The state herald., 1915-05-07
N0WGERMANY'S
Interesting SideIights on Career
Of Won Hindenburg.
Brother Of Great Field Marshal Writes
His Bloeraphy-served In War
Of 1866 and In Franco
Prusslan War.
BY STEVEN BURNETT.
international News Service.)

beTliu oOLue Interesting biuch6hen
on .the career Of Field Marshal Won
Hindenburg are contained in biog.
raphy of the leader of Germany's
eastern forces Just issued by his
brother. who takes the pen name
bernhard Won Burgdorff."
The future hero Of all Germany
fought through the war Of 1866 and
later the FrancoPrussian war. In.
cluded in the book are letters sent by
Won Hindenburg to his parents from
the front. Shortly before the begin.
ming of the war of 1866, Hindenburg
wrote:
ut is high time for the Hinden.
burgs to smell powder Our family
has been singularly neglected in that
respect"
Less than a week later he wrote:
Sorry as I am for not having had
an opportunity to see you once more
before going to the front, am happy,
on the other hand, when l look into
the future. so full of promise and real
life. For n soldier war Is the normal
thing, and know that God watches
over me.
'If die 1t will be the most beauti-
full and most honorable DEATH II am
wounded I will have done my best
and II I return unharmed so much
the better!"
In another letter written few days
later Hindenburg says:
my highest aim has been reached;
I have smelled powder: have heard
the bullets whistle. all kinds OF them,
grenades, shrapnel, rifle bullets.
have been slightly wounded and there
fore am an interesting personality.
captured Ave cannon! Hurrah!
above all. however, my beloved
parents. I have experienced Gods love
and mercy; to him be glory unto
eternity. Amen!"
Soon after this was written Hinden.
burg came within an inch OF being
killed. He describes his experience
as follows:
"A bullet pierced the eagle on my
helmet. struck my head without
woundins me severely and came out
behind the eagle. I fell unconscious;
my men gathered around me. thinking
me dead. Half an inch deeper and the
bullet would have penetrated into the
brain and ! would be lying on the bat.
tlefield."
A vivid description of the feelings
Of . soldier during his first battle is
uiv In last o.
IF had to describe the feelings
that permeated my soul Just before the
battle I would say they were these:
First. a certain Joy that at last one
is to smell the powder. then a hesi.
tating timidity and doubt whether. ns
a young soldier. one will do his duty
sufficiently and come up to expecta.
tions.
Then n you hear the first bullets
whistle (they are always accompanied
by laundering 'Hurrah!D you are car
ried away by enthusiasm; short
prayer: n thought OF the loved ones
at home and OF the old name-then.
Forward!
with the increasing number OF
wounded around you the enthusiasm
yields TO n certain coldblood edness
or even indifference. The real excite.
ment does not come until after the
battle. when one has to see the hor.
rors OF war In their most CHASTITY form:
to describe this is impossible. My pen
revolts. Later there will be chance
to tell about this or that striking fea
turc.'
On September 20. 1870. Hindcnbure
wrote.
"We are still before Paris in our old
position. from which we can hardly
move forward on account OF the forts.
The decisive attack. to my mind. must
come from the west. from Versailles
toward the Bois de Boulognc. Today
the good defenders OF Paris are shoot.
Ing salyoa OF bombs-of course with.
out hitting anyone or anything. The
good people at least want TO have done
everything to defend themselves. II
had not 80 much 10 do life would be
quite comfortable In tho trenches.
The only thing We are In need OF Is
candles"