Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 06.djvu/333

LEFT MOLTKE 273 MOLYBDENITE on a furlough, and acted (1835-1839) as military adviser of the Sultan. On his return to western Europe he resumed his connection with the Prussian staff. The unusual character of Von Moltke's genius did not appear till Prince William ascended the Prussian throne as regent in 1858, Bismarck became prime min- ister, Von Roon was made secretary of war, and Von Moltke was appointed chief of staff. Von Moltke planned the Danish campaign of 1864. His plan was to "move separately and strike together," and by this method he humbled Austria at Sadowa, July 3, 1866. He keenly fore- saw the war with France (1870-1871), and perfected his plan of campaign two years in advance of the outbreak of hos- tilities. War was declared by France, July 19, 1870. By the middle of August Bazaine, with 180,000 Frenchmen, had been penned up in Metz, and on Sept. 1 Napoleon and Marshal Macmahon were entrapped at Sedan and obliged to sur- render with 90,000 men. On Sept. 19 the Germans were before the walls of Paris. His country showered honors on him, he becoming a count, a marshal, and a life-member of the Prussian House of Lords. He was retired for age in 1888, and died in Berlin, Prussia, April 24,1891. MOLTKE, HELMTJTH VON, German soldier ; born in 1848. He was the nephew of the famous strategist of the same name associated with Bismarck in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. Taking up a military career in his youth, his natural executive ability, as well as fam- ily influence, insured his rapid progress in promotion to highest rank. In 1906 he became Chief of the General Staff of the German military forces. It is gener- ally believed that General von Moltke, together with the Crown Prince, was the most powerful influence in hurling Ger- many into the war, beginning in 1914. He was, at any rate, one of the chief figures in the military clique which pre- cipitated hostilities, under the firm be- lief that Germany was invincible. Be- cause of disagreement with the Emperor, he was dismissed from active duty in December, 1914, more or less in disgrace, and was succeeded by General von Fal- kenhayno Suffering keenly under this humiliation, his health deteriorated, and in June, 1916, he died while in the act of delivering an address. MOLUCCAS, or SPICE ISLANDS, a name which was originally confined to the five small islands of Ternate, Tidore, Motir, Makian, and Batshian, but now applied to the widely scattered group ly- ing between Celebes and Papua; area, 43,864 square miles; pop. (1917) Amboyna, 360,934; Ternate, 200,135. The S. portiov^ being governed directly by the Dutch, and the N. indirectly through native sultans. The islands (several hundreds in num- ber) are nearly all mountainous, mostly volcanic, and earthquakes are by noi means uncommon. Cloves, nutmegs, mace, and sago are exported to Europe; and birds'-nests, trepang, etc., to China. The Moluccas have been for centuries alternately in the possession of the Span- iards, Portuguese, and Dutch. They were twice taken by the British and given up to Holland, in whose possession they still remain. The natives belong to Malay and Polynesian races, and the gen- eral language on the coast is the Malay. MOLYBDENITE, natural molybdenum sulphide, MoS2. Resembles graphite in appearance, but is more bluish in color. GENERAL HELMUTH VON MOLTKE Crystallizes in the form of six-sided scales, or short prisms, and is soft and greasy to the touch. Specific gravity, 4.7. Contains about 60 per cent, molyb- denum. It is found in many parts of the United States, in Canada, Germany, Nor- way, and New South Wales. The ore serves as raw material in the prepara- tion of ferromolybdenum, which enters into the composition of self-hardening steel. It is also used in the manufacture of a blue pigment, and for the prepara-