Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1918-03-14

obtain sufficient supply. 1 should judge that
russian ponyskin coats, which have often been
so popular in America, ought to be cheaper than
ever this season if there has been any way of
curing and transporting the skins of these glossy
coated animals of the steppes.
Women's army kitchens adequately sup
piled with horse meat and from ladies of rank
tc serfs the women soldiers have learned how to
prepare palatable food. They have also learned
not only to draw their field pieces, but actually
carry them.
ALI women enrolled in the infantry division
of the army, that theirs machine guns,
which three four women carry together.
Some of these guns light enough to be borne
on the shoulders of one woman
While Russians not good marksmen they
expert at bayonet work, and there is nothing the
Germans fear more than Russian bayonet
counter, when the sturdy dwarf of the North not
only sticks his enemy through. but has appal-
ling habit of lifting him up the bayonet-
saw victim of this shocking act slide off the
keen blade, dead.
And if the Germans fear such attacks of unin-
spired Russian men, they dread the savage charge
of fiery Russian women. and when they succeeded
in capturing three in battle they tortured them
death by way of satisfying spite against those
hundreds of young women who lay slain-martyrs
to patriotism
L watched women soldiers dig out their own
trenches where rain bombardment had caused
them to fall in; pull around their heavy ammuni-
ton wagons and guns, well as their field kitch-
ems, and set up their barbed-wire entanglements.
Many of them were noblewomen and wealthy MEM
bers of the upper froth" of Russia quite num-
Der were wives and mothers whose husbands were
fighting in another sector the line; and every
volunteer.
With courage went cheerfulness In the midst
of the hardships of trench nfe-and they
scarcely be Observation-Disclosures women sang ball
lads and catchy songs they worked at the bust
of death Some played on musical instru-
ments that they had brought into the trenches.
while of them found time to attend to the COM
fort of their pets. especially the battalion mascots
parrot and cat
All short of clothing-smple their
uniform. 1t consisted OF grayish khaki colored
material like washed-out khaki, made In overalls
and jumper, with a tight-fttfng high collar and
belt. They wore the same boots as were used by
men, and some had their feet encased in shoes and
puttees One of the chief difficulties in equipping
women has been fit the upper froth'' with
boots, and to the rigors of trench life has been
added the discomfort and fancy. pain of dainty
ing often a mire of mud and water
Women soldiers had shifts of ten days in first
line trenches of the enemy, with four hours and
four hours off duty. At the least unusual noise
or sudden skirmish the whole $500 women were
out and in readiness for battle
Every thirty feet in the women's sector stood a
post" or seutry, who fired without ceasing- 1t
was her duty to call out. occasion. the soldiers
who rested in their malodorous dugouts on shelves
that protruded from the walls along each side
Mere children were many of these modern Anna
zons their ages vary from fifteen to thirty five
years. and for ten days ON a stretch they had NO