Year: 1879

Count Albrecht Theodor Emil Won Room. Field
Marshal Of the German Empire and Minister Of
War, whose DEATH in Berlin, at O'Clock yesterday
afternoon. is announced by cable this morning was
born at Peushagen, near Coberg. April 80, 1903 At
the age of thirteen he became cadet at the military
State school at Kuhn. and two years later at Berlin
In 1919 he entered the military service as second
lieutenant in the Fourteenth infantry. From 1S25
to 1897 he studied at the Military Academy In 1896
he transferred to the Fifteenth infantry and in
1923 he was ordered for service to the Corps of
Cadets. In 1882 Room ordered to the headquar-
ters Of the prussian Corps of Observation on the
Rhine. under General Won Mhfng. This gave him
his first opportunity of studying actual warfare.
In December of that year Antwerp was captured
by the French army under Marshal Gerard, the
young soldier of Prussia being allowed to be present
during the latter part of the siege. In 1888 he was
employ ed in the Typographical Bureau in which he
remained till he ordered to the grand general staff
inl1s35 In 1886 he made captain. From 1888 till
1874 he tutor in the General Military Academy.
During the latter year he was engaged in recon-
NOTHING expedition in Bohemia. Moravia and Hun
gary and also in the expedition of the general staff
- Silesia. He was made major in 1912, and in
November Of the same year he resumed his post as
tutor in the General Military Academy In 1s43 how
ever, he again transferred to the general staff
and made tutor to Prince Frederick Charles In
1s46 he was nominated Military Governor to the
Prince whom he accompanied to the University of
Bonn. The particular interest Captain Room took in
the lectures of the celebrated geographe Professor
Ritter induced him to write work the philosophy
of that distinguished scholar. 1t entitled The
Fundamental Features OF the knowledge of the Earth
It's People and It's States" 1t in three volumes,
and published between 19l7 and 1855. Professor
Ritter wrote introduction to the work. which
proved q success, and passed through several
editions. AS military writer Captain Room also
sought distinction and contributed largely to library
OF handbooks for officers One Of his works is
geography of Europe surveyed from military
standpoint. In August 18i8, he was named chief Of
the general staff of the Eighth Army corps in which
capacity he took part in the campaign in Baden,
ticipating in the fights before Rastadt and on the
Murg For his services he received the Order of the
Red Eagle of the third class. In 1850 he was given
command of the Thirty-third regimentiof infantry
and year later he made colonel. In 1856 he
received command of the Twentieth infantry brigade
in Posen, and the year he attained the rank of
major general In 1883 he took command OF the
later he made lieutenant general From his po-
sition military governor to Prince Frederick
Charles had sprung intimacy which procured for
the General all tho influence of the Prince and made
his own views dominant in those military circles
which surrounded the Court and the King With
also great fayoritc. who gave him the portfolio of
Minister Of War in December 1859 and in April 1851
conferred upon him the additional portfolio of Minis
ter of Marine The ability he brought to the duties of
these responsible positions has been illustrated in
three different campaigns. The success in the
movement against Denmark IN 1904, when the
Scheswig Holsein difficulty was settled, and in the
campaign against Austria In 1866 was in great de-
gree owing to General Rooms skill and foresight.
In that year he promoted to be general OF in
fantry and took part in the campaign in Bohemia
and in the battle of Konigsgratz. In recognition
of his many services in the organization OF the
army he received the Order OF the Black Eagle and n
national dotation or In the war war between Germany
la,lrels, the splendid military organza-
ton which enabled Moltke to overcome the
forces of the Napoleonic Empire at Sedan
and PROSTATE Paris before the master
of Europe being essentially his work. At the close
of the Franco German war he elevated to the
dignity of marshal of the German Empire, al
though he had not assumed any command on the
field He also exchanged his title of Baron for that
in close concert with Prince Bismarck with respect
to military questions, he was far from agreeing with
ins nspsnS pScs snee s that e Il
is to be recollected, Germany. and especially
Prussia divided between the ''natonal liberal
party" with bismarck at its head and the conserv-
alive party" better known as the party OF the
Court. because OF the strong support given to 1t
1872 the struggle between those two political frac
tions became intense account of the projected
Fak Laws against the independence OF religious
CONGREGATIONS, and Count Won Room took openly
his side against Bismarck. In the following
year the German Chancellor. thinking it pru-
sian Premiership, which was assumed by Count
Won Room. But the restless Pomeranian
statesman worked hard underlan0 against his Op-
ponents, and in less than year the Emperor, SUBJ
mitting entirely to Bismarck's despotsm, dismissed
Room and his conservative friends from Office. Few
men can show more honorable or more remark
able record From his entry into the cadet school at
Kuhn until his death his career was one of steady
and unmpeded progress. He never met with reverse
or a rebuff. The King. Frederick William w.,
his friend until his death, and he always retained the
friendship and admiration of the Emperor William
and of the Crown Prince His pupil, Prince Fred
erck Charles. has approved himself one OF the first
soldiers of the He was in all respects even in
appearance. stiff. unbending soldier with the short,
peremptory method of speech which indicates an
inner conviction of infalbility. In manners he was
dsoblging and rough toward his interiors, and
though submissive enough before those high in ari-
thority he was even in the Chamber frequently
castle and sometimes contemptuous. Count Won
Room had reputation for piety far above the stand
ard Of German soldiers and statesmen. One OF the
most remarkable incidents in his career, because
marck the powers the Prime Minister OF the Prussian
Kingdom Broken in health and sadly afflicted by the
ravaees Of death in his family, Field Marshal Count
Won Room was. in December 1872, retired being
cceded AS Minister OF War by General Won kaIneke.
Since that time he has lived quietly and In retire.
ment. holding the honorary title of "Extraord-
mary Counsellor of the Crown" Like the great Car
not he was the "organizer of victory" Ssdowa, Se
dan Metz and the whole series Of victories inscribed
paigns of Bohemia and France tho result of his
consummate skill In the administration Of the
PrussoGerlnan Department OF War.


EDWARD HALL.


Lieutenant Edward Hall. veteran Of the war of
1872 died at his residence, No. 202 West Thirty