The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-01-14
RUSSIAN WOMEN
TELL OF CHAOS
Two Members of Death Lei
gi0n in San Francisco
Tell Of Conditions.
NOT HEROINE POSERS
BOlsheviki Reign Following
Overthrow of Kerensky
Called Awful.

San Francisco. Cal.-With their hair
trimmed short and their skins tanned
to rudy brown by wind and sun.
two young Russian women from Rus.
sia's famous Legion of Death have
reached this city. They arrived on tho
Dutch steamer Rembrandt and are the
first to bring personal stories to San
Francisco Of the celebrated women's
fighting corps.
Sylvia Kopkin. who says she is only
Is years old. il one. and the other il
Eva Lciontz, rs years old. who went
through some of the exciting events
that followed the overthrow Of the
kerensky provisional government in
November. Miss Kopkin Is vet
eran" OF three months from Riga.
The two girls, with members Of their
families, were removed to Angel Island
by the immigration authorities until
they can arrange their financial affairs
and proceed to relatives in the east
"Yes, l was a member of what YOU
call tho Legion of DEATH" said Miss
kopkin, but do not wish to pose AS
II heroine or as q participant in any
thing very unusual. Along with others
did my duty. 1 did not get q
chance to take part In any actual fight
ing on the front. which I greatly re-
gret. but l did get enough excitement
In Petrograd to satisfy almost any one.
Disgrace to Russia.
words cannot describe the scenes
that followed the overthrow of Keren-
sky and the ascendancy Of the Bolshe-
wiki. | was with the second contin-
gent, and our troops were attacked
shortly after the revolution broke out
by men troops in Petrograd. Scenes
of violence resulted. .deplorable scenes
that are disgrace to Russia.
Following the flight Of Kerensky
chaos rcieped In the capital. and it be-
came apparent that neither n Legion
would be of any avail. so many OF us
have left Russia,
Miss kopkin, a slight figure OF a
girl. weighing about 80 pounds. was
reticent in discussing the experiences
that fell to her lot after she enlisted.
What IL your occupation?" she was
asked by the immigration authorities.
\ am soldier" she said, standing
straight and stiff, "a soldier OF Rus
sia."
"Your age?"
"F'fiteen years. she replied, hut
old enough to fight for my country"
did you wear a uniform?" she was
asked
"Oh. yes, indeed" she answered.
and carried Il gun. too. All OF us
carried guns, and we knew how to use
them, you can depend on that
"Did you ever kill anybody"
mo. because l was In training only
for three months. and like many others
who were anxious for action. my po-
portunity did not come. | was three
months near Riga, and never had a
chance to kill Gemran. Think OF
that" calculated the slim. brown
haired girl, who presented most
harmelss appearance. in striking con-
trast to the bloodthirsty sentiments
which she uttered.
Every One Fights"
Miss Kopkin went on to say that
she had later obtained her discharge
and had proceeded to the capital.
where she had met her mother and
little sister. and had begun arrange
menis to come to America.
Everybody fights In Russia" she
said. IL am tired now. l hope to get
a little rest in your country"
Miss kopkin was born and lived the
first Of her life in Moscow. She has a
brother in New York and Is now on
her way with her mother and sister to
Philadelphia, where her father lives.
Miss Lciontz has never been IN this
country before. She has a married
sister in Brooklyn and will join her.
Miss Lciontz confirmed Miss kop-
kins statements Of indignities offered
the women troops by the men soldiers,