Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1916-04-06
Stories of the War
Won Maekensen a National Hero.


1t is doubtful whether any popular
national hero in Germany is in general
as little known, either in Germany or
abroad, as General Field Marshal Au-
gust Won Mackensen. he who was in
strumental in driving the Russians out
Of Galicia and to whose credit the con-
quest of Serbia lies.
Hindenburg. when the war began,
was an unknown, but the public quick
ly familiarized itself with every detan
OF his life when his victories of Tan
nenburg and the AIasurian Lakes made
him an idol of all Germany. Macken-
sen, however, Hindenburg's rival for
public affection at present, was only a
name until the summer of 1915, ana,
despite his great reputation, is little
more now.
Countless streets all over Germany
have been named after Hindenburg:
statues already have been erected to
him. he is weekly in receipt of re-
quests to allow the use of his name in
this connection. Mackensen, how
ever, though certainly a rival Of
Hindenburg insofar as military
behind him when II comes to popular
| esteem or idolatry.
| Few know. either, how narrowly
Germany missed having Aackensen as
a great military leader. He Is the
son of a man who in America would
| be rated as q gentleman farmer and
himself was trained to take his faith
| er's place. Though he emerged from
the Franco-Prussian war as a reserve
lieutenant he Immediately went back
to civil life, in Difference to his par
ents' wishes.
Mackensen rarely forgets a name or
a face. and years after meeting Junior
officers astonishes them by calling
them by name when meeting them
again. Few know It. but Mackensen
rivals Hindenburg in his intimate
knowledge of his native land. and has
travelled and studied so extensively
that he instantly recognizes any given
place from its physical characteristics
Contrary 10 general belief. MacEen-
sen is the best sort OF a cOmrade, and
lacks the repelling sterness with
which lesser men barricade themselves
OF and on since 1870 he has beer
connected with the Deaths Head
Hussars, and today is their general {
, Ia suite. No officer has ever beer
more popular, and few more approach
: able. There are countless cases OF
2 record of financial and other aid tina
5 he had rendered. though not a man o
wealth to men Of his company, brigad
or regiment.
: Mackensen's early training on
: farm or country estate instilled in hin
/ a love of the open and for hunting
that have always stayed by hin
| Though almost 81 years old he ha
I never been i'll a day and Is so siren
n uous a worker that his younger of
L fiCers often have hard work in keep
T ing up to the pace that he sets.
His principal aversion is the shirk
5 er, including the man who. though NJ
: actually lodging work. likes to TAX
q things easy and perhaps over-indule
= in the creature comforts of life. Tt
e officer on his staff who is too pror
u to laze over his after-dinner cigar
= liqueur has not an easy time OF II.
Mackensen himself does not smok
because, according to report. Of a
occurrence in the Franco-Prussis
le war He was at the time q mol
to commissioned officer in one OF the Z;
Is nous Black HusSar regiments, az
s. was entrusted with important con
he munications that had to be carried
I'd a neighboring STAFF. The trip WI
i long, hard and dangerous, but In
l. portant in proportion.
ID He arrived in time to find the sta
lie at the conclusion of a dinner, and in
rs very peevish mood because there we
ne no cigars on hand. Though Maci1e
or sen tried to impress on the officers Z
n importance of his message, tbs
p primary thought was for something
TX smoke and they simply ignored I