The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-04-13
MARSHAL MACkENSEN
RIVALS HINDENBURG
Has Come Into Great Promi-
nence as Result of Victories
His Strong Personality.

| Berlin, (hy mail)-It is doubtful
whether any popular national hero In
| Germany IL In general as little SnoWn'
| either in Germany or abroad, as GEN
| eral Field Marshal August Won Mack
| ensen, he who was instrumental III
| driving the Russians out Of Galicia ana
to whose credit the conquest of Serbia
| lies.
Hindenburg when the war began,
| was an unknown, but the public quick
ly familiarized itself with every detail
OF his life when his victories of Tan
nenhurg and the Masurian lakes made
| him an idol Of all Germany. Macken-
| sen, however Hindenburg's rival FOR
| public affection at present, was only
name until the summer OF 1915, ana
despite his great reputation, Is htue
more now.
Countless streets all over Germany
have been named after Hindenburg;
| statues already have been erected 10
him; he Is weekly in receipt Of requests
to allow the use of his name in this or
that connection. Mackensen, however.
though certainly a rival Of HindenburB
insofar as military achievements are
concerned, Is still far behind him when
II comes to popular esteem or idolatry'
Mackensen's pictures, however, are
to be seen everywhere. They perhaps
are responsible for an impression that
seems to be almost universal that the
field marshal is stern and unapproach-
able. whereas the opposite Is the case;
Scarcely any OF his innate personal
characteristics except that of unusual
ability seem to be depicted on his
strenuous features.
When Mackensen began to tower
above the other German army leaders,
by his achievements against the Rus
slams, and the kaiser in frequent tele-
graphic messages conferred honor after
hi a r.
prise to Germans unfamiliar with
Mackensen's career that q warm per-
sonA note should manifest itself which
had been lacking in earlier messages to
Hindenburg,
The surprise came largely from the
iact that the general public did not, and
to great extent still does not, know
how long standing and cordial are the
relations between the emperor and
Mackensen. The latter, surrendering
the command Of his body guard Hus-
sars years ago. served for q long period
as the kaiser's personal adtutant and
in this position accompanied his chief
on the noted trip to the Holy Land.
Farmer and Soldier.
Few know, either, how narrowly Ger
many missed having Mackensen as
great military leader. He is the son
Of a man who in America would be
rated as gentleman farmer, and him
self was trained to take his fathers
place. Though he emerged from the
Franco Prussian war as a reserve lieu
tenant, he Immediately went back to
civil life, in Difference to his parents
wishes.
For years he resisted the impulse to
60 back into the army, and fought with
himself a battle which his most en-
thusiastic biographer describes as
conflict between ideal and reality. His
university education, belated because
Of the war with France, was almost
concluded. and he was fast becoming in
theory at least a farmer when the OPP
portunlty to go back as a line officer
into the Death Head Hussar regi-
France arrived once more, and his
father reluctantly withdrew his objec-
lions to this career.
A number of characteristics posses
Sed by Mackensen stand out promi-
nently, and have stood out ever since
he Joined the Second Body Guard Hus-
sars on May 13, 1873. Some of them
obviously have contributed to his mill
tary success; others belong to those
peculiarities which successful men in
general have.
In the former category comes, first
Of all, an astonishing memory which
enables him often times to direct OPP
erationS without the aid of a map, pro-
vided, of course, that he has at some
earlier time studied the territory in
question. incidentally 1t might be re-
marked that he generally has done the
studying, for he Is prodigious work.
er at all times.
Mackensen rarely forgets q name or
face, and years after meeting junior
officers astonishes them by calling
them by name when meeting them
again. Few know II, but Mackensen
EJindanhIIrU n N af a
knowledge of his native land, and has
travelled and studied so extensively
that he tinstantl" recognizes any given
place from its physical characteristics.
Contrary to general belief. Macken-
sen Is the best sort Of a comrade. and
lacks the repelling sternness with
which lesser men barricade them
selves. Off and on since 1870 he has
been connected with the Deaths Head
Hussars, and today is their general
Ia suite. No officer has ever been
more popular, and few more approach
able There are countless cases on rec
ord Of financial and other aid that he
had rendered, though not a man Of
wealth. to men Of his company,
brigade or regiment
He Hates Strikers.
Mackensen's early training on a farm
or country estate instilled in him q
love Of the open and Tor hunting that
have always stayed by him. Though
almost 81 years old he has never been
i'll a day and is so strenuous a worker
that his younger officers often have
hard work in keeping UP to the pace
that he sets.
His principal aversion rs the shirker.
including the man whS. though not
actually lodging work, likes to take
things easy and perhaps over indulge
in the creature comforts Of life. The
officer on his staff who Is too prone
to laze over his after dinner cigar or
liquor has not an easy time Of 1t.
Mackensen himself does not smoke,
because, according to report, of an oc-
currence in the Franco russian war.
He was at the time q noncommissioned
officer in one OF the famous Black
Hussar regiments, and was entrusted
with important computations that
had to be carried to a neighboring staff
The trip was long, hard and dangerous
but important In proportion.
He arrived In time TO find the staff
at the conclusion Of a dinner. and
In a very peevish move because there
We're no cigars on hand. Though
MackeIfsen tried to impress on the Of
hcers the Importance Of his message,