Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-01-07
Aged Field Marshal Active

associated Press Correspondence
bhtl-iN. December l5.-Old Coun,
4 haeseicr. the retired field marshal Is
playing a unique role In this war Some
twenty years ago military mon both
German and foreign. were accustomed
10 look TO him as leader OF Germany's
alHiifs IN 'hc event of war, as he had
acquired great reputation MS a
stFateEist. But the war did not com.
In time to give him his great oppor-
tunity. lie had fought through three
"ars-againSt Denmark In 1864 against
austria In 1866, and against France in
ioio but he was then too young to at
tam nigh rank. and when the present
war broke out he was too old TO com
nnnd an army. Though he was APP
preaching his scventy-ninth wear n.
went 10 the Kaiser, II Is said, aud
hefHod permission TO accompany III.
tF"ops into France. pleading humorous
iy that he had lost a rib there I'm ls7o
which he wanted to find.
Iiacseier got the kaiserls consent.
ana Tor weeks he was following tho
German armies. astonishing the sol
dlcrs WITH his utter contempt OF dan
ger. i'is former orderly, Arnold Rech-
berg tells In German monthly some
interesting stories about his daily life
With the old field marshal. II has re-
peatediy occurred. says Rechberg. tina,
ihe count has ridden in the firing line
or the Infantry while making an AT
tack. The men were advancing only
by rushes, and leaning low to the
ground: but Haeseler would ride calm
~ forward with his attendant, the
target OF French rincs and at times
he was even fired upon BY machine
guns and cannon, without being hit In
this way supcrstitious tradition has
round foothold among tho soldiers as
rally bullct-proof
An incident illustrating his cool dar-
Ing occurred In certain battle, when
he was approaching village in which
the natives We're 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
scratch. Arrived at the farther side he
Ing back from reconnaissance, and
remarked TO him: "Comrade ] adj
wise YOU not to ride through this VII
iagc; the citizens are firing from their
windows, and you would be In danger"
On another occasion the old General
was watching from the edge Of wood
Il battle In which the Germans were
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
II was decided TO send forward a pa
troll. When the patrol rode into tho
village the first man II met was Count
liaeseler, accompanied by his orderly
and French prisoner. He had antici-
pated the patrol on the guess that the
French had left. Both he and the or
derby were unarmed, but when they
saw French soldier lingering in the
village. iIa eseler galloped up to him
and said. In threatening tone: YOU
are my prisoner" Whcreupon the
FrenGhman threw down his rifle, made
n military salute. and replied: yves,
my general"
In another battle he sat under wal
nut tree at the edge of n village and
watched the lighting with n group of
officers around him. Suddenly n French
sholl dropped about 200 yards ahead OF
them. and n few minutes later another
only 100 yards short. An officer was
calling Haeseler's attention to this
when Il third she'll fell only fifty yards
away; two more, gentlemen" re-
marked tho old marshal. land they Will
hit the walnut tree" AS tho party
moved away another she'll exploded
nearer, and a moment later the tree was
squarely hit. 1t was soon asoertained
that the mayor OF the village was in
telephone communication with the
French battery, and was directing it's
fire. The story does not tell what was
the fate of the mayor.
Despite his great age the count still
has n remarkable endurance. 1t is said
that he has remained In tho saddle ms
much as fourteen hours a day In some
parts Of the present war. He is very
abstemious In food and drink; he lives
chiefly from milk and eggs, eating onIv
q little meat; and he drinks no aicohnl
whatever.