Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-04-08
NOWGERMANY'S IDOL
interesting SideIightS on Career
of Won Hindenburg.
Brother Of Great Field Marshal Writes
His Biography-Served in War
of 1866 and in Franco
Prussian War. g.
By STEVEN BURNETT.
international News serviceO


Berlin.-Some interesting sidelights
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 Franco-Prussian war. In
cIuded in the book are letters sent by
Won Hlndenburg to his parents from
the front. Shortly before the begin
ming of the war of 1866. Hindenburg
wrote:
1T is high time for the linden
burgs to smell powder. Our family
has been singularIy neglected in that
respect"
Less than a week later he wrote:
Sorry as 1 am for not having had
an opportunity to see you once more
before going to the front, I am happy,
on the other hand, when l look into
the future. so full of promise and real
life. For a soldier war is the normal
thing, and I know that God watches
over me.
IF I die it will be the most beauti-
full and most honorable death; if I am
wounded I will have done my best
and if return unframed so much
the better!"
In another letter written few days
later Hindenburg says:
MY highest aim has been reached;
have smelled powder; l 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 five 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 linden
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
wounding 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 l would be lying on the bat
tlefeld"
A vivid description of the feelings
Of a soldier during his first battle is
given in another letter as follows:
eff had 70 describe the feelings
that permeated my soul just before the
battle I would say they we're these:
First. a certain JOY that at last one
is to smell the powder. then a hest,
tating timidity and doubt whether, as
a young soldier. one will do his duty
sufficiently and come up to expecta,
lions.
Then If you hear the first bullets
whistle (they are always accompanied
by numbering Hurrah!O you are car
ried away by enthusiasm; a short
prayer: a 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 a certain cold-bloodedness
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. Ny pen
revolts. Later there will be a chance
TO tell about this or that striking fea
ture."