Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-04

Congress has provided for the presenta-
ton of bronze replica to the Emperor
Of Germany in partial recognition of his
gift TO the United States of a statue of
Frederick the Great.
Baron Won Steuben was a Pru>sian-
American general. and history relates
that no foreign soldiers services IN the
American revolutionary army were more
significant and invaluable that those OF
the ITust,idn officer. Frederick William
Won SteuDen. \ descendant OF nobility
of All old Prussian family of warriors. he
was born at Magdeburg. Germany. No
venber II. 11:n. After completing his
military training in the army of FTeder-
ick the Great. he took part i'll the seven
years war in Prussia. and SO distin-
suished himself that the king appointei
him an officer OF his staff.
The names OF Lafayette and kosciusZkI
are Well known To- all Americans, and with
these two men rank the name of Won
Steuben. as all three were the first to be
come conSpicuOuSly known on this sdr
of the ocean. and We're destined 10 be
come the watchWords OF liberty to their
own c"untrymer.
The services OF foreign officers at the
time "f the American revolution were
peculiarly valuable in organizing and dis
clpliniEg tlc army. The c0lonistS had
been well trained during the French and
Indian wars. in q kind Of partisan servi e.
IN which long experience had demon
Strated their superiority over the resu-
larry disciplined troops OF England Put
a the tim" of the revolution they had to
contend against organized -oldicry in the
open fed and i'm the attack and defense
of fortified towns
The colou>ts were taught several fright
full lessons i'm TN" campo gn OF 1876 in
New York and the Jerseys. and nothin;;
nut TN" iudonIiiablc spirit al III" people
enabled tn" arnN tn retrieve the losses
OF this disastrous wear. Tho study OF
tactics was commenced during this year
under the instruction of European inStru"-
tors. and 10 one rendered more important
service in this respect than Baron Fred
erick William Won Steuben. In fact. he
won the subriquet of the drill master OF
the revolution
The ministers Of France had watched
with interest the beginning OF trou-
bic in the English colonies and be-
ing jealous OF the British power. they
wished To aid the revolu,ionists as fav
as they could, without openly compromis-
ing themselves with England until the
colonists had aiven better evidence OF
being abb. to take care of themselves
Aware Of the weak points OF the Ameri-
can army. they were anxious to send
over an olIttf OF experience to drill the
undiSciplined troops and introduce such a
system of tactics as would enable them
to contend against well eql. pped and
organized enemy.
As aid-de-camp OF Frederick the Great
Won Steubtn became thurouphlv efficient
in the training and management OF
soldiers. and st. Gernain. the French
minister of war. picked him out as the
proper man to make the American army
formidable military body. Steubon
was peculiarly fitted for this purpose and
lie was induced to meet st. GERMAN and
Benjamin Franklin in Paris in lII1. when
he consented to undertake the work. Aid
ed by NJ. de B.aumarchais, he left France
and landed at Portsmouth. y. H.. in De
cember. III. Upon his arrival in Amer
ica. Steuhen addressed this cha :;cteiis-
tic letter to the American Congress: "Aiy
only reason for coming is tile desire to
serve people lighting SO just fight for
its rights and liberties. | ask neither
title nor gold. My ambition is 10 enter