In the history of new Russia, as it will be written for posterity, will
stand out one bright, flaming spot--the gallant stand of the Women's
Regiment--the "Command of Death"--in the midst of an ebbing wave of
cowardly, panic-stricken men units. For pure courage and coolness the
action of the Butchkareff detachment near Vilna on that terrible July
day has seldom been equaled....
The barracks of the command is in Torgvay Street. Posted at the gate
was a little blue-eyed sentry in a soldier's khaki blouse, short
breeches, green forage-cap, woman's ordinary black stockings, and neat,
heavily soled shoes. The sentry was Miss Mary Skrydloff, daughter of
the former commander of the Baltic Fleet and Minister of Marine. The
Skrydloff family is one of the oldest and most distinguished in Russia.
Inside there were four large dormitories, the beds without bedding
and heavy overcoats flung over them. In the courtyard 300 girls were
at drill, mostly between eighteen and twenty-five years of age and
of good physique and most of them pretty and refined in appearance.
They wore their hair short or their heads entirely shaved. They were
being drilled under the direction of a male sergeant of the Volynsky
Regiment, a famous Russian military organization, and were marching in
an exaggerated goose step.
Commander Vera Butchkareff explained that most of the recruits were
from the higher educational academies and secondary schools, with a few
peasants, factory girls, and servants. The commander said:
"We apply the rigid system of the army before the days of the
revolution, rejecting the new principle of soldier self-government.
Having no time to inure the girls gradually to hardships, we impose
a Spartan régime from the first. They sleep on boards, without
bed-clothes, thus immediately eliminating the weak and those who
require comforts. The smallest breach of discipline is punished with
immediate and dishonorable discharge.
"The ordinary food of the soldier is furnished by the guards equipage
corps. We arise at four and drill daily from five to eleven and from
one to six. The girls carry the cavalry carbine, which is five pounds
lighter than the regulation infantry rifle. On our first parade I
requested those whose motives were frivolous to step aside. Only one
did so. Later on, however, many who were unable to stand the privations
of a soldier-life left us.
"We are fully official and are already entered on the lists of Russia's
regiments. Uniforms and supplies are received from the Ministry of
War, to which we render accounts and present reports. Yesterday the
commander of the Petrograd district reviewed us and expressed great
satisfaction. I am convinced that we will excel the male fighters, once
we get into action."
Commander Butchkareff said that only the Volynsky, which had provided
the drill-sergeant, was really favorable. The Volynsky Regiment was the
unit which led the Russian revolution. The regimental clerk is Mme.
Barbara Bukovishkoff, the author of several admirable short stories.