The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-10-18


Once upon q time the islands we're
fortified and there are still to be found
the remnants of star shaped fort
bearing above It's stone gateway the in
scription. "E. r. 1888" which carries 1t
back to the days of Queen Elizabeth
and Of the Spanish Armada; while
Giants Castle, a precipitous headlani,
Is still adorned with the easily distin-
guished remains Of an old Danish
stronghold dating from the period when
the islands still formed part OF Lyon
nesse and were connected with the
mainland. Many ancient weapons of
that epoch are being continually turned
up during the digging operations Incl
dental to the increase of the area of
flower cultivation.
There Is nothing that suggests the
Arthurian hero, or the legends in con-
nection with the Holy Grail, in Gen.
Alexander Won Kluck. the near septua-
genar!an adversary Of Sir Horace
Smith Dorrien. and with whom he Is
still at the present moment fighting for
the mastery, with a doggedness and
, obstinacy that Is absorbing the atten-
ton of The entire civilized world. Won
Kluck. unlike Sir Horace, is a man OF
obscure origin. entirely self-made ana
so little known outside the military
caste OF Germany that II is difficult
to find any one. even among Germans,
who is in position TO furnish any
Information concerning his career.
He is a Westphalan, son OF an i'm
poverished architect. who was in bust
ness at Munster and who died when
Alexander was only IS years old. The
4 10 ,Io 80 IT,,
1866. in the seven weeks campaign
OF Prussia against Austria, and as a
/ Lieutenant OF the Fifty-hfth Regiment
I OF Prussian Infantry took part in the
battle OF Sadowa. In the Franco-Ger-
man war. four years later, ne won the
Iron Cross and was twice wounded be-
fore Metz. while serving under the or
ders OF Prince Frederick Charles OF
Prussia, to whom Bazaine subsequently
surrendered Metz.
His promotion was slow. or bour-
rco!s parentaGc. he had no family in
huence to exert itself in his behalf.
and had TO make his way wholly and
entirely by his own merits. Indeed t
was nd; until he had risen to the rank
, Of Colonel and was stationed for time
4 az Berlin during the years Immediately
/ preceding the American war with
/ Spain. that he attracted the notice and
| won the good will OF the Kaiser, who IN
/ 1899 advanced him to the rank Of
| Maior-General. then of Lieutenant
/ General. and finally 20 the command
/ Of the First Army Corps. at the same
/ time raising him to the rank of noble.
The General has no fortune whatso-
ever OF his own. having married. whllc
still a Captain of Infantry. a member
81 the Won Donop family, almost as poor
ns himself, and both are entirely do
/ pendent on his pay. Failure means
for him retirement on the terribly mea-
! gre pension OF general officer OF the
German army Success spells for him
comfort and afIluence for the remainder
| OF his days. Thus far he is the one
| German commander in the field who
has achieved military fame and dis
| tinct!on whose name. Totally unknown
abroad until eight weeks ago. is to-
| day on everybody's lips and who when
! the history OF the present great strug-
gle comes 10 be written will feature
therein as one Of It's mos: conspicuous,
! most able and one may add, ono of
It's most heroic figures.
S.ll another commander to win a
great name for himself in the present
war is the Russian General sslmo
Grand Duke Nicholas Nicholaiovtch
perhaps the most martial figure OF the
entire Muscovite army standing, as
ne does, over six feet six in his stock
.nged feet, broad shouldered. deep
chested slim WASTED, spare fdnked and
long shanked. with an air OF supreme
military distinction. and retaining a
wonderful amount of physical elias
tclty, despite his sixty years. Although
he took part IN the Turco- Russian wal
OF 1877, winning the Cross OF -
George for feat of conspicuous gal.
lantry as n young cavalry officer, ye+
Ibis present international corf'agratior
has furnished 10 him the first opportun
!ty OF his career TO win laurels as vic
torious commander, having had M
share in the conflict with Japan II
Manchuria, nor in any OF the trans
caspian campaigns.
His youth was very unhappy Fo'
his mother, TO whom he was devoted
was rendered intensely unhappy by ne
husbands complete neglect and fagran
irhdel!ty, especially IN connection witt
the English wife OF one of his Englisl
stable employees a woman upon whom
! he lavlshed vast sums OF money IN N
most public fashion, leaving his VII
, and children in financial difficulties II