The Washington times., 1917-08-26


tend the newborn freedom.
"1 win sacrifice my life for my
country, and am sure that I will
find followers among women"
No more striking evidence Of the
changing attitude Of the times could
be given than these statements from
q recent interview by Vera Butehka-
ref, Russian woman worrior, whose
glorious military achievement a.
commander Of the "Women's Bat
talon Of Death" In q recent victory
over the Germans, Is the talk Of the
world.
HRrks Back to AmaxonG,
II has always seemed that should
2 scarcity OF men at the front re-
auire reinforcement by women troopa,
the tragedy OF war would be CON-
petite,
But
This story OF the bravery and oour-
age OF this country woman, . native
Of the province OF Tomsli, In RusaiG.
who commanded q company OF women
and rushed into victory, when broth
erB, cousins and fathers were on the
point of deserving, and who captured
two lines OF trenches ana made 1000
soldier prisoners, reads like the ia
hIsd stories Of AmGEons.
At the FIRST call OF war, home-nGk-
ors In every one OF the European
countries affected by the present war
declared hravely; I'VE women can
nght"
From Germany word came that
the crown princess was mobilt1ing
an army Of women and that she IN
tended to command theEa. Then from
England came reports OF regiments
OF women being formed throughout
the empire. There was much DON
ming of khaki among the women and
4 style OF dressing very military in
cut and character affected.
Along with this DEMONSTRATION
there was an enormous amount Of
work done in a pacific way by these
feminine recruits.
Too Sterling a Move.
But women at the 'front.' It was
really too starting to think OF It'll
II we bark back to the early wo-
men warriors, the Amazon stands out
as the most picturesque type Of fight
or. Armed with lance, battle axe, OF
bow, usually carrying q crescent
shield. and mounted on a fery
charger, she presented q no whit in
ferior picture than the daring Cos
!. sasks or ethsr mounted soldiers Of
The wIdslys oelebTated Serbian, So.
pIia Yovsnovitch, only nineteen years
old, whose bravery at Kirk Rilseeh
resulted in the capture OF Turkish
guns and prisoners without the loss
Of one Of her brave women followers.
has inspired many writer's. and tales
OF her bravery and hsroiBm are abroad
In the land
Serbian League of DEATH
The League OF Death in Serbia, re-
eruited from all classes OF women,
is doubtless one OF the nsrcest rival |
female organizations TO the Russian |
"women's Battalion OF Death" In |
this regiment the daughters Of peas-
ants fought side by side with the
wives Of rich merchants. They were
ali bound together with a common |
cause. With all degrees OF caste set |
aside, they were Just q valiant, vigil |
liant, womanly band in arms for loved |
ones and home.
Still another Russian heroine il |
Col Alexandra Koudasheya, who, |
early in the war, was in command Of |
the Sixth Ural Cossack Regiment.
In a diary that has been made 4
famous on account of her war eX-
periences and Impressions, Nine. Kou-f
dasheva gives one an idea Of the sem
sations experienced by a woman under
fire. She writes:
A Woman Under Fire.
"A new life Of feeling and think |
g.
field. When she feels the invisible
fingers of fate close upon her throat,
the problems that interested her be-
fore and the feelings that occupied
her in peaceful feminine activity van
fish. It is not the thrill OF sport, nor
the horror Of being killed that takes
hold Of the mind on the firing line.
Austrian women are also on the
honor roll for bravery and daring.
stefa Falica, a young CDoatiGn, en-
listed with her husband m she same
regiment. Her sex was known and
she was not forced to wear mems at
tire. She has been made a corporal
for her bravery in the neld.
stanislawa Ordinska enlisted while
rnasquerading as a man in the Polish
IAEion for Austria Before il was
discovered she was a woman she had
Deem maze beTBcdIb IOE bravery
She was allowed TO keep her rank
and her gun.
Madame Mario Mako, the wife Of
a Russian officer, when war was de-
clAred changed her attire and Joined
the army. She withstood all the
riEors of the winters campaign, but
was finally captured. At the pris-
oner's disinfecttng station her refusal
TO be bathed aroused the suspicious
OF the Germans and her sex was dis
covered.
Inspired by Death
II was the death Of Vera Butch
karefrs husband which prompted her
10 organize the "WomAn's Battalion
of Death" OF which she became the
commander.
Learning early in May OF 1918 that
her husband was dead on the German
frontier, she enlisted in the Twenty
fifth Reserve Corps OF Tomsk, to con-
tinue his work. and after a short
training went with q company to the
front to MI the ranks. The colonel
Of the. regiment enlisted her as q
regular in the Twenty-eighth PolotEk
Regiment
Wounded, But wouldn't Quit.
For three months Vera Butchkaref
fought with a rife. She was wound
in 4ha leo eaFIv IN 1914 |