Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1916-03-28
Muckensen Rival of
Hindenburg in Affection
of German PEOPLE

sed by Mackensen stand out promi-
nently, and have stood out ever since
he joined the Second Body Guard
FIussars on May 13, 1873 Some of
them obviously have contributed to
his military success; oh.res 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 map,
provided a course that he has at some
earlier time studied the territory in
question. incidentally il might be re-
marked that he generally has done
the studying, for he is prOdigiOus
worker at all times.
Memory For Faces.
Mackensen rarely fOrgets 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 it's physical characteris-
tics. -
Contrary TO general belief, Macken-
sen is the best sort of a comrade, and
lacks the repelling sternness with
which lesser men barricade them
silves. Off and on since 1870 he has
been connected with the Deaths Head
Hussars, and today is their general
la suite. No officer has ever been
more popular, and few more approach
able. There are countless cases on
record Of financial and other aid that
he had rendered, though not a man Of
wealth, to men Of his company, bri |
gade or regiment.
Mackensen's early training on a !
farm or country estate instilled in
him a love of the open and for hunt !
ing that have always stayed by him.
Though almost 81 years old he has !
never been i'll day and is so strenu-
GUS a worker that his younger officers
often have hard work in keeping up
to the pace that he sets.
His principal aversion is the shirk-
er. including the man who, 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 it.
Mackensen himself does not smoke,
because, according to report, of an oc.
in the Franco-l russian war.
He was at the time commission
cd officer in one ofthe famous Black
Hussar regiments. and was entrusted
with important communications that
had to be carried to neighboring
staff. The trip was long, hard and
dangerous, but important in proper
ton
Wanted Cigars. '."
He arrived in time to find the staff
at the conclusion of a dinner, and in
a very peevish mood because thnre
were no cigars on hand. Though Nc
kensen tried to impress on the officers
the importance of his message. their
primary THOUGHT was for something TO
smoke and thew simn1v ion0rnd the
1eenat ches in asking him whether he
had any cigars with him.
As q matter Of fact 'Macknnsnn did
Eapnen to have nnmbe" hut he was
so angry at tho action of his sunerior
officers in nuttino nersora1 comfort
above MILITARY matters that he not
"n'v did NOT oivo aWav hir "er,nkna"
but never thereafter smoked himself
y" tolerated rndre waste of time in
his wav by his later snbordinates.