Evening star., 1917-10-21
One Girl Turns Traitor.


They had done everything in their
power to breed dissension in the ranks
and had actually succeeded in enlist
Ing one of their own women a girl
from Cronstadt. who created a great
deal of mischief before she was un-
masked and turned out of the regi-
ment. The women were so outraged by
the discovery of a traitor in their m Id st
that for an hour or SO it looked as
though they could not be restrained
from doing her violence. But sober
heads prevailed and the girl from
Cronstadt was allowed to go unharm-
ed
l passed very uneasy day that July
s. / was afraid of what might happen
10 some of the women through the
malignancy OF the Bolcheviki. and /
was mortally afraid that l was not
gong to be allowed to get on their
troop train. ! had the usual applica-
ton to the war ministry to be allowed
to visit the front. but my application
tape. Perhaps they are acting on it
now. ! don't know. l went to the
front without any permit.
The Bolcheviki did not attack the
women at any time during the day
but a crowd of them was at the sta
ton and did their best TO break up the
line of marchers. The women literally
had to fight their way to the train
platform
Our train consisted of one second
class and Ave fourth class carriages.
had place in the second-class COM
partment with the nachalnik. or COM
mander: the adjutant, Botchkareva,
Skridlova and big peasant girl named
Orlova. who WAS the battalion stand
ard bearer. We had cushioned seats.
without bedding or blankets. to sleep
on. but the rank and file slept on hard
wooden hunks.
We had picnic food of every variety.
more than dreamed was in Petrograd,
for people brought forth all sorts of
private stores and loaded the train with
white bread. cake. chocolate. canned
fruit and all sorts of delicacies. We
had tea and sugar also, and every sol
der carried a tea kettle.
Urged Men to Go Home.
Friday night. ell day Saturday and
until late Sunday afternoon we Travelled
southward. At every station great
crowds. principally of idle soldiers
waited for the train. Some were
friendly. others were not. Some quite
terrible-looking men appeared at some
OF the stations. stuck their unkempt
heads in the car windows and shouted:
why are YOU going to fight for the
dirty capitalists? We won't give our
| lives for the English bloodsuckers"
And the women retorted. shrilly elo-
| auent: Go home then, you towards
! and let women die for holy Russia
I There. was something indescriba bly,
! strange about going on journey to q
destination absolutely unknown. except
to the one in command Of the expedi.
| tlon. Yet every one was happy, and
| the only fear expressed was lest the
| battalion should not be sent at once to
| the trenches. As for me. when we ar
\ rived at our destination, some two
/ miles from the barracks prepared for
US. had moment of longing for the
J comparative safety of the trenches Fol
what looked to me like the whole Rus
sian army had come out to meet the
| women's battalion, and was solidly
massed on both sides of the railroad
/ track as far as I could see.
| l looked at the nachaInik calmly
| buckling on her sword and revolver
She had a satisfied little smile on heI
| lips.
| You may have to fight those men ou,
| there before you fight the Germans"
| said.
We are ready to begin fighting any
| time she replied.
| She was the first one out of the train
and the others rapidly followed her.