The Washington herald., 1919-04-16
The Amazing Story of
Maria BOtchkarepa

soaked. Dead tired, with water
streaming from my clothes, arrived
in the evening within flye versts OF tho
first line. There was regimental
supply train camping on both sides Of
the road. I approached a sentry with
the question:
What regiment Is billeted herer'
Tho Twenty-eighth Polotsk Regi-
ment." 80
My heart ieaped with Joy. The SOL
dier did not recognize me. He was a
new man. But the boys must have
told him of me.
Il am Yashka," said,
That was a pass. They all knew nv
name and heard from the veterans of
the regiment many stories about me.
1 was taken to the colonel in COM
mand of the supply train, a funny old
chap who kissed me on both checks
ana Jumped about, clapping his hands
and shouting "Yashka! Yashkari
he was hnd-hearted and immedi-
ateiy became solicitous for me. He
promptly ordered an orderly to bring
new outfit and had the bath. used
oy the ofiicers. prepared for me. Clean
and In new uniform, accepted the
invitation to sup with the colonel,
There were several other officers at
the table and all were glad to see me.
Inc word went out that Yashka had
arrived, and some soldiers could not
restrain their desire to shake hands
with me. Every now and then there
would be meek knock at the door
and In answer to the colonePs ques-
ton. Who's there7" a plaintive voice
would say:
"Exeellency. may I be allowed to
sec Yashka7"
In time quite number Of comrades
were admitted into the house. One
part OF 1t was occupied by the owner,
widow with a young daughter. /
spent the night with the latter and in
the morning started out to the front.
Some OF our companies were in re-
serve and my progress became a tri-
umphal journey. l was feasted on the
way and given. several ovations.
1 presented myself to the comman-
der of the regiment, who invited me
TO dine that afternoon with the regi-
mental stan, unquestionably the first
case of an under-officer receiving such
an invitation In the history of the
regiment. At dinner the commander
toasted me. telling the history of my
service with the regiment and wishing
me many more years OF such service.
AT the conclusion he pinned a cross
of the third degree on my breast,
marked with a pencil three stripes on
my shoulder. thus promoting me to
the grade of senior under-officer. The
staff crowded around me. pressing my
hands, praising me and expressing
their best wishes. | was profoundly
shaken with this demonstration of sin
cere appreciation and affection on the
part of the officers. This was my re-
ward for all the suffering l had un-
dergone.
And it was a reward very much
worth while. What did l care for a
wound in the spine and a four months
paralysis If this was the return that
l received for my sacrifice? Trenches
filled with bloody corpses held no hor-
ror for me then. No Mans Land
seemed quite an attractive place in
which to spend a day with a bleeding
leg. The screech of shells and the
whistle of bullets presented them
selves like music to my imagination.
All, life was not so bleak and futile,
after all. 1t had its moments of bliss
that compensated for years of torment
and misery
The commander had, in his order of
the day, stated the fact of my return
and promotion. He furnished me an
orderly to show me the way to the
trenches. Again L was hailed by
everybody as / emerged from the dug
out of the commander of the company,
who had placed me in charge of a
platoon of seventy men. In this ca
pacity 1 was to keep an inventory of
the supplies and equipment of my
men. for which purpose l had a SOL
der perform the duties of clerk.
Our positions were on the bank of
the Styr, which is very narrow and
shallow in that section On the oppo-
site bank were the German trenches.
Several hundred feet from US was a
bridge across the stream that had
been left intact by both sides. At our
end of it we maintained a post while
the enemy kept a similar watch at
the opposite, end. Our line. because
of the irregularity of the rivers
course, was extremely zigzagged. The
Germans were very active at mine
throwing. However. the mines trav-
eled so slowly that we could take to
cover before they fell on our side. My
company occupied a position close to
the enemy's first line.
1 had not spent a month in the
trenches when a local battle occurred
which resulted in my capture by the
Germans. They had conducted their
mine-throwing operations for a period
of about twelve days so regularly that
we grew accustomed to them, expect
ing no attack. Besides, it was after
the fighting season. and the cold was
intense.
One morning about o'clock when
we had turned in for our daily sleep,
we were suddenly awakened by a tre-
mendous "Hurrah!" We nervously
selzed our rifles and peeped through
the loop-holes. Great Heavensi There,
within 100 feet of us, in front and in
the rear, the Germans were wading
the Styr! Before we had time to or
ganize resistance they were upon US,
capturing 500 of our men. l was in
the batch taken.
We were brought before the German
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