The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-02-29
HUNDREDS
OF Women Said To Be Fight
ing In Trenches
(Tid Bits)


war began, reports have come through
of women taking their places in the
firing lines. These reports have been
received with more or less increduli-
ty, which has, however, given way be-
fore actual reports of women decorat-
ed and promoted for bravery on the
battlefield.
Hundreds of women, it seems, are
fighting in the armies of the Gear. No
table among these is Nine. Koudash-
eva, woman of culture and refine
ment, poet, writer, a musician, and
above all a lover of sport who enlisted
as a volunteer when the war broke
out. She distinguished herself to such
degree against the Germans that she
was first made Lieutenant then Colonel
of the regiment in which her husband
served years ago.
Another Russian heroine is Natalie
Tychnini, a high school girl OF Kiev,
who has received the Order of St.
George for distinguished service at the
front. She passed as a man in the
Russian lines, and was detailed to
carry ammunition to the trenches. The
Russians were forced to retire, and Ma
talie Tychnini was left lying wounded
on the field near Opatow. The Austri-
ans found her and nursed her back to
health. When the Russians again took
Opatow she was still in the hospital,
and was sent by them back to Kiev,
where she was given her honors.
From Kiev comes the story of an
other gallant girl officer in regiment
of Cossacks, Alexendra Lagareva, who
with handful of men of her detach-
ment was captured by the Germans.
She managed to escape, however, but
before doing so secured certain papers
which proved of great value to the
Russian General she was serving un-
der.
yellow Martha" so called from her
golden hair, is another of Russia's
heroines. During the fighting at So
katchew she took Russian flag from
the Germans who had captured an ad-
vanced line of trenches. AS the Rus
slams were making for the second
trenches, the standard-bearer was shot
in the back. Martha noticed him fall
and dashed alone to secure the flag
Two Germans pursued her as she
made off with it, but she shot them
both dead and returned triumphantly
with the flag.
Betrayed by the whiteness and
smallness of her hands, Signorina Lui
ga Ciappi, young schoolmistress liv
ing near Florence, would be in the
fighting line today had her sex not
thus been accidentally discovered
Leaving home under the pretense oi
going to see relatives, this ardent
Italian woman patriot purchased "A uni
form. obtained a rife and equipment
and joined a volunteer force. Fol
months she drilled assiduously, and Il
was not until the final inspection oI
the regiment, prior to going to the
front, that suspicious were aroused
and her sex discovered
One of the most interesting bodies
OF women warriors is the Serbian or
| ganization called the Legion o
Death" II Is composed of women who
have been trained in the use of fire
arms and science of war, but who, In
war time, follow the army as pack
carriers, camp attendants, and even
as trench-diggers and sappers, where
necessary. There are numerous ex
pert rifle-shots among them, many, in
deed, being quite capable of taking
mems places under necessity.
The Legion of Death" is recruited
from all classes of women, from the
wives of rich merchants and the wives
and daughters of peasants. This
Amazon corps had it's origin in the
patriotic enthusiasm of woman o
G2, whose husband died for Serbia
against the Turks. The women han
die the regulation rifles, and are helC
in deadly fear by the Austrians ant
Germans,