Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-02-28


war began reports have leaked
= through OF women fighting in
the trenches side by side with their
husbands. brothers and lovers OF simply
their own countrymen. These reports
have been received with more or less In.
credullty. II did not seem possible that
women could undergo the hardships, the
complete reversal Of all their habits and
the primitive manners that necessarily
accompany trench life.
Incredulity has, however. given way
before actual official reports Of women
decorated and promoted for bravery on
the battlehelds. II seems now that in
Europe the women actually do put on
the uniform Of the men. fight not only
in trenches, but in the cavalry, and in
every way measure up 10 the standard
Of soldier.
Indeed. they are harder to conquer, It
seems. than the men. recent semi
official report from Petrograd mentioned
that the Russians were surprised, when
they captured line OF trenches along the
Bzura River In Poland, TO find a number
Of German women among their oaptives.
first line, with hot rifles still IN their
hands.
There was much more difficulty IN
making these women prisoners than the
men," reported the officer In charge OF
the victors. They would not surrender
until after ell their men comrades had
thrown down their arms. and they tainted
the men with cowardice. These women
we're not at all heavy. unsexed peasants
Al - ali L. -
refinement. Inquiry developed that only
a few had donned the uniform because
some loved one was IN their company
The majority had enlisted because OF
pure patriotism.
~ was told that the German authori
ties" said the officer In charge Of the
victors, do not openly encourage enlist.
ment by women, but they do wink at IT,
The men In the trenches. the officers
know perfectly well that this aud that
soldier is q woman, but they pretend not
20 know II officially"
The Russians could not have been sur
pris9d at seeing women soldiers, however,
because hundreds OF women are appa.
rently hghting In the armies OF the Gar.
Nine. Alexandra Koudasheva is the
most distinguished woman soldier in the
Russian army. She commands the Sixth
Ural Cossack Regiment. which has COW
East Prussia. Wounded twice, Nine
Koudasheva bears the Cross of St
George, that Is given only for exceptional
bravery, and many orders OF inferior sig
nihcance. She 10 back again to her regt-
ment, which consists OF many Cossack
woman volunteers, though the majority
OF the soldiers are men. A few more sue
cessful battles and Nine Koudasheya
will be promoted 90 a general.
Whan fha mar hAgau Nina
entered the army as a volunteer She
distinguished herself in daring raids on
the German uhlans, and was made
lieutenant. and soon thereafter a colonel
OF the same regiment In which her hus.
band had served years ago. During the
two months that she has acted as a com.
mander OF the regiment she has given
proof OF exceptional strategic gifts and
courage She has never stood behind.
but always IN front, OF her men, Natural.
~, no man likes TO be surpassed by
woman. and this has given her company
reputation for unusual bravery.
Colonel Koudasheya is by no means a
semi-barbaric adventurer or . Salome
who reyels in bloodshed. She is lady
OF highest culture and refinement. Be
sides being talented poet and brilliant
writer, she is fine musician and pas
sionate lover OF sports. She has made
twice a trip on horseback from China,
through Manehuria. siberia and European
Russia 10 Petrograd. She made the
trip alone, and passed the most danger.
GUS deserts Of the two continents with.
out having had any great difficulties.
i have felt just as safe In the widest
deserts OF Siberia, as do on the streets
OF Moscow o. Petrograd. simply because
] have the absolute confidence IN my abil.
fly 20 command the man. regardless do
meet him In fashionable society OF big
city, or as a highway robber 10 the wild.
est wilds. A woman--if she only knows
her feminine powers-can. conquer any
man" thus writes Nine. Koudasheya in
her DIARY OF Ride Through Siberia
This Is how che writes in letter to a
friend IN New York OF one OF her ad-
ventures while she was still lieutenant
and was out TO ascertain the strength OF
the enemy at night;
III was CHASTITY moonlight nigiit OF
the Fall A bleak wind whistled and
hoWled around the ruins OF the village. in