Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-24

ties fought and won and of the de-
moraliZation of the soldiers following
the overthrow of the Car. 1t was to
shame the men into action that the
battalion was formed. 1t sees bloody
service, but it fails to make the men
see the necessity for fighting. Ke-
rensky, blind to the dangers Of Boil
shevism. refuses to allow Kornilov
to put discipline back in the army
He suspects Kornilov of wishing
to put the Car back on the throne
and asks Botchkareva to .nvesti-
gate. She frankly tells Kornilov
what Kerenskl suspects and Korni
low is enraged.
AND HERE 1T CONTINUES
yGTE left kornilov, and had to de
w eide whether to report to keren.
sky or not. | must confess to a feeling
Of shame when I thought of how
carried out the errand. I therefore
asked Rodzianko to tell Kerensky OF
Kornilov's attitude toward Czarism
and boarded train for Moscow, where
had been invited to review the local
Women's Battalion. organized after
the fashion of mine. There were
many such battalions formed all over
Russia
When arrived at the barracks and
was taken before the fifteen hundred
girls who had enlisted in the Moscow
unit I nearly tainted at the sight OF
them. Thev were nearly all rouged.
wearing slippers and fancy stockings.
loosely dressed and of very nonchal-
ant bearing. There were plenty of
soldiers around. and their relations
with the girls were revolving.
whats this, a house Of shame?'
] cried out in anguish. You are a
disgrace to the army. I would have
YOU disbanded at once. and will do
my best to see to 1t that you are not
sent to the 'front.'
A storm of protest broke loose.
AHA, what is it, the old regime or
what?" shouted some indignant
voices.
What's that? Discipline? How
dare she talk like this?" cried others.
In a moment I was surrounded bv
a mob of INDIGNANT men who drew
nearer and nearer. threatening to kill
me. The officer who accompanied me
apparently knew the temper of the
crowd and realized the peril I had
provoked. He sent a hurry call to
General Verhovsky. commander OF
the Moscow military district, and a
very popular man with all troops.
Meanwhile my escort was doing his
best to calm the raging throng which
soon grew to about one thousand.
Closer and closer the circle got to me.
and I was ready to saw nv last
prayers One fellow tripped me bv the
foot. and fell. Another let the heel
of his boot down on nv back. One
more minute and I would have been
/, ivnched. But God was with me.
Verhovskv arrived not an instant too
soon and dashed into the crowd. which
split to make way for him. He ad-
dressed a few words to the men.
They had a magic effect. was
saved.
From Moscow I went to the front.
and when nv girls saw me arrive
there was general jubilation. The
Natchalnik has come back thev
sang and danced about. 1t was hard
life for them in nv absence. but un-
fortunately I did not remain long. In
the evening of the day of my arrival
telegram came from General
Kornilov. requesting nv immediate
presence. 7 left without delay for
army headquarters. and there met the
commanderin. chief and RodZianko.
The three of US went to Petrograd to
see Kerenskv. 1t was on the eve OF
the great Moscow Assembly, which
met on the 2Sth of July.
During this journey kornilov talked
of his childhood. He was born in
MONGOLIA. the son of a Russian father
and Mohgol mother. Conditions Of life
some fiftv years ago in the Far East
were such as to inure one to any
hardships This is where Korniloy
irnbibed his contempt of danger and
+ spirit of adventure. He was giver
a good education bv his father. who
4 believe, was a frontier trader ot
peasant stock. but rose to his high
position by sheer ability and dog
gedness. He learned to speak dozer
languages and dialects more from
mixing with all kinds of peonle thar
from books. In brief. Kornilov was
\ not of an aristocratic family oil
brought up in exclusive SURROUNDINGS
a His knowledge of men and atfair'
was gained at first hand. His con
tact with the Russian moujill and la
borer was close. Himself of reckless
yaior. he came to love the Russian
+ peasant-soldier for his disdain o
y death.
Upon our arrival at Petrograd w
all went together TO the Winter Palace
Kornilov entered Kerensky's stud!
first, leaving us to wait in the ante
h chamber. 1t was a long wait for Roo
zianko and me. Kornilov RENAME,
locked up with Kerensky for two Who'll
hours, and our ears bore witness t
the storminess of the session inside
When the commander.in-chief finall
emerged from the Office his face wa
flushed.
Rodzianko and were admitted mex
Ksrensky was visibly agitated. Fl
said that he had not expected m
10 carry out his errand in such mar
ner. I did not do the right thing, h
declared.
.'Perhaps I am guilty toward yol
Gospodin Minister" ! replied, but
acted according to my conscience an
did what I felt was my duty to tn
country"
Rodzianko then addressed Kerensk
in some such manner:
.'Botchkareva reports from the fror
that both men and officers are turnin
fast against you; the officers becaus
~ the destruction of discipline, III
men because of their desire to 6
home. Now. see what's becoming {
the army. 1t is going to pieces.
the soldiers could have allowed a grou
Of women and officers to perish, the
the situation is critical. Somethin
= must be done Immediately Give u'
& trammeled authority in the army
J<orniloy and he will save the from
And YOU remain at the head OF II
rovernment TO save us from Bolsh
Vism."