ARMY OF AMAZONS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10060, 30 January 1909, Page 3 (Supplement)

ARMY OF AMAZONS.

< -* —r ——r» PATRIOTIC WOMEN OF SERVIA IN THE y.LEAGUEfOF DEATH."' A real force of Amazon warriors, drilled and armed with rifles and unquestionably eager to fight, has been formed at- this present day. Thus an ancient mythological legend" the foundation of which has been regarded as very uncertain, has become a reality in our time. The women of Servia have formed the corps of Amazons, with the object of making war against Austria and all the rest of the world if necessary. . Photographs of them drilling anil shooting a:e published, and no military man who has seen these pictures ijncstions that the warriors are capable of fighting seriously. . To such a high pitch has patriotic feeling risen among the Servians that the mothers, wives, and daughters of the country have formed an organisation, each" member of which is bound Dy solemn vows to fight for death or liberty. The headquarters of the corps is at, Kraguevatz, the ancient eipital of Servia, and there it is engaged in daily drills and shooting practice. The Amazon Corps-is part of the newly formed "League of Death," which .also includes men. This leagu'e'was founded at Kraguevatz, in the province of Shoomadya, and is worthy of the city's ancient traditions of ferocity and bloodshed. Kragnevatz is known as "The Heart of Servi.i," and is the centre of every patriotic movement and disturbance. Each member of the league wears a badge of tiie national colors—red, blue and white—surmounted by a metal skull and crossbones and bearing the motto: "To Death for liberty." The league came into existence recently when Austria annexed the provinces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which the Servians regarded as eventually destined to become part of their country. No sooner was the league founded than recruits flocked in. from all quarters. It became a matter of honor with every man who was not an army reservist to join. And then the women of Servia, fired with the fierce enthusiasm of the men folk, formed themselves into a special branch of it. A mature Amazon of sixty-two years, whose husband had died for Servian freedom in the great war of liberty against tin', Turks, was the first to raise the subject. .She has four, children and nine grandchildren serving in the army. She approached one of tiie generals with her plan, and was at first received with dis'avor. "You are too old to fight, any way," said the General. "If the young ones are not afraid to die, why should I be. who have less time to live" answered the old woman. The Lleneral admitted that with this spirit she was qualified to fight, and so she went ahead, with the assistance of the military authorities and organised lu-r corps. The women now drill daily with heavy Manner rifles, attend, at the shooting ranges and are fitting themselves in every way to lake their place on the tiring line. The Amazon Corps is drilled by officer* from the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Kifkelitch. Now that 'the corps is organised and showing its practical qualities, enthusiastic praise for its members is cuniiiig from ail quarters. . New recruits are constantly forthcoming, and the officers in command speak well oi the womt.i's -work. Similar corps will be formfd in various parts of the country. The Amazon Coriis contains womtni of various ages from tiie veteran of sixty two, and others of nearly that age, down , to girls of sixteen. They are married and single, peasants' wives and. daughters, an<i wives of rich merchants. A.ll oi them are strong and vigorous, for Servia is a country where people lead the hard and simple" lite They cat abundantly of sour milk, which .Professor Metchnikoff' has ' founcl to .be the true meafls of attaining '■ the; maximum old age. The Servians frequently live to. a great age' and unusnaliv strong and healthy.' . 1 The* action of the Servian women in • forjning a fighting corps is not, so wild and fantastic as it may appear. During ■ the wars in Ser.via and the .Balkan countries the sufferings of the women left .athome have usuallv been greater than those ; of the soldiers m battle. If the women can hold their own in the field, their fate ' would be much better than,that oi their mothers and. grandmothers in previous ware!" Of course, many persons will'.qnes- : tion the ability of women to hold foeethfer and. make any kind, of .fight under ' the hard conditions of actual war, but in view of the resolute conduct of the Ama- 1 zons this . does not, appear certain. Be.- - fore now many individual women, dis- I guised as men, have fought well as boI- • diers. ..." . Meanwhile the Servians and their Ama- ' zons are clamoring loudly -for, war. Pru- J dent people are endeavoring to dissade them, for not only is Austria overwhelm- .< ingiv stronger, but Germany would help ; her," and. nobody seems likely, to. help i Servia_ 1