The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-03-31
IDOL OF SOLDIERS
Aued Count Is Real Commander
at Verdun.
Count Won HaeseIer, Eighty Years
Old, is Adviser to Crown Prince
Many Stories Are Told OF
Grizzled Old Warrior.

Reriin.-Fietd Marshal Count Won
Haeseler, eighty years old, but sitting
his horse as straight as an arrow, Is
the adviser of the crown prince and
the real commander at Verdun.
The bronzed and grizzled warrior
is the Idol of his soldiers. He Is
veteran indeed. for he fought through
out the wars of 1864, 1868 and 1870.
Despite his age Count Won Haeseler
is one of the most modern and un-
doubtedly one of the most important
of German generals. He is held up
to the soldiers as an example OF the
true Spartan.
On MISUNDERSTANDING Is the aged
generals favorite sport-he presents
striking picture. He sits as straight
as the youngest recruit and his smooth
shaved, wrinkled. but rosy checked
face, contrasts singularly with his
lowing snow white hair.
A great fund of stories has been
built up on Count Won Haeseler: The
most famous OF the anecdotes told
about him is that Of the time when
he fooled the kaiser" as one can hear
German schoolboys tell.
It was during the regular kaiser
maneuvers in May, some twenty years
ago. The emperor made bet that
he would capture the count. He was
the commander in chief Of the reds"
while Count Won Haeseler, comman-
dant of the fortress of Metz. was the
leader of,,the "blues," defending the
heights of the Fort Kaiserin against
the kaiser's forces. 81.
Suddenly "Exzellenz Gottlieb' was
heard to mutter between his teeth:
"Donnerwetter! What's the idea Of
that foolhardy cavalry reconnois'
sance? These fellows seem to be az
ter mel"
The general stan officer to whom
the count had spoken galloped with
half a column Of cavalry after the re-
connoitering party. The horse of the
last man stumbled and threw his rid
er. The general staff officer had a
talk with him, then dashed back to
his commander.
Count Won Haeseler thus learned the
object Of the reconnaissance. After
brief explanation his whole staff
rode forward, forming semicircle
around the count, directly toward Fort
Leipzig. Immediately in front of the
advancing enemy. There Count Won
Haeseler unobservedly left the staff. A
few minutes later there rolled out OF
the forts gate wagon in which were
piled straw and old sacks. 1t passed
closely by tho kaiser and stopped a
few steps behind him.
Gentlemen" said the emperor at
this juncture, II believe we have now
surrounded Count Won Haeseler. am
anxious to capture his person. Allons,
ahead"
And the keisers suite galloped
away.
The count erawled from under the
sacks and climbed out of the wagon,
to the great amusement Of the troops
camping around it.,
What are these troops dO1ng! ne
asked the general in command. by
order of his majesty put out of &C.
toni" was the answer.
The count gave hearty laugh.
General" said he, upon my re-
sponsibility, attack the red army
from the rear. No contradiction,
please, l am responsible!"
Count Won Haeseler being Of supe-
rior rank, the officer of the opposing
army had only to obey.
A few minutes later the astonished
emperor heard the signal of retreat
at his back. At the same moment the
blue" army moved forward and the
emperor found himself in such trap
that he had the bugle blow "Das game
haiti"