Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-04-24

IL Vienna tell of the hard efficient work
which a Philadelphia woman, Mrs. Penfeld,
wife of the American Ambassador, is doing
for the welfare of Austrian soldiers. In rec
ognlton of her services the Emperor last No
vember conferred upon her the Grand Cross
of the order of Elizabeth an honor hereto
fore reserved for persons connected with the
imperial family, Recent messages which
have come out of Austria describe evidences
of appreciation and gratitude shown by the
people Of all classes toward this American
woman. who bears distinguished part in the
humane activities of wartime.
In every war women have honored them
selves and their country by what they have
done what they have suffered. There Is
nothing surprising in womans herosm, but
there Is nothing more deserving of the
worlds tribute
From Europe come stirring tales of hero
ines of war. We learn that many kinds of
work formerly performed by men are now
being capablv continued by women. There
is work and work a-plenty for the women of
Europe, and hardship and grief Heroic
qualities are called forth with every rising
sun
Women Warriors
Numbers of women, al the beginning of the
war, marched TO the firing line with guns
on their shoulders They had personated re-
servists who because of illness or absence
had been unable to answer the call 1t is
said that several hundred reached the front
Some of them We're wounded. 1t Is probable
that most, if not all. of the women soldiers
have been discovered by their officers and
sent back home. Olga Ellviser, however is
a member Of a Cossack regiment, and not
under pretense of any kind. She fought in
the Russo-Japanese War and won a medal,
and when the present war broke out she re
Joined her regiment.
Russian and Polish women are acting as
scouts and spies In Eastern Poland The
corps which is thus engaged began with the
Polish Women's Unity League of Poland.
The 200 members began to practice gymnas-
tics and military drill on the Mokotsky field
They drilled without arms the aim being to
attain physical fitness and to develop a dis
cipline which would enable them to render
efficient assistance to the defending army
and the noncombatants in case of the siege
of Warsaw. They took TO mems clothes and
then 10 uniform of their own When the
invaders retired in November the women's
corps spread out through the evacuated ter
ritory and gave valuable aid to to army of
Grand Duke Nicholas. On the reinvasion the
women changed their uniforms for their Gus
tomary dress and went on scout duty.
Guarding the Railways
"The work Of the German women" says
Mrs Bernhard Dernberg, began with the
first movement OF troops. Patriotic women's
associations were formed voluntarily. and
these Immediately took steps to furnish food
at the different railway stations day and
night, through which the trains of soldiers
passed. Young girls and children were eager
TO Join the work with their mothers. and
boys OF 16 and under guarded the railways
day and night.
"Coincident with that came the move
ment of refugees from East Prussia, for this
started with the advance Of the Russians
across the border before the declarations of
war These refugees had to be taken care
Of in private houses, whose owners threw
open their doors to them. had six of these
refugees in my own home.
Then, Of course. women had TO take up
the work left by the men who had been
called to arms. If men were in charge Of
big businesses, their wives took their places
In the officei shopkeepers left their stores IN
the hands OF their wives; in some cases
women took the places OF men on the tram
cars and, Of course. mothers had to take the
place OF fathers as heads Of families. The
war came so unexpectedly there was no time
for men leaving for the front TO make ar
rangements.
Next the stream OF wounded began 10
nov back from the fronts. When Il was
rsai8s4 that great problems must Be- net.