Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-10-19
Won HINDENBURC
PROVING TO Be
BRILLIANT GENERAL
CORES. of The Associated Press.)

Berlin, Sept. 22.--General Won Hind
enburg, who distinguished himself by
winning two great victories over the
Russians and taking about 100000
prisoners within three weeks, was a
comparatively unknown man, so tar
as the general public is concerned,
when the war broke out: and 1t seemed
wholly probable that his name would
go down to history as a blank, for he
had already been retired from active
service three years ago, at the age of
"a His health, moreover, was not such
as to warrant the expectation that he
would still achieve work of distinc
ton. He walks with great difficulty
being subject to both rheumatism and
govt.
In view of his health he was not re-
called into active service when the
war broke out, although he enjoyed
high reputation among military
men. 1t was only after General Won
Prittwitz and Gaffron, at first in COM
mand in East Prussia, had committed
serious errors in strategy that the
Emperor decided to make a change Of
commanders. The General Staff
called into consultation told him that
Won Hindenburg was the only man to
save the situation there; and Won
Hindenburg, Notwithstanding his 67
years, was appointed He was living
at Magdeburg, but came to Berdin at
once upon hearing of his appointment.
Here young officer took him in an
automobile at high speed to the seat
of war On the way they were met
by staff officers from the East-Prus-
sian army, who gave Hindenburg
full description of the military situa-
ton, and by the time he arrived at
the scene of action he had already
formed his plans for crushing the
Russian Narev Army.
According to one report his appoint
ment meant a sacrifice of personal
pride on the part of the Kaiser, be-
cause it is said that Won Hindenburg's
retirement from active service in 1911
was due to an over-rash remark he
made to the Kaiser at the mauoeuvres.
Won Hindenburg so the story goes after
having gained a decisive victory over
the Kaiser's forces, said to him after
the Thanksgiving: Yes, your Maj
esty, and if this had been real war
we would have driven you into the
Baltic Sea" The Kaiser resented this
remark, and Won Hindenburg's retire
ment soon followed.
Since his astonishing victories in
East Prussia the military writer's have
reviewed a story illustrating his bray-
cry at the battle of Sadowa, or
Koeniggraetz, in which he took part
as a second lieutenant in the royal
body guard regiment, the Garde du
Corps.
Suddenly the rifiemen of Lieut.. Won
Hindenburg,' writes the historian of his
regiment. were fired upon with grape
shot. A battery had hurried forward
from Rosberitz and had opened fire
upon them at very short range
After returning a short rapid-f1re
Lieut.. Won Hindenburg ordered for
ward, double-quick and dashed for
the Austrian guns. Grazed on the
head and knocked down by grape
shot he lay stupefied for few mo-
ments. Then, recovering, he jumped
up and saw that three cannon were
already in the hands of his men, while
the two others, one with two horses
and the other with one, were being
but it was impossible to bring them
off the field"
Won Hindenburg later saw hard SER
vice in the war of 1S70-1S71, taking
part in the battles of Gravelotte, Sc
dan and others.
Much of his active service was spent |
with the general staff, to which he was
first ordered in 1877, after he had |
spent three years in the war academy |
Seven years later he was assigned to
service at the front as company COM
mander, but in the following year |
returned to the general staff, where |
he soon advanced to major In 1889 |
he was assigned to the war ministry, /
was made lieutenant-col two years |
later and in 1898 took command, as
of the 91st infantry
and two years later he was made
chief of the general staff of the seventh |
army corps. He advanced rapidly to
brigade commander, was successfully
promoted to be major-general and
general. and in 1903 was
made commanding general of the
fourth corps.
In the last named capacity Won
showed his executive abil- I
lty and knowledge of human nature
by the manner in which he was able
10 secure the cooperation of two of his
generals, Won Prittwitz and Gafron,
md Won Bernhard. The former was