The Washington herald., 1919-04-26
The Amazing Story of
Maria BOtchkarepa
Leader of the Russian Battalion of Death /

In other times. in the old days OF
January, 1917. 1t would have been suf-
ficient to execute a couple of them to
transform the 1900 into respectable
and obedient human beings. Now, the
mighty Russian military organization.
while engaged In a mortal combat
with q stupendous enemy. was rem
dered unable to cope with such a small
group of recalcitrants! This was my
first contact with the front in two
months. But what a great stride had
been made by the disintegrating infiu-
ences In this short period of time. It
was four months after the revolution.
and the front was already seriously at
fected by the blight of disobedience.
why did you come here? What
devil brought you here? You want to
fight? We want peace! We have had
enough of fighting!" showered on me
from every side.
Yes, want to fight. How. other
wise. could we have peace II not by
fighting the Germans? 1 have had
more war than you, and l want peace
as much as any one here. If you
want me to talk more to you and an
swer any questions you might put to
me. come tomorrow. 1t is getting late
row."
The gang drifted away in groups.
some still scoffing, others arguing. 1
transferred the girls from the second
barracks into the first for greater
safey and posted sentinels at every
entrance. This buoyed up the girls
somewhat. but they were even more
encouraged when they heard me re-
flSa inVifa finn Snand the night
at stan headquarters. How could 1
leave my girls alone with these ], 500
ruffians In the neighborhood? So l
resolved to sleep with them. under the
same roof.
Night came and my soldiers went to
bed. Many of us must have wondered
that evening whether the deserters
would heed my words or return durin.
the night and attack the barracks. 1t
was midnight yet when a party of
them came knocking at the windows
and thin wooden walls. They cursed
us all and particularly me. They tried
to enter through one or the other
doors, but were met with fixed bayo-
nets. Getting no further through their
raillery. they stoned the barrack.
breaking some window panes.
Still We remained docile. II the COM
mandant confessed his pOwerlesSneSS
to control them, what could we doZ
, Besides, we were going to the front to
fight the Germans. not to engage in
battle with three times our number
of desperadoes.
The more patience we exercised the
greater grew the encroachments of the
men. Some of them would thrust sud
denly their hands through the shat
tered window-panes, grab some of the
girls byttheir hair, causing them pain
and resulting in sharp. outcries. No
body slept. All were excited and on
edge. The crashing of the stones
against the board walls would shake
the structure every now and then. 1t
required lot of patience to endure 1t
all, but my orders were not to bring
about fight.
However. as the night wore on and
the noises and Catcalls did not cease.
my blood began to boil in me, and l
finally lost control of myself Hastily
putting on my overcoat. l ran out or
the barrack. The day was Just break
ing, an carly July day. The band of
thugs, about fifty in all, halted for an
instant
Villains. rogues. you! What are
you doing?" l shouted with all my