Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-04-13
MARSHAL MACKENSEN
RIVALS HINDENDURC
Has Come Into Great Promi-
hence as Result of Victories
His Strong Personality.

Berlin, (hy mail.)-It Is doubtful
whether any popular national hero Il
Germany is in general as littlc known
either in Germany or abroad, as Gen
eral Field Marshal August Won Mack
Snsen, he VINO was instrumental il
driving the Russians out of Galic;a an
to whose credit the conquest Of Serbi&
lies.
Hipdenburg when the war began
was an unknown, but the public quick.
" familiarized itself with every detail
or ms life when his victories of Tan.
nepburg n the Masurian lakes mad,
him an idol of all Germany. Macken.
sen, however, Hindenburg's rival fol-
PUBIC affection at present, was only {
name until the summer of 1915, and
despite his great reputation, is little
more now.
countless streets all over Germany
nave been named after Hindenburg;
statues already have beer erected tc
MN; he is weekly in receipt of requests
10 allow the use of his name in this on
lhat connection. Mackensen. however
though certainly a rival of Hindenburg
insofar as military achievements are
concerned, is still far behind him when
IL comes to popular esteem or idolatry.
M~ackensen's pictures. however, are
To be seen everywhere. They perhaps
" u IlIlpi cSsoIDIl llittl
GEMS to be almost universal that the
lieid marshal is stern and u~napproach-
able, whereas the opposite is the case.
scarcely any of his innate personal
characteristics except that of unusual
AFFINITY 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
hohor on ann, 1T was a matter of sur
prlse to Germans unfamiliar with
Mackensen's career that a warm per-
soaal note should manifest itself which
mad been lacking in earlier messages to
Hindenburg.
"he surprise came largely from the
act thai the genera public did not, and
TO a great extent still does not, know
now long standing and cordial are the
relatlons between the emperor and
M~ackensen. The latter, surrendering
the of his body guard Hus-
sars years ago. served for a long period
as the kaiser's personal adjutant. and
IN this position accompanied his chief
on the noted trip to the Holy Land.
Farner and Soldier.
Few know, either, how narrowly Ger
missed having Mackensen as q
great military leader. He is the son
OF a man who in America would bs
rated as a gentleman farmer, and him
self was trained to take his fathers
place. Though he emerged from the
y ffusSlan 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
80 back into the army, and fought with
hllnself a battle which his most en-
biographer describes as a
con1llct between ideal and reality. His
OF the war with France, was almost
concluded. and he was fast becoming in
theory at least a farmer when the ON.
Portunity to go back as a line officer
the Death Head Hussar regi-
FRANCE arrived once more, and his
rather reluctantly withdrew his obiec-
tlons to this career.
A number Of characteristics nosses-
sed by Mackensen stand out promi-
nently, and have stood out ever since
joined the Second Body Guard Hus-
sars on May 13, 1873. Some of them
obviously have contributed to his milf
success; others belong to those
pecullnrltles which successful men in
general have.
In the former category comes. first
Oh an, an astonishing memory which
enables him often times to direct on
auon without the aid of a map, pro-
Vloed, or course, that he has at some
earlier time studied the territory In
question. incidentally 1t might be re-
lhent with which he had served in
marked that he generally has done the
studying, for he is a prodigious work
sr at all times.
Mackensen rarely forgets a name or
I race, n years after meeting Junior
oIIlcers astonishes them by calling
hem by name when meeting them
agaln Few know it, but Mackensen
,,na1s in his intimate
snoWiedge of his native land, and has
.raveled and studied so extensively
nat nc tinstantly recognizes any given
from it's physical characteristics.
contrary to general belief, Macken-
zen Is the best sort of a comrade. and
the repe!ling sternness with
Nnlch lesser men barricade them
,een connected with the Deaths Head
1ussars, and today is their general
Ia suite. No officer has ever been
acre popular, and few more approach
lp!e. There are countless cases on rec
'rd or financial and other aid that he
lad rendered, though not a man. of
Vsalth, to men Of his company.
or regiment.
He Hates Strikers.
1unSheiiSeH early training on q farm
n country estate instilled in him a
ove of the open and for hunting that
ave always stayed by him. Though
lmost 81 a old he has never been
! a day and is so strenuous a worker
hat his younger officers often have
ard work in keeping up to the pace
hat he sets.
His principal aversion is the shirlSer
lcludtng the man who, though NOT
lodging work, likes. to take
a1ngs easy and perhaps over indulge
! h creature comforts OF life. The
fficer on his staff who is too prone
. laze over his after dinner cigar or
quor has not an easy time Of it.
Mackensen himself does not smoke.
ecause, according to report, Of an oc-
lrrence in the Franco-Prussian war.
!e was at the time q noncommissioned
fficer in n Of the famous Black
regiments, and was entrusted I
18th important communications that
ad to be carried to a neighhoring staff.
trip was long, hard and dangerous
ut important In proportion.
He arrived in time to find the staff
t the conclusion of a dinner. and
! q very peevish move because there
ere no cigars on hand. Though
[ackerisen triedat impress on the Of
Gers the Importance of his message,
loar primary thought was FOR some.