The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-01-20
TALK Of The War
WRITER SEES KAIsER'S GENER-
AIS WHO HAVE WAR FAME.

WRITER SEES kAIsER'S GENER-
AIS WHO HAVE WAR FAME.
HOW ARMIES ARE BOSSED
Men Idolize Won Emmich-Von
Zwehl, Who Captured Maubeuge,
Credits British With Good Defen-
sive Tactics-Zoellner, Specialist on
America, Learns From Our Army.
A correspondent of The New York
Times writes from the German Great
Headquarters in Frame His letter,
which follows, s dated December 9:
I have just eaten my way along
| the German front in France, for a
second visit to the German Great
Headquarters. This weeks lunch
Heeringen, ''the Victor of Saarburg";;
Gen. Won Emmich, 1.-The ConQuerer of
Liege"; Gen. Won Zwehl, 1.-The Hero
OF Maubeuge"; Gen. Won Wild, the
new Quartermaster General, who be-
fore his appointment fought twenty
round draw with the English at
Ypres, though he thinks he won on
| points, and hosts Of coming cham
pions.
1t is literally necessary for an
American correspondent on this side
of the fence to eat his way to the
firing line and back again, for the
German afeld is as hospitable as the
tented Arab, and thanks to their Won
derful field telephone service, they
have you" The A. o. K. (Armee
Ober Kommando) telephone to the
Corps Kommando that you are on the
way, the Corps Commando relays the
news to the Division Staff, the DiTi-
sion Staff rings up the Regimental
| Commander, who phones the Bat
! talon or Battery Chief. To reach
the firing line you have to run the
gauntlet of anywhere from three to
six meals, and il you happen to be
one Of those amazing Americans"
and insist on being shown to an or
chestra seat in the first trench, you
will be sure to find some sort OF a
table spread for you in the very
shadow Of death, for their habit of
hospitality is fireproof.
But while robbing war correspond
ing Of all its old-time romance, the
German, gastronomic way has the
great advantage Of giving you the
maximum of information in the mini
mum of time and Of letting you meet
the masters Of modern warfare, the
men who have done big things, under
ideal conditions, for over after-dinner
coffee and cigars you can and will
if you are an American-ask the
most imprudent questions with the
certainty Of getting good-natured
and courteous answer.
Won Emmich makes the most in
slant appeal to an American. Short
and stockily built and looking every
inch a fighter, he gives you the i'm
preston Of possessing tremendous,
almost Rooseveltian vitality, with q
saving SeuSe Ol uuuOE.
Won Emmich is the general with a
winning smile. He could have been
successful machine politician il he
had iemigrated to America instead of
remaining in Germany and becoming
the most popular general in the Ger
man army, among the men, for he
has the rare gift Of inspiring his fol-
lowers with sense OF personal 10y
atty.
His troops idolize him. They break
out into hearty hurrahs at the slight
est provocation when they see him.
It is lese majeste, but none the less
true to say that they think as much
OF their general as OF their kaiser.
They tell you proudly that he rode at
their head when the city Of Liege was
taken by storm, and after seeing him.
you could never picture Won Emmich
bringing up the rear in motor car,
after the manner that more prudent
| generals use. He has iron gray hair
and a bristly close-cropped mustache
to match, and q very dorid complex
ion, and looks absolutely unlike the
sleek individual whose photograph
was published with his obituary no.
tice in the London press while the
forts Of Liege were still holding
out" on paper.
Asked point blank, Gen. Won EN-
mich stoutly and with great good hu-
NOR denied that he had ever COM
mitted suicide or even contemplated
the step.
"But you know, Excellency, that
you were reported to have lost some
thing like 10000 men before Liege," "
it was suggested.
That's three times as many as I
had" he answered with the win
ming smile"
Gen. Won Emmich will talk quite
freely about anything but himself
and military matters, but few odds
and ends were snapped up. 1t was
interesting to learn that he was in
Liege only a day and a half, then
pushed on ahead in the direction of
Namur with tho bulk Of his CORPS,
leaving only his heavy artillery be-
hind to finish up the remaining forts.
! He did not even know that Zeppe-
lins had taken part in the lombard
men or these forts until ne heard
about it afterward. Later he turned
up at Mons and had a hand in beat
ing the British or eXpediting their
strategic retreat, according to the
point Of view. His subsequent move
ments and present whereabouts are
interesting, but would never rass the
| German censor.
did you feel proud at being Sc
lected to lead the way into Belgium,
| EXcellency," I inquired.
Eyes, of course I did," he replied.
would you like to lead your corps
into England?" For just an instant
what looked very much like the light
of battle was in his eye.
II will go anywhere I am ordered
to go-anywhere, he replied with
smiling emphasis.
Gen. Won Emmich's headquarters
produced an interesting story. At 8
p. m. general alarm was sent out to