The Washington herald., 1919-04-09
AND HERE 1T CONTINUES.


we engaged in almost continuous rife
practice I applied myself zealously
10. the acquisition Of skill in handling
a rife and won a mention Of excel
lence for good craftsmanship. This
considerably enhanced my standing
with the soldiers and strengthened
our relations of camaraderie.
Early in lyl5 our regiment received
orders to prepare to proceed to the
front. We received a weeks freedom
from duty. The soldiers passed these
last days in drink and reyelry and
gay parties. One evening group or
boys invited me to go along with them
to a house Of I'll repute-
''Ba a soldier, Yashka," they hflart-
ously urged me, scarcely expecting me
to accept their invitation.
A thought flashed through my mind
''ru 90 along and learn the soldier =
life, so that will understand his soul
better" And 1 expressed my willing
ness to 90. Perhaps my curiosity had
something to do with my decision II
was greeted with a storm OF fun
Noisily we marched through the
streets, singing and laughing, until
Ny knees grew week as the party
was about to enter one Of the dives.
I wanted to turn back and fee. But
the soldiers would not let me. The
idea Of Yashka going with them to
such a place took a strong hold on
their ina gination. Soldiers. before go
ing o the front. were always welcome
in the district of vice as they spent
their money freely. Our group was,
therefore, promptly surrounded by the
women of the place, and one Of them,
a very young and pretty girl, picked
me as her favorite, to the boundless
u1irth of the boys. There were drink
ing. dancing and much noise-making
Esnerally. Nobody suspected my sex,
not even my youthful love-maker, who
seated herself in my lap and exerted
ALI her charms to enttce me. gig
gled. and the boys nearly raised the
roof in accompaniment Presently L
was left alone with my charmer.
Suddenly the door swung open and
an officer entered. Soldiers were for
bidden to leave their barracks after
s O'clock, and our party had slipped
out in the dark when we were sup
posed to be asleep.
9Of what regiment are you?' the
officer asked abruptly. as L rose to
salute
The Fifth Reserve Regiment, your
excellency." replied ruefully.
While this was going on the boys
in the other rooms were notified of
the officers presence and made their
escape through windows and all avail
able doors, leaving me to take care
OF myself.
How dare you leave your bar
racks?" he thundered at me, "and
bum around in such places so late at
night? I'll order you into the military
prison for the night" And he COM
Tuanded me to report there immed-
lately.
1t was my first acquaintance with
the disciplinary barrack. It is not a
very comfortable place to spend a
night in In the morning I was called
before the prison commandant, who
was very rigid in his questions. Fin
ally, I could contain myself no longer
and broke out into laughter.
1T was all a mistake, your excel
lency," I said.
"A mistake, eh? What the devil do
you mean. a mistake? I have a re-
port herer' he cried out angrily.
'-''I am a woman, your excellency,"
laughed.
"A womanr' he roared. opening
wide his eyes and taking me in. In
an instant he recognized the truth of
my words. What the h-lT' he
tiuttered. "A woman indeed A wo-
man in a soldiers uniform"
''I am Maria BOtchkareva, of the
Fifth Regiment" 1 explained He
had heard of me
; But what did you, a woman, do in
tf1at diver he inquired
ltI am a soldier, your excellency, and
went along with some of our boys
70 investigate for myself the places
where the soldiers pass their time"
, He telephoned to the commander of
my regiment to inquire into my record
and told him where and why I was
detained A litter ran through the
Offices when they learned Of Yashka's
adventure. The soldiers already knew
from their comrades of the nights
escapade, and suppressed with great
difficulty their merrtment. not want
ing to attract the attention of the
officers But now there was a uni
vsrsal riot Of laughter. When I ar
riYed 1t reached such a degree that
fpen were actually rolling on the floor,
holding their sides. I was punished
By two hours at attention, the third
and last time during my training. For
a. week afterward the regiment talked
about nothing but Yashka's adven-
tqre, nearly every soldier making it a
point to meet me and inquire: "Yash-
ka- how did you like it therer'
The date of our departure was set.
We received complete new outfits. 1
WIS permitted to go home to spend
the last ni&ht. and it was q MIGHT Of