Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-05

Our train was composed of "A number
of box cars and one passenger car. A
box car, having two hunks on each
side, in which the soldiers sleep, is
called teplushka. There are no win.
dows in "A teplushka, as it is really
only a converted freight car. The pas
sengcr car was occupied by the four
officers of our regiment, including our
new company commander, Grshanl-
nov. He was "A short, jolly fellow and
soon won his mems love and loyalty.
There was much empty space in the
passenger car and the officers be-
thought themselves to invite me TO
share it with them. When the invi-
tation came the soldiers all shook their
heads in disapproVaL They suspected
the motives OF the officers and thought
that Yashlia could fare as we'll among
them as among their superiors.
"Botchkareva," said Commander Gri
shaninOv, when ! entered his car,
would you prefer TO be stationed in
this carriage? There is plenty Of
room"
NO. Your Excellency." I replied
/ sauting. 81 am plain soldier and it
is my duty TO travel as a soldier
i Very we'll" declared the COM
mander. chagrined. And | returned
to my teplushka
"Yashka is back Good fellow,
Yashka!" the boys welcomed me en-
: Enthusiastically, finging some strong
epithets at the officers. They were i'm
mensely pleased at the idea that
Yashka preferred their company in a
tepIushka 10 that of the officers in a
spacious passenger coach, and made a
comfortable place for me in a corner.
We We're assigned to the Second
Army. then commanded by General
Gurko, with headquarters at Polotsk.
II took US two weeks to get there
from TOmsk. General Gurko reviewed
US at army headquarters and compli-
mented the officers upon the regiment =
fitness. We We're then assigned 10 the
Fifth Corps. Before We started the
word went out that there was woman
in our regiment. There was no lack
of curiosity seekers. Knots of soldiers
gathered about my teplushka, peeped
through the door and cracks in the
sides to verify with their own eyes the
incredible news. Then they would
swear, emphasizing by splitting the in
eXpliCable phenomenon of a Daba going
to the trenches. The attention OF
some officers was attracted by the
crowd and they came up to find out
what the excitement was about. They
reported me 10 the commandant of the
station, who Immediately sent for Colo
mel Grishaninov, demanding an expla
nation. But the colonel could not sat
isfy the comma ndant's doubts and was
instructed not TO send me along will
the men to the fighting line.
You can't go to the trenches, Botch
kareva." my commander addressed M
upon his return from the command
, ant. The general won't allow II, III
was much wrought up over you ant
could not understand how a woman
could he a soldier
For a moment | was shocked. Thei
, the happy thought occurred to me tina
no general had the authority to over
: rule an order Of the Gar.
. Your ExcellenCy," | exclaimed t
Colonel Grishaninov, II was enliste
by the grace Of the Gar as a regula
soldier. You can look up His Ma
jesty's telegram in my record"
This settled the matter and the con
mandant Withdrew his objections
There were about twenty versts {
corps headquarters to be walked. TIL
: road was in frightful condition, stick
, and full of mudholes. We were $
, tired a. the end of ten versts' walkin
|. that a rest was ordered. The soldiers
1 although fatigued, made a dry sea
l for me with their overcoats. We the
. resumed our journey. arriving for SUI
per at headquarters, and were billete
for the night in stable. We sleT
I like dead, on straw spread over tn
T floor.
General Vsluyev was then con
mander of the Fifth Corps. He r.
viewed us in the morning and wa
] extremely satisfied, assigning US
! the Seventh Division. which was 81
/. uated several versts distant. The con
nander Of the division. by the nam
of Walter, was of German blood an
+. a rascal OF first rank. We were place
l during the night in the woods bac
OF the fighting line.
In command OF the reserves was
colonel named Stubepdorf, also Of &c