The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-05
PLAYS UNIQUE PART IN THE PRESENT WAR Count Haeseler Inspires Men
 by Contempt of Danger
 TALES OF HIS DARING
TALES OF HIS DARING
Rode Through Village in Defiance of Snipers-Sat Under Walnut Tree and Watched Enemy's Shells
 Come Closer and Closer

berun, December 21.-(COrresponU once of the Associated Press. )-Oid Count Haeseler. the retired field mar shal Is playing unique role in this war. Some 20 years ago military men both German and foreign, were accus- toned to look to him as leader of Ger many's armies in the event of a war as he had acquired a great reputation as strategst. But the war did not come in time to give him his great opportunity. He had fought through three wars-against Denmark in 1864 against Austria in 1S66 and against France in 1870, but he was then too young to attain high rank and whei, the present war broke out he was too old to command an army. Though he was approaching his seventy-ninth year he went to the Kaiser, it is said, and begged permission to accompany the troops into France, pleading hu- morously that he had lost rib there In 1870 which he wanted to find
 Haeseler got the Kaiser's consent and for weeks he was following the Ger man armies. astonishing the soldiers With his utter contempt of danger. His former orderly, Arnold Rechberg tells In a German monthly some interesting stories about his daily life with the old field marshal. It has repeatedly oc- cured, says Rechberg, that the count has ridden in the firing line of the Infantry while making an attack. The men were advancing only by rashes and leaning low to the ground but Haeseler would ride calmly forward with his attendant, the target of French rifles and at times he was even fired upon by machine guns and can non without being hit. In this way a superstitious tradition has found foot hold among the soldiers as to the old marshal being supernaturally bullet proof.
 Defied the Snipers
 An incident Illustrating his ccol dar- Ing occurred in a certain battle when he was approaching village in which the natives were firing upon the Ger mans from their barred houses. To the left and the right the German lines were advancing. Somebody warned him not to ride through the village owing to the "sniping" going on there but he rode through without getting a scratch. Arrived at the farther side he met patrol under a lieutenant com ing back from a reconnaissance. and
 
 You not to ride through this village the citizens are firing from their win dows and you would be in danger"
 On another occasion the old general was watching from the edge of a wood a battle in which the Germans wero trying to dislodge the French from a village which was strongly occupied After a time firing from the village ceased, but it was still uncertain whether the French had withdrawn, so 1t was decided to send forward {, pa- trol When the patrol rode into the village the first man it met was Count Haeseler, accompanied by his orderly and French prisoner. He had antici- rated the patrol on the guess that the French had left. Both he and the or derly were unarmed, but when they saw a French soldier lingering in the village Haeseler galloped up to him and said in a threatening tone: s'You are my prisoner" whereupon the Frenchman threw down his rifle. made a military salute and replied: Yes, general"
 [ Watched Shells Fall Closer
 In another battle he sat under a wal. nut tree at the edge of village and watched the fighting with group of officers around him. Suddenly a French shell dropped about 200 yards chead Of them and few minutes later an- ether only 100 yards short An officer was calling Haeseler's attention to this ,id., en a third shell fell only 50 yards v sy; two more, gentlemen" re- larked the old marshal, and they will nt the walnut tree" As the party ut Ted away another shell exploded still IT. Ter. and a moment later the tree
 squarely hit. It was soon ascer-- -o' led that the mayor. of the village 'E in telephone communication with {, Ie French battery and was directing