MOLTKE'S SUCCESSOR

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1924, 21 August 1888, Page 3

MOLTKE'S SUCCESSOR

I Count Walderaee who succeeds Field Marshal Count Von Moltke an Commander of the German army is of an anoient Prussian family, and was m high favor with Prince Bismarck and tbe 'ate Emperor William. He took a distinguished part m the Franco-Prussian war, and wben the ureatVon Moltke's infirmities compelld him to ask for a deputy Count Walderseo was appointed Quartermast'-rgeneral The CouDtessde Waidersee is, regarded as " a power behind the throne" m Germany The Countess, an American by birth, handsome, clever, and rich, was married m 1864 lo Prince Frederic of Holstein, on which occasion she was created, by the Emperor Francis Joßeph, Princess von Noer m her own right. Her husband having left her a widow after »ix I mouths of married life she subsequently* married Count Waidersee The Berlin correspondent of a contemporary says that her drawing room at Berlin became the pol tico-socul oentre of that capital, and was the rallying place of the chancellor's party. When the heir presumptive married Princess Victoria Augusta of Hoheleswig'Holstein, the aacmdenoy of the Walderaee still further increased, for by her first marriage Princess von Noer is a" great aunt of the royal bride. The latter — neither 'handsome nor intelligent —met with soant favor at the court, and was very thankful to have tho countess to counsel and help her m the new position m which she had been placed by her marriage. Prince William soon became, through hia wife, greatly attached to the obunteee, who is said to- have more influence with tbe new sovereign thaa any other merely private friend. The. lady is said to. be highly educated, liberal, extremely charitable end an immense favorite with all who kaow ber.