German Generals I Have Met.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 193, 21 July 1916, Page 2 (Supplement)

German Generals I Have Met.

VON BISSING'S SNUB TO THE KAISER.

By MAJOR-GEXERAL SIR ALFRED TURXER, K.C.R,

In the following article .Major-General Sir Alfred Turner, who was once a peisona giatu in German miltary circles, relates seme remarkable stories ol (»ei man generals with whom lie has been personally acquainted.

" Why are German generals better than ours?''

his fields however muddy it was ; he invariably wore the undress uniform of a field-marshal —in which, I feel quite sure, he will die! A few years after my meeting with von Haeseler I found myself attached to von Bissing' s staff for manoeuvres; and I must say that he was most kind and courteous to me. But he was a terrible martinet to those under his command, and. though he was admired for his military abilities he was feared and hated. Von Hissing never kow-towed, after the fashion of most German generals, to the All-Highest, and a good instance of his strong character and independent spirit occurred at the imperial manoeuvres some years later, soon after his appointment to tile command of an army corps. The manoeuvres were on the point of beginning when the War Lord, appearing dramatically on the scene, informed Bissing that ho (the Kaiser) would take command of the army corps for the day and that Bissing could take his place as umpire-in-chief. Accordingly the Kaiser led the army corps and made some of those spectacular at. tacks which have been carried out so frequently in the war.

The question has been put to me more than once; and always I have had but one reply— to deny the premiss. I must admit, of course, that German generals are, with few exceptions, absolute masters of their profession. They are intensely high-handed, they are cute, they are unscrupulous, and. above all, they are thorough. They are tremendous workers, and they give themse'ves up entirely to their job.

But I do not consider Germany's generals any better than our own, "other things being equal"; and when I make that reservation I refer to the fact that British generals are seriously handicapped and the successes of their campaigns are constantly jeopardised because they are given tasks to perform in war by men who do not know what war is—tasks which are utterly impossible. The Germans, on the other hand, have this enormous advantage in war: that the army is really the Government.

I do not speak without knowledge, for I have known many German, as well as British, generals personally. I met the octogenarian von Haeseler, the veteran who was "dug out" to take Verdun; I know von Bissing, the severe Governor-General of Belgium; I know von Hindenburg, the ponderous conqueror of Pland: and I have come across many more, including the AllHighest himself. I ndouhtedly one of the most remarkable of Germany's is von Haeseler, whose acquainMee I made at Metz when he was commanding the troops and the fortress there. He was one of the most peculiar-looking men I have ever set eyes on, for, though he had long, fair hair upon his head, like a woman. Nature had not bestowed a sing'e hair upon his face. He looked far more like an ascetic priest tuan a sold'er.

When the proceedings were over and the officers had assembled for the criique the Kaiser pushed himself forward and began to offer criticism on the sham fight. Bissing could not let such a lapse of good form pass. "Majestat, keine Einmischung!" ("Your Majesty, no interference heref) he exclaimed respectfully but firmly. I have been told that the" Kaiser fell back with a face as black as thunder. Certainly, his temper was not improved subsequently by the terrible slating which lie received upon the manner in which he had led his armv.

The Kaiser left without a word, and two or three days afterwards Bissing received his discharge from the army—to be recalled on the outbreak of the present, war. Curiously enough, both Bissing and Haeseler appeared to me to be far superior in generalship to von Hindenhurg, tlie Moloch of Germany, to Avhose staff I was attached for manoeuvres when he commanded the 28th Division at Karlsruhe.

Haeseiei' lived solely and entirely for his military profession, beyond which he had not a thought; and he considered that all under iiis command siiould do the same.

He had no sympathy with his officers as regards amusements, which lie despised himself. I was told by an officer at Metz that whenever a party was given there in the evening they tried to keep it hidden from the general—and for sufficient reason. For if he heard of it lie was certain to sound the night alarm just when he thought the party was at its height, so tat all the officers, in their gala costume, had to rush out to their various regiments and take up their allotted posts of defence.

I found him a huge, typical Hun, very much given to eating and drink>ng. H: appeared to be utterly ruthless and without sympathy for his fel-low-creatures. To me he wag coldly polite, but not in the least genial; and I am sure he looked i:pon me as on spying bent. I had been several time 3 at manoeuvres in Baden and had always been admitted to the critique. Hindenburg, however, would not permit this, and I was left coldly outside the privileged circle.

He had no sympathy with his men either. One year, when I was attend, ing manoeuvres in the Grand Duchy of Baden, I was told by an officer from Metz that Haeseler had marched his infantry thirty-nine miles in a single day, thus rendering them unfit for further service for a considerable period.

Hindenburg prides himself on his inexorability. One day some officers of his staff were discussing the comparative merits of Shakespeare, Schiller and Goethe. Hindenburg listened with 'mpatience. At last he could contain himself no longer. "Gentlemen," he said, "I have taken very good care never to make myself soft by reading poetry, and I advise you to do the same!"

FARMING IX FIFLD-MARSHAL S

UNIFORM

It was shortly after this incident that he received his discharge.. But he couldn't give up the army altogether and always wore uniform. He attended to the farming of his estate, and I have been told by German officers that, even when inspecting the ploughing of

As for the Kaiser himself, not by any stretch of imagination can he be described as a leader of men, and his appearance on the field in the present war lias been much more an asset to the Allies than to his own host.