Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1918-07-17
NINE. BOTCHKAREVA
GIVES A TALK
Leader Of Russia's Famous Bat
talon Of Death Tells OF
Three Years Of War
IN RUSSIAN TRENCHES

Filled to overlooking was the daily
tration in Washington Saturday morn
ing when Nine. Botehkareya, the
leader of Russia's famous Battalion of
Death, gave most interesting talk.
Nine Botchkareva is surprisingly
contradictory in. appearance. One ex-
pected TO see a woman over stout, with
face lined by the hard service she has
boyish features, dark hair which she
parts at one side and wears bobbed
short. and large kindly penetrating
gray eyes. She is of medium height,
has fine brace and plainly has mans
strength. She wears the khaki uni
form of an officer Git suits herr and
numerous medals and decorations for
service. Yet she is so unassuming and
womanly that one likes her Immediate
ly. When she begins to talk one Won
ders at the sense of power that
reaches one in every word-for she
speaks in Russian and has to be in
terpreted Her hearers almost feel
what she was saying before it is in
terpreted. Her voice is clear and
evenly modulated. She said, Il was in
the trenches with our Russian sol
diers the first three years of the war.
j know we'll how the Germans tried
by every means in their power to
break down the morale of our troops;
how they tried to fraternize with them
by telling them that only the rich and
upper classes would profit by any
gains they, the peasants and soldiery
could make in the war; that it would
be far better for them if they fought
on the side of Germany. Finally many
Russian soldiers refused to fight. 1t
was then, when all seemed hopeless,
she organized the Battalion of Death,
enlisting women from all classes. the
mobiles, students, peasants and work.
ers. They hoped to raise and sustain
the morale and spirit of the disinte-
grating Russian army.
Two weeks after her regiment was
fully enlisted she had sufficiently
trained them in military exercises to
face the German lines, fight their way
through three series of German de-
lenses, and take two thousand Ger
mans prisoner. The entire First
Army Corps followed them, but the re-
mainder of the Russians had become
SO demoralized by German propa-
ganda that no help was forthcoming
there, and Nine. Botchkareva and her
women soldiers were cut off, Later
her whole regiment was disbanded and
she herself was held by the Bolsheviki
and threatened with lynching against
a railroad platform" She was only
saved by the Intervention of a mem
Der of the Investigating Committee of
the Bolsheviki whom she had saved
from death the year before, and who
said, You may shoot me but will not
allow you to shoot Nine. Botchkareva."
In coming to America, Nine. Botch-
kareva seeks nothing for herself. She
says she is only peasant woman ask
ing aid for her beloved Russia "If
you are our friends, show us that you
are cur friends" she said. Given one
transport of American soldiers as a
neucleus, Russian would again form
her army and fight the Germans. This
would force the Germans to draw ten
times as many men from the Western
front as America is now sending to
Europe. THE allies" she said, ARE
as a small SNOWFALL. Without Russia
they will never crush the German
armies; without Russia they will
never win, for the Germans are too
cunning. Joined with the peoples of
Russia they will form an avalanche,
bearing down all before them. Now is
the psychological moment and we must
take advantage of it-for Germany has
crossed Russia off her list of active
enemies"
She said, Germany would be ex-
tremeIy alarmed now if Russia were
to show an awakening. Your help will
compel Germany to stand for the de-
tense of her own and that quickly. All
Russians are awake to their situation
and many fear the possibility of a
German Car.
"The Czecho-Slavs are fine people
but we do not wish their help. They
are also political fighters, and stand
with the Austrians, our opponents.
They are not behind us but are in
front of us. Who stands in front is an
enemy.
Economic assistance we don't re-
quire. We have plenty of food, but the
peasants are burying stores of food
and grain in the hills and forests.
There is enough. food in the fakutsk
region to feed whole army"
In closing she asks, Now | want
you to tell me il you do not think I
am right" The answer was tre-
menduous applause for what seemed
like many minutes. Then almost
every one pressed forward to shake
hands with her. Her hand is hard as
if calloused. Her grip is very strong
and leaves one certain of her power
She is a woman, with a mans
strength.
WFWEVTE