Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 167, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 July 1915 — GIRLS AND YOUTHS IN CZAR’S ARMIES [ARTICLE]

GIRLS AND YOUTHS IN CZAR’S ARMIES

Lasses Don Male Attire to Fight for Russia, While Boys Also Are In Ranks. Petrograd.—The Imperial Academy of Sciences in Petrograd is making a collection of all kinds of information touching on various topics and side Issues pertaining to the present war. It is the Intention of the academy to publish these later on. Among the material that has been collected In this manner are several stories about Russian children giving touching proofs of their patriotic devotion. There is scarcely a school in Russia from which not one or more children have run away to the war. Hundreds of girls in male attire have enlisted and taken part in many of the battles. This peculiar fact is explained by the leisurely methods that have been in vogue recently In making the examination of candidates for enlistment Sometimes this formality is entirely dispensed with. In consequence many a robust girl has been able to join the colors. Among the wounded after the battle of the Nieman was a tall, heavily built girl from Zlato Ust. She was only 16 years old and nobody suspected her sex, which was discovered only after the surgeons had removed part of her clothing for the application of bandages. But it is not only boys and girls of 16 who are at the front. There are also little lads. One of these is Victor Katschalox, aged 13, who belongs to a cavalry regiment. His horse was shot from under him at the battle of Lember, where he was slightly wounded in the leg. Another youngster, Constantin Usor, also aged 13, was wounded by a piece of shrapnel at Auustowo. Among Russia’s fighting schoolboys the greatest glory has been won, however, by a 12-year-old boy from Schltomis by name of Orlav. He has fought in 11 battles since he joined the Czar’s army and performed some valiant deeds, for which the Czar has decorated him with the Cross of St George.