Moltke, Count von

molt'keh, Count von (1800-1891), a German soldier. He was born in Mecklenburg aud was educated at the Royal Military Academy of Copenhagen. In 1822 he entered the service of Prussia as a second lieutenant, giving as his reason the little prospect of advancement in the army of his own state. He rose rapidly in the service. The years 1835-39 he spent in Turkey in the military service of the Sultan. In 1859 he was made lieutenant general of the Prussian army. With Bismarck, secretary of state, and Von Roon, minister of war, he formed the famous trio of Germans who laid the plans in accordance with which the German Empire was subsequently formed with Prussia at its head. In the war of 1866 with Austria and that of 1870 with France, it appeared that Moltke had pre-arranged the movements of his troops with a nicety of detail unknown in the history of military affairs. It is said that on the declaration of war, it was only necessary for Moltke to take from a pigeonhole the necessary orders. Details, even to the supply of powder and provisions, had been arranged months and even years beforehand. Of course this statement is an exaggeration. The industry, however, with which this great commander had foreseen the needs of his troops and had left nothing to chance is without a parallel. Moltke was the model followed by the Japanese leaders in their recent war with Russia. In addition to a capacity for the smallest details Moltke was also a tactician of the first order. He possessed the faculty of taking in the geographical conditions of a campaign. His knowledge was such that he could foretell to an hour, as it seemed, when a particular corps might be expected to occupy a desired position. On his return to Berlin from the Franco-Prussian War he was made a field-marshal and given a grant of $225,000. He was also made a member for life of the Prussian upper house. In 1888 he resigned from active command of the army, holding an honorary position until the time of his death. His entire life is an example of what may be accomplished by a person of ability and opportunity, who gives his mind unreservedly to his business. He never interfered in politics. He lived and thought for the army. It is said wittily that he was able to keep silent in seven languages. General Von Moltke had a high opinion of George Washington as a tactician. He regarded Washington's operations on the Delaware as masterly. See Bismarck; France; Prussian War