VON MACKENSEN.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VI, Issue 271, 1 November 1916, Page 3

VON MACKENSEN.

AN “IRON RAT.” “THE ARCHANGEL MICHAEL ” STRIKING PEN PICTURE. The famous Field Marshal Mackensen is in command of the enemy forces that have so successfully invaded the Dobrudja. M. Petroff, the well-known war correspondent of the “Russkoe Siovo,” gives the following pen-picture of him. The German prisoners of war, he says, speak of him as “Archangel Michael with the flaming sword, put to defend the Carpathians.” According to the statements of those Austrian officers who have had the opportunity of meeting Field Marshal Alackensen, he is a little shorter than the Kaiser. His greyish hair is rough, and stands up like bristles. His look is sharp and fixed, seeming to pierce on*' through as he speaks. The German soldiers call him an iron rath-iron, because of*his indomitable energy. Mackensen speaks in short sentences and laconically, but gets from whomever he addresses all the information he requires. He is a hard worker, and is personally supervising the fortification works in the Carpathians. It is said that Mackensen breakfasts on one side of the Carpathians and takes his lunch on the other. He L Mt a small staff. He finds out and >_■ -d fly promotes the capable and ?i. transfers the incapab.e ■; <:tb- t ai-d less responsible posts, hi h.-' u ; rcourse with officers and -.bk’.mw ho tries, unlike Hindenburg ami clumsily, to play the so<-■< -,y ‘ 11* has net the Prussian hah • with subordinates which J‘. f.-jenim l g cherishes. Hindenburg sometin. - • .n jokes with the soldier. “He is an iron character,” said one Austrian officer, a prisoner of war. “Perhaps he is not a genius, but nevertheless *he is a very serious enemy. Ho is dangerous on account of his trained mind and indomitable energy. Whether he will succeed in doing much or little in the future, only time can tell; but one thing is certain —he will do his best.” FORTIFYING THE CARPATHIANS.

These remarks are no exaggeration. In a short time Mackensen nas succeeded in fortifying the Austrian positions in the mountains. [The correspondent is speaking of the section attacked by the Russians.] Having assumed command, he began by proclaiming the whole Carpathian district in a state of siege. Next, he requisitioned ail the horses from the neighbouring villages, registered all the old men, women, and' even children over twelve years of age, and organised them into working squads. New roads are being built. Narrow-guage railways are being constructed, in all the passes the number of troops has been .doubled. German engineering troops have been transported in great numbers, and they are working day and night. The number of machine-guns available is something appalling. Mackensen boasts that he is going to strengthen the Caipathians so that they will lie as redhot iron stairs to the advancing Russians. SCENE AT WAR COUNCIL. M. Petroff also quotes statements made by prisoners of war concerning two recent war councils held by Mackensen. The first took place at Koye., nineteen Austrian generals of the highest rank being present. “At the opening of the sitting,” says M. Petroff, “Prince Leopold of Bavaria, especially sent by the Kaiser, handed Mackensen a letter from the Kaiser. Mackensen rose to his feet, and began to read the important document. Prince Leopold also stood up. Mackensen read in silence, going slowly from line to line, often pausing and becoming pensive, often frowning. It was evident that the letter contained numerous questions, and that Prince Leopo.d knew their order and character. Whilst Alackensen was reading PrinceLeopold was actually, as it were, counting every expression on the face of the “Carpathian Archangel.” As he read Mackensen sometimes paused to think over a question dealt with in the letter, replying with determination and resolution', “Yes” ; at other moments he uttered a resolute “No.” Prince Leopold marked these down. FIELD-MARSHAL AND THE KAISER.

Having finished reading, Mackensen again became pensive, closed his eyes, and shook his head. Then he rolled the letter up, and lighted it at a gas burner used for the purpose of lighting cigars, holding the paper in his hand until it burnt to ashes. Then he raised h_is eves to Prince Leopold, who was evidently waiting for some statement. But Mackensen remained silent. “You did not answer the last question of the Emperor,” remarked the Prince at last. “I did not,” slowly retorted Mackensen, frowning. . It seemed that the Austrian generals who were present knew what the question was, for they all became anxiously attentive and regarded each other with an air of distress. . At last, pausing.at each syllable, toe Field Marshal replied: “Because 1 am too old and because I value my reputation as a soldier 1 am not going to answer anything.” All sat quiet and depressed. Prince Leopold grasped his throat as if it was difficu.t to breathe. One of the generals. after a pause, asked with whai powers the Field Marshal had been invested. . , “General Hindenburg and myself, answered Mackensen, “are the two hands of the Emperor Wilhelm, and ou>action is dictated solely by the bead the Kaiser. We are not limited in any other way.” STR AW-BR AINED AL'STR IA N S At the conclusion of the official deliberations General Mackensen frank.y told tne Austrain generals that it wa-. in their interest to obey the German General Staff. “If vou have failed to defend y° u -’ country from invasion,” said he, “you should at least obey 7 those who hate already saved you.” When the Austrians had left General Mackensen remarked one of the Austrian commanders: “In the discussion of plans every one of them is a Machiavelli, but when it comes to execution—they have but straw brains and hands second Council of War Mackensen acted as complete master. He frankly said that a number of higher Austrian generals would be remov eu from active service, as they were not capable enough. Some of the Austrian commanders asked if there was any hope of clearing the Russians from Austrian territory, as had previously been done. “Our Emperor, answered MacKensen “is not carrying on the war merely for’military glory, neither is the war being waged merely for gaining pieces of territory, but solely for the deience of our Fatherland. You must leave it to us to decide what must and can be done!”