The Washington herald., 1919-04-24
The Amazing Story of
Maria BOtchkQrepa
Leader of the Russian Battalion of Death

Before resuming the march the ca
tain of the 1nvalids. several of its
subordinate officers and all my in
structors came forward and asked to
march in the front row with me. OBJ
jected, but they insisted. and l finally
had TO give way, in spite of my de-
sire to show the Bolsheviki that was
not afraid.
The crowds on the Mars Field were
indeed enormous. A stream of march
ers. with Bolshevist banners. flowed
into the great square. We stopped
within fifteen meet of a Bolshevist
crowd and were met promptly by a
hail Of Jokes and curses. The oppo-
nents derided the provisional govern
ment and shouted: Long live the rev.
olutionary democracy! Down with the
war;"
Some OF the girls could not suppress
their Indignation and began TO reply,
provoking a hot argument.
when you cry, Down with the
war; you are helping to destroy Free
Russia" I exclaimed. stepping for-
ward and addressing myself to the
turbulent neighbors. I'VE must bfat
the Germans first and then there will
be no war"
XIII her. XIII her." several voices
threatened.
Greatly aroused. I rushed few
7 steps nearer to the croSSd. Ny fingers
gripped the two pistols bat in all the
excitement that followed, the idea
was fixed In my mind that I must not
shoot at my own people, common
workers, and peasants.
Wake up, you deluded sons OF Rus
sia! Think what you are doing! You
are destroying the Motherland! Scoun-
drels!" i concluded as their derison
| continued.
My instructors tried to hold me back
as the throng swarmed around me.
but 1 tore myself out of their arans
and plunged into the thick of it.
worked myself UP to such a state of
frenzy that ] did not cease talking
even when a volley of shots was sent
into our midst. Then my officers or
dered the battalion to fire. There fol-
lowed an awful mix-up.
Two of my instructors were killed.
one while defending me. Two others
were wounded. Ten of my girls were
also wounded. Many bullets grazed
me. but I escaped till struck uncon-
scious by a blow on the head with an
iron bar from behind. Many onlookers
DeCd11lG up III thc SSldp tAC
result was a panic.
I recovered consciousness in the
evening. I was in my own bed with
physician beside 1t. He told me
that although 1 had lost considera-
Bile blood. my wound was not serious
and that I would be able to resume
my duties soon
Late in the evening the officer in
charge reported that Michael Rod
zianko had come to see me. The
physician went out to meet him and
i heard the two conversing in the
room next to mine. Rodzianko's first
question was whether / had been
killed. 1t appeared that rumors cir
culated about town that I was struck
dead on Mars Field. The doctors
statement Of my condition apparently
gladdened the heart of the President
of the Duma.
He then came in and smilingly ap-
preached my bed and kissed me.
"'Heroitchik mine. I am very glad
that you escaped serious injury. There
were many alarming reports about
you. 1t was a brave act on your part
to march straight into the midst Of
the Bolsheviki. Nevertheless. 1t was
foolish of you and the Invalids to op-
pose such tremendous odds. have
heard. of your victory in the fight
against the introduction Of the COM
mittee system in the battalion. Good
for you! wanted to call and con-
gratulate you earlier but was very
occupied"
I sat up in bed to show my visitor
that was quite well. He told me of
the appointment of Gen. Korniiov to
the command of the southwestern
front and of a luncheon on the NOR
row at the Winter Palace at which
Kornilov would be present. Rodzianko
inquired if would be strong enough