New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-03-10

profession of arms. He began his mill
tarv career at the age of fourteen IN
the service of Sweden, which at that
time was at war with Prussia. but, on
being captured in a skirmish, he readily,
and apparently without any questioning
of the ethics of his course, joined the
hussar regiment that had taken him
prisoner. His captor and later COM
mander. Colonel Belling, undoubtedly
exercised a strong influence in the
formation of young Butchers charac-
ter. II NAV well be that il was from
him that the future Marshal For
ward" got his strange mixture Of piety
and ferocity. The recruit was speedily
promoted to a lieutenancy, took part In
several engagements. and. at the con-
clusion of the Seven Years war, was
stationed in several small .garrisons.
where he distinguished himself by his
reckless method Of life-he was an n
veterate gambler all his days. He saw
active service of a sort again during the
first division of Poland. but was passed
over for promotion on account of his
rough mistreatment of Polish priest
suspected of crime. Bluecher sent in his
resignation: Frederick answered that ne
could go to the devil" He turned 20
farming-the alternative occupation or
the Junker class. and made so great
success of il that he was soon able TO
purchase an estate of his own in Pome-
rama. Frederick the Great forgave him
readily enough. and even presented him
with a large sum Of money. but turned
deaf ear to his repeated petitions for re-
instatement. The great commander of
armies was of the opinion that Bluecher
was not of the material or which good
officers are made.
On the accession of Frederick William
II. however. Bluecher obtained his dear
est wish. At forty-five he was rein
stated in his old regiment, the Red Hus
sars, with the rank that he would have
reached If he had continued in the SER
vice without a break. In 1877 the new
King sent him to Holland with some
troops to support the Stakeholder
against the turbulent Dutch republicans,
but it was not until 1893 that his real
active service commenced again. in the
campaign against France. II was now
that he began 10 earn his reputation for
dash energy. swiftness Of decision and
indefatigable persistence. The peace of
Basel. concluded in 1895, found him
lieutenant colonel. his next employment
being the command Of the so-called
army of observation maintained for the
protection Of Prussian neutrality during
the Austro- French hostilities. When. in
1902. Prussia accepted at Napoleon's
hands the bishopric OF Munster as com
pensation for her loss Of part of the
duchy OF Cleves, BlueCher was sent to
occupy the new territory, which he gov
erned 80 ably that the inha bitants peti
toned the King 20 make him their actual
governor. a tribute TO his good quail
ties that ia worth remembering. as prov
ing that he was far more than a reck-
less. brilliant cavalry leader
1t was in 1903 that Bluecher began TO
oppose with all his might Napoleon's
high handed course in Germany. I'VE
must fight France" became his watch
word. repeated necessarily. even 20 the
vacillating, incompetent Prussian King
himself The war came at last. three
years later. and ended at Jena with the
utter humiliation OF the kingdom
Bluecher, however. came out Of II
crowned with glory He covered the re-
treat from Auerstadt, saved some Of the
artillery by a daring detour. brought his
own small command intact 10 Lubbock,
and. on the surrender of that city, made
his escape with a handful of cavalry
men, causing the French still further
trouble in the open country. Captured
at last. he was exchanged. having dash
ingly earned a national reputation
for bravery, skill and patriotism that
Immediately made him one of the men
toward whom the country began TO look
for It's ultimate deliverance.
Now began the movement for the re-
generation Of Prussia. Stein. Schara-
horst. Gneisenau. Fichte. jain. men Of
state and men Of war. poets. philoso-
piers. patriots all, set about the gigan-
tic task under the watchful eye OF Ma
poleon and his agents. who. though they
might force the dismissal Of one and
another Of these leaders. yet on the
whole failed to perceive the magnitude
and the thorough organization Of the
propaganda. Bluecher. ineptly kept in
command in Pomerania. away from the
centre OF things, made repeated suggcs-
tons for the reorganization of the army
his fame growing until long before the
day dawned he had been selected as the
one man in Prussia to lead her armies
to victory and the reconquest Of lib
erty.
The retreat from Moscow sounded the
hour. The author follows Bluecher
: ~ 8 + 3 I; z; 3 q 81 " T.!