The Washington herald., 1915-07-25

g. :. . 49, !, 81 I. y " ::s :.y
q Wort NJ - Of tn ~ too11m
q the - 81 fought. 111l
reached ~ ~ irts and foo19 ~ q
bridge 1oe4D ii river giving 1o4W II
the VIM ~ been destroyed 80 ~
p0sts W1e4 ~ standing. H Do11(1
70 ef1U3 - enc to a6othx = 80
rosta UlDe ealthily into ~ y
and H0l4 j flled with sodopo4 a.
CreAe4 ~ - the intruder and he -
. hAf4 - Setting back over the rivSo
and into his own lines.
At Toury. IN France. on October 3.
1870, there was q piece Of scouting to be
done that looked like certain death to
those attempting 1t. Prince Albrecht,
the Prussian commander, called for w.
unteers
Mackensen stepped forward. 30 did
other daring spirits. Mackensen was
placed in command Of four of them and
set OF. He got within the French lines
and found out what was wanted. Then
the hve men scattered and started back.
Over and over again Mackensen had
to hide from squads of French soldiers.
or else disarm the suspicious of peas.
ants-once he did this by covering his
Prussian helmet and uttering q few
words in French to q group, who went
their way never suspecting that they
had to do with one of the invaders.
But after a while the youths citation
the better Of his prudence and, meeting
q French soldier, he shouted "Vive Ia
Prusse!" at the top of his lungs and
dashed past. The Frenchman fired,
other French soldiers appeared, and IL
looked as II 1t was all up with Macken-
sen. But by furious riding he got away
and burst into the Prussian lines with
his precious information about the en-
envy. after he had been pretty well given
up for lost. Prince Albrecht himself
stepped forward to meet him and ex-
claimed:
You have given an example to your
comrades Of which they and you should
be proud" The daring scout was then
to dine at the princes table,
where he was obliged to tell the story
Of his adventure from first to last to an
group Of his superiors.
A few weeks later he received the
Iron Cross.
Another exciting adventure occurred
at Dannemois, when a sergeant of the
Second Hussars. by name Bliesener, hav-
Ing Just seen his lieutenant, Won Horn,
killed In q fight with an ambushed de-
tachment Of Frenchmen, rallied a few
hussars, among them young Macken-
sen, and charged tia enemy's position,
thirsting to avenge the young officer. The
charge carried them into the village Of
Dannemois. where there was a hand-to-
hand fight with the French, who de-
Tended themselves with the utmost
bravery. But the hussars. calling to
each other that their officer must be
avenged, drove the foe through streets
md fields and vineyards, until finally not
single one was left alive.
That fight had an interesting sequel.
Some years later young Mackensen fell
N love with and married the sister of
that Lieutenant Won Horn whose death
had aroused his comrades to make such
IN Irresistible attack ON those who had
caused his death.
After marching with the German
armies to Paris and seeing William OF
Prussia crowned German emperor, Mack.
,nsen entered upon the long years of
,eace which were to intervene between
lis exploits as q fiery youth and his
achievements as q leader of German
lrmies against Russia. First of all he
vent back to his interrupted studies, en-
oiled himself at the University of Halle.
md did not return to the army until
1873. when he again Joined his own old.
lussar regiment. Later he was made
Idtutant Of the First Cavalry brigade
md stationed ct Koenigsberg-not far
rom the Polish battlehelds where ho
ought last winter.
In 1873 he was promoted to first lieu.
enant and in 1880 got place with the
GENERAL star. He was made captain IN
1852 and continued until 1887. when h0
squadron Of dragons Sta
ioned ct Metz.
General von NAckensen has three sons
nd daughter b. his nrst wife, Dorh
ON Horn. sister Of the lieutenant killed
{ Dannemois. In 1908 he married .
scond wife. L.eonis Won der Ostsr.
The hussars with whom he made the
$40 campaign are his nyst lovs. Though
. has riosn to emineneo dnoe ho oervod
ndsr their halnsr. he nearly always
yeaxe thetr untfosm. and his lrst lroa
- ) "a 80 8 = -.