The Washington herald., 1919-04-20
AND HERE IT CONTINUES.

To this objection replied that num-
bers were immaterial, that what was
important was TO shame the men, ana
that few women at one place could
serve as an example to the entire
front. 1T would be necessary that the
women's organization should have no
committees and be run on the regular
army basis in order to enable Il to
serve as a restorative Of discipline"
further explained.
Rodzianko thought my suggestion
splendid and pictured the enthusiasm
that would be bound to be provoked
among the men in case of women oc-
cupying some trenches and taking the
lead in an offensive.
There were objections. however,
from the floor. One delegate got up
and said:
lone Of US will take exception TO
a soldier like Botchksreva- The men
Of the front know her and have heard
Of her deeds But who will guarantee
that the other women will be as decent
as she and will not dishonor the
army?''
Another delegate remarked:
who will guarantee that the pres
ence Of women soldiers at the front
will not yield there little soldiers
here was a general uproar at this
criticism. | replied:
IF / take up the orzanization Of a
women's battalion. I will hold myself
responsible for every member of Il.
would introduce rigid discipline and
would allow no speech-msking and no
lettering in the streets. When Moth
er-Russia is drowning il Is not a time
to run an army on committees. 1 am
common peasant myself, and I know
that only discipline can save the Rus
sian army. In the proposed battalion
would exercise absolute authority
and get obedience. Otherwise there
would be no use in organizing it"
There were no objections to the con-
dititons which I outlined as prelimi-
nary to the establishment of such a
unit. Still. l never expected that the
government would consider the matter
seriously and permit me to carry out
the idea. although 1 was Informed
that il would be submitted to keren-
sky upon his return from the front
President Rodzianko took a deep in
terest in the project. He introduced
ME to Capt Dementiev. comma ndanr
of the Home Tor Invalids. asking him
to place a room or two at my disposal
and generally take care OF me. / went
home with the captain. who presented
! me to his wife. a dear. patriotic vorn-
an who soon became very much al
tached TO me.
Back On the Front.
The following morning Rodzianko
telephoned. suggesting that before the
matter was brosched to War Minister
| kerensky il would be wise TO take IL
| up with the Commander in Chief. Gen
Q n
the point OF view of the army. II he
approved OF il. il would be easier to
! obtain Kerensky's permission
General headquarters were then af
! Moghilev and there We went, Capt
I Dementiev and /. 10 obtain an audi
ence with the commander in chief We
were received by his adjutant on tfls
14th OF May. He announced our ar
rival and purpose to Gen Brusflov-
who had us shown in
Hardly a week had elapsed stnc. Z
left the front. and here ! was again
this time not in the trenches. however.
but in the presence of the commzm3er
in chief. Ii was such q sudden meta
morphosis and I could not help Won
dering. deep In my soul. over the
strange ways OF fortune BrusfIov ma
us with a cordial hand-shaldnR- He
was interested I'm the idea. be aid
Wouldn't We sit DOWN. We did
Wouldn't ] tell him about myself and
how ! conceived the schene2
told him about my soldering and
my leaving the front because I could
not reconcile myself to the prevailing
conditions. ! explained that the plrr-
pose of the plan would be to shame
the men in the trenches by having the
women 40 over the top first The COM
mander in chief then discussed the
matter from various angles with Capt
Dementiev and approved OF my idea
He bade US adieu. expressing his hope
for the success of my enterprise. and.
in a happy frame Of mind. l left for
Petrograd.
Kerens<y had returned from the
front. We called up Rodzianko ana
told him of the result OF our mission.
He informed us that he had already
asked for an audience with Kerensky
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