The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1913-03-06
THE WOMAN'S
BRIGADE
A Story Of A. D. 1916
By SUSAN YOUNG PORTER

wrest the vote for themselves from sen.
ish man. The principal argument useu
against them was: If you are citizens |
In one respect you must be cltizenS III
ali respects. If you are voters you
must be soldiers
The women triumphed. But Their |
securing the vote brought about Ih''
which in the beginning they had ho'
intended. Having proved their cohr
age and endurance, they we're IoICtu
10 do military service. The more uei
cate women could not be induced 10 20
to the polls This gave the men lha
Iority. ana an act was passed DA con
gress recurring military service from
women as well as men.
To the surprise Of every one the!
srrang forward with alacrity- mat
AGGRESSIVE spirit which had led many
NJ them 10 smash windows led them TO
enlist. and the woman'S brigade OF the
limited States army was organized ana
nIoced under the command or women
officers. The corps had hardly peen
completed W hen the anarchic Conultloh
Of Mexico rendered Intervention heces-
sory. aud the Mexican war OF I>to
was repeated. The womans brigade
was sent with other troops by sea 10
Vera Cruz and began rapid marcn
toward the c4Rtal.
Almost on IN exact ground on when
was fought a century before the oa'''e
| of Ruena Vista another fight occurred
between the Mexicans and Americans
in which the women took a consplcu-
| ous mart. But. unfortunately for Cen
eral Pollywottle, the American COLD
| mander, it was his first fight with such
an auxiliary, and he was utterly lgno-
rant of certain provisions he should
have made to guard against contingen
cies to which they were liable
In this respect the Mexican com
mander, Antonio Rodriguez Busta-
mento, proved greatly the American
sunerior. The Mexicans were drawn
ND in line of battle to resist the al
vance of the Americans, who hurled
themselves against their enemy with
great vigor. The woman's brigade De
ing a part Of the reserve, stood under
arms, impatiently waiting to be leo
forward. Colonel Amanda Patterson
of the First regiment sat her horse SUI
perbly, respondent In a Uniform cut
and decorated In q fashion that excited
the admiration and envy OF the whole
corps. Major Mildred Fortescue rode
over to Colonel Patterson to ask her
who was her tailor. Colonel Patterson
refused to give the information. ms
led TO hot words between the two, IN
which many of their subordinates join
ed, and before long their shrill words
could be heard above the singing bull
lets and shrieking shells.
For heavens SAKE" roared the
American commander to an aid, send
those women into the fight! Our men
can't hear the orders for the din they
make, and there'll be panic. Order
their general to lead them against the
enemy's left flank and turn 1t II pos
sible. Should they succeed the battle
is won."
General Angelina De Lancy, young
commander Of whom much was ex'
pected, as soon as she received the or,
, der, drawing her sword, swung it over
: her head. Unfortunately she severed
two ostrich feathers worth hundred
dollars each. and so unnerved was she
that valuable time was lost. Wher
she recovered from the loss Of bel
treasures she directed her bugler tt
1 sound the advance.
Now, General Bustamento, as have
Q said, had great experience with wo
men, having been married seven times
. which is once more than King Henri!
WILL, and had prepared an expedien
for them which, on seeing their lint
o move forward, he put into operation.
r what is that the enemy are firms
A from those mortars?" asked the Ameri
r can commander, raising his glass.
e 'They look like paper Shells" re
q marked his chief Of staff.
Q Great wads Of paper rose in the al!
4 and, breaking apart, were scattered oil
q the ground over which the woman
n brigade was passing. Here and Their
q SOluleT III tue idhhS piShcu Wy Oh
"A and became absorbed In reading some
II thing printed and looking at picture
q. on It
10 "Great heavensr' cried General Poi
ID lywottle, 'they are stopping to pick u
the papers. The advance is delayed
" Precious time Is being lost"
e. Presently an officer from the We
s, mans brigade was seen riding full ga
rs Top toward the commander in chic
or When she came up she saluted an
said:
n General De Lancy directs me to n
,y port that the enemy have fired a wolfe
re of fashion plates with descriptive art
Iy Giles among the troops. This has checl
n ed the advance and she is unable
VI induce them to advance farther. The
are porting over the papers and al
re insensible even 10 danger. Gener;
We De Lancy respectfully suggests tn;
Is you send another force to turn IL
he enemv's flank"
nd Words that sounded Ike a wolfe
nd from a satling gun left the general
90 lips. There were no other troops
he send In place Of the woman's brigad
ms and General Bdstamento, seeing his a
vantage, SOUNDED q general advanc
els The battle was lost Within ten mi
It utes the American army was In II
a | retreat The Mnxiceuc pacsad tho w