Norwich bulletin., 1922-04-05
FAMOUS MEN.
voN MoLTKE

Germany can count many famous old military men to it's credit, includ- ing Field Marshal von Hindenburg, the defeated general of the recent var, but to no one of these generals Of the past does the German heart swell with greater pride than the mention of the name of Count Yon Moltke the hero of the German war of 1870-71. This was the crowning triumph of his otherwise brilliant career and it was attained when von Moltl1e had reached the age of more than seventy years for he was born the year of the be- ginning of the nineteenth century.
 Nor did his activity cease with the winning of this war for he remained in active service for seventeen years thereafter until 1888 and even after his retirement from the army he remained the chairman of the National Defense Commission and this position he held up to the time of his death when he was close to 91 years of age.
 On March 1889 Count von Moltke had the satisfaction of celebrating seventy years active service to his country. When in 1881 he felt that probably a younger man would be more fitted for the position of the l head of the army and rendered his resignation he was informed by his Emperor that "his services to the army are much too valuable for him to be | permitted to leave it as long as he | lives. His resignation can, never be ac- cepted."
 On October 28 1890 Count von Moltke { celebrated his ninetieth birthday and all Germany took a holiday. Twenty years had passed since the great war which had written the name of Moltke 1 in bright letters on the pages of his nations history. During these years i the field marshal had been able to con- tinue quietly working on the edifice of 1 German military power.
 i It was the ninetfeth anniversary of i the day on which he had beheld the 1 light of the world at the beginning of a new century, in a small north i German country town. The chief cele- 1 bration was to take place in Berlin His successor in the office as chief of staff. Count von Waldersee was in command. At the time the field mar shal was living in practical retirement at Creisau but two days before the celebration he went to Berlin and es- tabIished himself for the winter in the staff building.
 As the day of the celebration fell 1 on Sunday the Emperor gave orders i that in all Prussian schools a celebra-
 tion should take place on Saturday
 On the afternoon of that day the field
 marshal received at his home the German empress and her daughters
 As their carriage was announced von
 Moltke went himself with uncovered head to greet them and led the Elm
 peror to his house leaning on his arm.
 1 The chief celebration occurred in the
 evening at the staff building which i had been profuse1y decorated. There
 was grand military review and . laurel wreath of silver was presented to the field marshal as a gift of the
 citizens of Berlin.
 On the morning of his birthday tht field marshal was first greeted by the
 song of the Berlin choir boys ana
 from that on there was one round ot
 reception including visits. from all tht
 nobles and army men who had served
 under him including visit from tht emperor himself. There were deputa.
 tion from all the States of the Elm.