Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-12
AND HERE 1T CONTINUES
President Rodzianko then came o,

fxclaiming cheerfully:
- "Heroitchik mine. | am glad YOU
vame. and he kissed me on the cheek
He then presented me 70 his wife as
this heroitchik, pointing to my military
'oecoration. She was very cordial and
generous in her praise. You have
ii come just In time for dinner" she
said, showing me into her bathroom
TO remove the dust of the Journey.
Ihis warm reception heartened me
greatly.
II; At the table the conversation turned
10 the state of affairs at the front.
Asked to tell of the latest develop.
pent, l said, as nearly as l can re-
MEMBER:
~. The agitation to leave the trenches
and go home is growing. II there will
~ no Immediate offensive, all is lost
The soldiers will leave. IL is also
argent to return the troops now scat.
tered In the rear to the fighting line"
RodZianko answered approximately:
IA Orders have been given TO many
Units in the rear to go to the front
However, not all obeyed. There We're
demonstrations and protests on the
part Of several bodies, due TO BOlshe-
visit propaganda"
That was the first time ever heard
of the Bolsheviki. 1t was May, 1917.
who are they?" / asked.
They are group, led by one Len.
Inc. who Just returned from abroad
by way OF Germany, and Trotzki,
Kolontai and other political emigrants.
They attend the meetings of the Soviet
1t the Taurida Palace, in which the
Il Duma meets. incte TO strife among
classes, and call for immediate peace"
I was further asked how Kerensky
then stood with the sodiery, being in
formed that he had Just left for a tour
{. OF the front.
r.-.,-. Kerensky Is very popular. In fact,
the most popular man with the front.
The men will do anything for him
replied.
kerensl1y Too Free
Rodxianko then related an incident
which made US all laugh. There was
An old doorman in tine government
Offices who had served many ministers
OF the Gar. Kerensky, it appeared,
!. made II a habit to shake hands with
Z everybody. So that whenever he en-.
ypstered his Office he shook hands with
the old doorman quickly becoming the
laughing stock of the servants.
f}sf2'Now, what kind of a minister is
"a, IL" the old footman was overheard
- complaining to a fellow servant, who
shakes hands with me-"
After dinner Rodzia nko took me TO
the Taurida Palace, where he intro.
QQceQ 10 u Vi SOlelefS
= delegates, then in session. l was given
yum ovation and a prominent seat. The
speakers told of conditions at various
sections of the front that tailed eX-
actly with my own observations. Dis.
ciplIne was gone. determination was on
the increase, the agitation TO leave the
trenches was gaining strength. Some
thing had to be done quickly, they
argued. How can the men be kept nit
xyh ID 10
: ordered? That was the problem.
n fRodzianko arose and suggested that
4 be asked to OFFER a solution. He
told them that | was a peasant who
had volunteered early in the war and
! Taught and suffered with the men,
Y Therefore. he thought, l ought 10
Y know what was the right thing TO do
IvEaturally, I was thrown into confu.
= n1on. / was totally unprepared 70
S<nake any suggestions and. therefore,
begged to be excused for while till
u thought the matter over.
The sessions continued, while I sank
deep into thought For half an hour l
raked my brain in vain. Then sud
denly an idea dawned upon me. II
was the idea of a women's battalion of
death.
"You heard of what ! have gone
!. through and what have dUne as a SOL
<<1fer." turned TO the audience upon
1xetting the floor Now, how would
it do to organize 300 women like me
ttr1 servo as an example TO the army
:. and lead the men into battle?'
~ Rodzianko approved OF my idea-
provided" he added, 1--WE could find
more like Maria Botchka.
s-fevR, which ] greatly oubt."
ITO this objection | replied that num-
bers were imma terial. that what was
important was to shame the men and
that q few women at one place could
~. serve as an example TO the entire
! 'front.' TT would be necessary that the
vbmen's organization should have no
c6mmittees and be run on the regular
army basis in order TO enable 1t TO
8Osrve as a restorative Of discipline"
s4drther explained.
e Rodzianko thought my suggestion
llrpplendid and pictured the enthusiasm
- that would be bound to be provoked
among the men in case OF women oc-
sr2dpying some trenches and taking the
lead In an offensive.
,ry4s@ Objections to Plan
~ There were objections. however,
from the floor. One delegate got up
&nd said:
-, None OF us win take exception to
a -aosdier like Botchkareva. The men
1SIk the front know her and have heard
Tee that the other women will be as
decent as she and will not dishonor
the army7"
7 replied:
AZ IT take up the organization Of a
n Women's battalion ] will hold myself
t6ypopsible for every member of 1t.
4 would Introduce rigid discipline and
y would allow no speech-making and no
y 1olforfng in the streets. When Mother
n Hun1za Is drowning II Is not time TO
a r~n an army by committees l am a
r6Inxuon peasant myself. and 1 know
61t only discipline can save the Rus
~ army. In the proposed battalion
Would exercise absolute authority
&I Hot obedience. Otherwise. there
HID Be no use In organizing IT,"
/3hefe were no objections to the con
"a IcnG which I outlined as prelimi
y u1<X 20 the establishment OF such a
INIT still. never expected that the
@ornment would consider the mat
Gorlonsly and permit me to carry
~ ldea. although l was informed