Was He Herr

Or A Count?

A reader points out that the various stories that have been appearing in “PIM” about von Hagen and his monu ment, might give the impression that Mr. lan Skinner, District Commissioner of the Western Highlands, in whose keeping the bronze eagle now is, was responsible for removing it from its base. If this has been the impression, we certainly apologise. Mr. Skinner had nothing to do with removing the eagle. We know it came into his possession indirectly.

Several readers have expressed the hope that the base of the memorial can be removed from Bogadjim—where few people ever saw the monument—and re-erected, with eagle, as it origin ally was. at Mt. Hagen—which has many visitors. “PIM” would like to see this, too.

We have also been taken to task by others for calling von Hagen a Count.

There probably was some confusion between the Christian name of Curt, and the title of Count—but von Hagen appears to have been known, rightly or wrongly, by this title during his time in NG and for 20 years after.

The European title of Count is elastic, and pretty easily attached (or as sumed) in those days, and the prefix “von” (which means literally “from” or “of”) usually indicated the landed gentry, or a member of the aristocracy.