The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-12-05
Europe S Women Colonies
OVER FIFTY OF THEM HOLD COMMAND OWED xprEn BODIES
OF TROOPS -s%t - :V: NY. T: =! =

who allowed themselves to-. be led by
a woman. But Charlotte was so pop
ular with everybody. in spite Of her
startling tomboy tendencies. as they
called her vivacity in those days. and
her regiment was such a perfect mil
itary machine that Europe was oblig-
ed to lake them quite seriously. And
in the long run Charlotte won. Other
monarchs began appointing women to
colonelcies in their armies. until to-
day there are more than half a hum
dred regiments commanded by prin-
cesses and duchesses.
The most Of these women officers
are In the German and Russian arm
Les. but there are a few in some Of the
others and the number is rapidly In
creaslng. In some cases the appoint
ments are lot so happily conceived as
was that Of the Empress Charlotte.
The custom has sometimes degener-
ated to . mere means OF comforting an
honor upon some princess whose coun-
try the monarch wishes to propitiate,
and who 10 not in the least In SYM
posed to command nor idolized by her
soldiers for her personality. as Char.
lotte was.
Queen Victoria, as a colonel of the
First Regiment Of Prussian dragons
Of the guard. is a striking example.
She was undoubtedly a good queen,
and was certainly popular among the
English soldiers as the Widow Of
Windsor" But she was not q person
whom the soldiers would take a per-
sonal interest In, OF whom they would
be especially proud OF as a leader.
And Prussian soldiers in particular
could NOT be stirred by any deep SEN
timents at the thought OF being UNI
der the command Of thai rather large
old lady, good and gentle though she
may have been. The thought Of her
seated in h saddle at the head of her
troops ia not imposing, and the picture
Is no calculated to thrill q soldiers
heart.
There are many Of these petticoated
colonies. however. who are just as in
teresting and Just as devotedly wor-
shipped by the soldiers they command
who started the idea. A great many
Of the royal women OF Europe are ex-
cellent horsewomen and perfect shots
with a pistol or rife. They are inter-
eeted in the army and proud OF the
soldiers which compose It. These are
the qualities that endear them to the
men. and only women OF this type are
really 1T to be army omces1.. :.
The present Crown Princess Sofia Of
Greece and the Princess Margaret OF
Hesse. who IRE the Kaiser's youngest
sisters. have both been popular with
theiF regiments. They are chips OF
the 1 block and take the same inter.
est in things military that their fathe.
did. They are rue sisters Of theiI
militant brother. The Crown Princess
Sofia 10 colonel Of the Third Regimen,
OF Prussian G%renadiers Of the Guard
and her sister is colonel of the Eight.
eth Regiment Of Hessian Fusileers
Both these regiments are famous. The,
have received numerous decoration.
for vaior on the field Of battle. The
Third Grenadiers covered themselves
with glory In the African campaigns
and the shooting OF the Eightieth Hes.
sian Fusileers u famous the world
over.
The kaiser's daughter. Princess Vic.
torta Louise. 10 q still more striking
Europe. She Is the second head Of
the Second Regiment Of Huasars Of
the Life Guard. which her brother
Frederick commands. She IL her IA.
the!s only daughter and youngest
child. She has reached the ripe aC(
OF 10 yoerD n 10 IN excellent oflcer
No Mdltte1y review takes place With.
ont the Second Regiment Of Hussa1s
They became known - the best bod
Of soldiers IN the Pruso1an army i'm.
medtately after their exploits during
t1s yfaaco-Gsfmsn waS. They form
the NEST perfect part Of that tmmenss
machine. And Victoria Louise 70 an
tmDnooGtvs colonel. 1ho - ali the
vassessy ana enerOy Of hsr fsthsF, AMI