Karl This position was very precarious,
for the reason that a comparatively young
officer was practically made supervisor
OF the old warrior, whose well-known reck-
lessness the King wanted to curb But so
diplomatic did Waldersee serve the
King that the prince and he became warm
friends ms IS not the only instance lance
great man; a man who at all times would
keep his personal ambitions in the back
ground to serve great end. They were
critical days in the Loire campaign, when
he succeeded in heading off numerically
much stronger army than that OF the
prince
His many-sided abilities as soldier and
diplomat were recognized, after the con-
clusion Of the war. when at the suggestion
perial ambassador. In the following year
he commanded cavalry regiment, became
chief of the Tenth Army Corps general
STAFF and in 1881 was made assistant OF
Moltke, with the rank of a quartermaster
general. In this responsible position he
served for seven years, until the 10Th OF
August, 1883. when he succeeded his great
master chief of the armys general STAN
In this capacity he became the counselor
OF his Majesty in high military matters.
but disSensiOn soon followed, which kept
the count away from Berlin. The Emperor,
however, saw nit to correct his attitude,
and afterward showed his unlimited appre-
citation of the great ard, 1vithal, so mod
est soldier Ia 1895 Count Won WalderSee
was elevated TO the rank OF. field marshal,
and was the recipient OF high honor when,
on April q, 1900 he celebrated the fftieth
anniversary OF his connection with the
army.
During the Boxer uprising I'm China he
was appointed commander of the German
forces and later was made communicating
chief of the allies.
of a royal house who was always cheered
by the public. Not even the chancellor
was treated with more respect and admlra-
ton, for he had TO do with the Things that
made Prussia great and the empire posi-
bic. His partial eStrangement WITH the
present Emperor in the early part of the
Iatters reign, the reason of which still
remains obscure. had long since disappeared
and had been replaced by the Emperor
cordial friendship.
The count was a man VINO, in the most
exceptional manner, gained the love, esteem
and confidence of his men. Wherever he
went. whatever he undertook, his men were
with him. Amiable and kind, totally free
OF personal vanity towards high or low,
ne was the idol of his felowofficers and
his men. In the field he demanded much,
but he knew how to get it without spelling
the ever-present willingness of his soldiers.
In his private life he found an ever-help-
ing mate I'm his wife, the FORMER Princess
Noer nee Mary Esther Lee, of New York.
The father OF the Countess Waldersee was
a rather impecunious New York grocer,
who left but scant means 10 his widow.
Mrs. Lee went to Stuttgart to live and
educate her children. There she met a
German diplomat, Baron Waechter, after
ward ambassador TO France. In 1864 her
daughter Mary Esther married Prince
Frederick of Schleswig- Holstein, a grand
uncle of the present German Empress. The
marriage took place in Paris. Prince Noer,
Immensely rich and seventy years of age,
saw Mt TO die soon afterwards, and to leave
his immense fortune TO ms young widow.
"A few years later she married the Count
of Waldersee, ten years her senior.