New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1915-07-13
MACKENSEN SON OF
MEXICAN GENERAL
Famous German General Said to
be Grandson Of American Colonel

Never has there been a great war
In which some big figure did not
arise whose blood or nativity was that
Of another country than that for
which he fought. So far the Euro
>pean conflict has not produced such
a character. Now comes report
that General Won Mackensen hero of
Galicia, who engineered the German
victories over the forces of the car,
is the grandson of an American. The
report has no other substantiation
than an account in a southern news
paper. but it is too interesting TO
be passed over without glance ut
the contention of the genealogist
who presents an interesting theory
of the great military leaders origin.
It is we'll known that Mackenssn
was not born with the enobllng pre-
fix Won" He was plain Mackensen
before the German government rails
ed him in the social scale for his SER
vices previous to this war.
Who is Mackensen?
MaCk0nSon dCCOTuII1S w q oSoENeS'i
from Jackson, Miss, is the German
lied form of McCaleb, and 1T IS
stated that General Mackensen Is
son of General James McCaleo OF
the Mexican army, who was oroered
to be shot by General Santa Anna
during the Mexican war because ne
refused to fight against the Onitea
States his native country. His lie
49, NEoe io fro
of which he is a member and he was
exiled to Germany. There he chang-
ed his name to 'tMackensen," and
his son, inneriting the military in
stincts Of his father. drifted into the
German army.
General James McCaleb of the Mex
can army was the son of Colonel
James McCaleb, who commanded a.
North Carolina regiment during the
Revolutionary war and was the hero
of the battle Of Kings Mountain He
was the grandfather of Congressman
James McCaleb Wiley of Alabama,
and of Coone A. A Wiley, who also
served in congress from Alabama.
Another grandson, DR.. James F. Nc
Caleb, is a prominent planter in Clat-
borne country this state.
Story Not Denied.
So far no one has come forth to-
deny the story or to substantiate 1t.
But the very fact that it was pub
lished shows the fascination such
tales have for the public-never tired
OF mysteries concerning fighting men.
It recalls a dozen such other re-
ports that past wars have produced
One of the most fascinating and at
h. 4 -
about Kuroki, the great Japanese
strategist in the war with Russia
Kuroki was said to be the son of
Polish exile in Japan who entered
the army Of his fathers adopted land
and rose to the highest rank After
the war there was a great deal of
mystery as to the exact whereabouts
of General Kuroki Some said that
he had disappeared, and, although
this was denied, the story has per-
sisted to this day.
Who Was Kuroli?
Another theory Of the identity OF
Kuroki had for its central figure the
most picturesque Of all the military
leaders who have been enshrouded
in mystery This was Gen. Sir Hec-
tor Macdonald, once of the British
to have killed himself in Paris after
serious charges of misconduct had
been made against him. Many men
have come forward with the assertion
that Macdonald is still alive, and
soldiers who served under him have
keep alive the rumor that he has
since been involved In military move
ments in China and other countries.
Arthur Sullivan Hoffman, who
has made life study Of adventures
has file filled with letters from
wanderers who claim to have seen
this brilliant officer or to have heard
directly of his doings since he drop
ped out of sight.
Macdonald's loyal friends have al
ways claimed hes was the victim of
social prejudice because he was one
of the very few men who had risen
from the ranks of the British army
without either money or Influence.
Despite his disadvantages he push
ed his way up to the position OF aide
de camp to Queen Victoria an event
ually became commander in chief OF
Ceylon, It was there that he became
involved in the situation which proved
to be his undoing. He was ordered
before a military court of inquiry, but
took the liberty of going to London
to plead his caused at the war Office
There he was CURLY told to return to
his post and face the music,
Did He Die in Paris?
He left London for Paris and there
he was officially reported to have
ended his life in hotel. The cir
cumstances surrounding his death
We're SO vague and his burial was so
quiet that many friends began to
doubt the governmental version of
the affair Almost in the same year
as his raDOrted death tbe strange sto-