The Washington herald., 1919-04-19


his heroitchik. pointing to my mill
tary decorations. She was very cor
dial and generous in her praise. You
have come just in time for dinner"
she said. showing me into her bath
room to remove the dust of the jour
! ney. This warm reception heartened
me greatly.
At the table the conversation turned
| to the state of affairs at the front
| Asked to tell of the latest develop
ments, said. as nearly as I can re-
| member:
| The. agitation to leave the trenches
and go homeis growing. II there will
be- no immediate offensive. all is lost
The soldiers will leave. 1t is also
urgent to return the troops now scat
tered in the rear to the fighting line"
| Rodzianko answered approximately:
! Orders have been given to many
units in the rear to go to the front.
However. not all obeyed There were
| demonstrations and protests on the
part OF several bodies. due to Bolshe-
visit propaganda"
That was the first time ever heard
| Of the Bolshevfii It was May, 1917
Who are they?" asked
| They are a group. led by one Len
inc. who Just returned from abroad
by way of Germany. and Trotsky.
Kolontai and other political emf
grants. They attend the meetings
of the soviet at the Taurida Palace,
in which the dums meets, incite strife
among classes and call for immediate
peace"
1 was further asked how Kerensky
then stood with the soldiery, being
informed that he had just left for a
tour Of the front.
"Kerensky Is very popular. In fact,
the most popular man with tho front.
The men will do anything for him."
replied.
Rodzianko then related an incident
which made us all laugh. There was
an old door-man in the government
offices who had served many ministers
Of the Tsar. Kerensky. It appeared,
made It a habit to shake hands with
everybody. So that whenever he en-
tered his Office he shook hands with
the old door-man. quickly becoming
the laughing-stock OF the servants.
Now, what kind of a minister is It."
the old footman was overheard COM
planning to a feIlow-servant, who
shakes hands with me?''
After dinner Rodzianko took me to
the Taurida Palace. where he intro
duced me to a gathering of soldiers
delegates. then in session I was
given an ovation and prominent
seat. The speakers told of conditions
at various sections of the front that
Tailed exactly with my own observa-
| tlons. Discipline was gone, fraterni-
| zation was on the increase, the agita-
ton to leave the trenches was gain
ing strength. Something had to be
dnnn fnE lv nA1
the men be kept fit TIL the moment
when an offensive is ordered? That
was the problem.
Rodzianko arose and suggested that
, be asked to offer q solution. He told
them that l was a peasant who had
volunteered early I'm the war and
fought and suffered with the men.
Therefore. he thought. / ought to
know what was the right thing to do.
Naturally, l was thrown into confu-
sion. was totally unprepared to
| make any suggestions, and therefore
| begged to be excused for awhile till l
| thought the matter over.
The session continued, while sank
deep into thought. For half an hour
l raked my brain in vain. Then sud
denly an idea dawned upon me. 1t
! was the idea of Women's Battalion
OF Death.
You heard of what I have gone
/ through and what I have done as a
soldier. | turned to the audience
upon getting the floor. Now, how
would it do to organize 300 women like
me to serve as an example to the army
and lead the men into battle?"
Rodzianko approved of my idea.
| Provided" he added. we could find
| hundreds more like Maria Botchka-
reva- which I greatly doubt"
(To be continued.3
| Copyright 1878. by Frederick A. Stokes CON
| pany. All Rights Reservedl