The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-03

From the Battle Creek Journal.


When Emperor William goes to enjoy
the hunting season. in Prussia, which he
will do as soon as the yachting season
closes, he will be received by a regiment
of 500 cavalry women. They are Lithuan-
ian gilrs and are now organizing 10 re-
ceive the Kaiser. The regiment will be
known as the Imperiar Mounted Woman
Volunteers, and of a more unique body
of troops no sovereign in the world can
boast.
The homes of these cavalry amazons
are in the district which lies far in the
north of the empire, between the Baltic,
Russia and Poland. They are of the
race that became famous under the
Jagellons.
The idea of forming a regiment is one
which the Lithuanian girls originated
themselves. When they made their
proposition to the officials of their prov
ince they said:
I'VE made one condition-our duke
(meaning the KalseD must have no
other body guard. During the time of
his stay in our country we want to be
his soldiers We will garrison his cas-
tie, will bear the game for him, will at
tend him on his trips around the coun-
try and see him safely home when he
desires to return"
Count Bismarck communicated with
the Emperor's court marshal to find out
accept
able. The court marshal wrote;
1T all depends on the girls. Go and
look them over"
So his excellency invited his fair petit
toners to meet him at Trakenhen. the
celebrated horse farm, and at the same
time arranged with the Governor of the
palace foT the use of a hall. But If the
hall had been as big as Madison Square
Garden it couldn't have accommodated the
n pT1H f.Ane rerxr Of ho
teers came on horseback, many bringing
led horses, and all insisted upon attending
the council seated on their chargers.
There was an open-air meeting then,
and Count Bismarck. who is already a
little stiff in his joints. had to mount a
biooded horse, despite his rheumatism, and
make a speech from his saddle. President
Hegel of the Gumbinnen district translated
the address into the Old Prussian tongue,
for the Lithuanians do not understand
German, and an exchange of views fol-
lowed, with this result
THE provincial government accepts the
services of the Lithuanian women, with a
view of selecting from themu 500 TO make
up a regiment The regiment is TO be uni
formed in the national dress of the coun-
try and select its own officers, subject to
the approval of the president of the dis
trct. Members of the regiment furnish
their own horses, and each officer or sub
officer is entitled to have a led horse The
horse may be put out TO grass on the royal
estates, but oats must be provided by its
owner.
1.-THE name and style of the regiment is
Imperial Mounted Women Volunteers lis
members are entitled to the ordinary SOL
diers mess. but receive no pay.
The native women gave an impromptu
exhibition of their horsemanship, and after
drink of mead" a strong, fermented
liquor made of honey and water, richly
spiced, scampered off.
They have been drilling under their het-
men twice a week ever since, and as these
heimen have invariably seen military SER
vice either as privates or non-commission-
ed officers, they are we'll able to teach the
girls their business.
OF late Count Bismarck ordered reviews
OF the different squadrons TO be held I'M
der the guidance OF officers of the cavalry
reserves. The reviewing officers agree that
they never met with recruits exhibiting 50
much intelligence and skill in the nand-
ling of horses and in obeying signals
Every second girl OF woman would make
an efficient "fugelman," they cried enthu.
siasCCafly.
These Lithuanian women scramble upon
a pony as soon as their legs are long
enough to hold on; they learn to tend
large herds of cattle before they know
their prayers and they can WELD a three
yard whip sooner than cooking spoon.
They wouldn't think of mounting morse
save to straddle il.