The Washington herald., 1919-04-23
The Amazing Story of
Maria BOtchkarepa


/ proceeded to reorganiDe my battal-
ion. There was only q remnant OF 80
left Of II. but II was a loyal remnant
and was not upset by the diminution
in numbers. Most OF the remaining
women were peasants like myself; IL
literate but very devoted to Mother
Russia. All Of them but one were un-
der 5. The exception was one Orlova,
who was 40. but Of an unusually pow
erful constitution. We resumed the
drilling with greater zeal than ever.
A day or two later Kerensky's adju-
tant called UP. He wanted me to come
to the Winter Palace to see the war
minister. The ante-chamber was again
crowded with many people and / was
greeted by several acquaintances. AT
the appointed minute l was shown
into Kerensky's study.
Kerensky was pacing the room Wig
orously as 1 entered. There was a
cloud on his brow.
Good morning. Gospodin Minister.
1 greeted him
Good morning." he answered cold
ly. without extending his hand.
Are you a soldier?" he asked
abruptly.
Yes" replied.
Then why don't you obey your su-
periors?"
Because 1 am right in this case.
The orders are against the interests
of my country and in violation of my
cha rter.' -
You must obey" Kerensky raised
his voice to a high pitch. his face suf-
fused with anger. II demand that you
form a committee tomorrow! that you
treat the girls courteously! that you
cease furnishing them! Otherwise j
will reduce you to dust!' The war
minister banged his fist on the table
for emphasis.
BuI felt that I was right, so this fit
of temper did not frighten me but, on
the contrary, fortified my determina-
ton.
MOI" 1 shouted. letting down my
fist, too. mo, 1 am not going to form
any committees ! started out with
understanding that there would be the
strictest discipline in the battalion.
You can disband it now. A soldier 1
was and a soldier / shall remain.
will go home, retire to a village and
settle there in peace" And ran out.
slamming the door angrily in the
face of the astonished minister.
Agitated, returned to the institute
and had the girls gathered before me.
I addressed them as follows:
'I am going home tomorrow. The
battalion will be disbanded, because
would not consent to form a commit
tee. You all know that had warned
all the applicants previously that L
would be a severe disciplinarian. l
sought to make the battalion an ex-
ample that would shine forever in the
history of our country. / hoped to
show that where men failed women
could succeed. / dared dream that
women would inspire men to great
deeds and save our unhappy land. But
nv hopes are now shattered Coward
ly. weak girls proved to be the ma
iority of those who responded to my
appeal and they wrecked my scheme
for the salvation of suffering Russia.
I have Just come back from Kerensky.
He told me that I should form a COM
mittee. but I refused. Have you any
idea what committee would meanT'
mo, no, Natchalnik." the women
answered.
"A committee" I explained, means
nothing but talk and talk. The COM
mittees have destroyed. the army and
the country. This is war and in war
there should be no talk, but action.
1 can't submit to the order to intro
duce in this battalion the very system
that has disrupted our glorious army.
So / am going home. Yes. tomor-
row I leaveN.
The girls threw themselves at my
feet in tears. They wept and begged
me to remain with them. I'VE love
you. We will stand by you to the
last" they cried. You can punish us.
beat us il you will. We know and ap-