THE MENNONITE BROTHERHOOD IN RUSSIA (1789 - 1910), P. M. Friesen, 1911

ontinuous casualties among the defenders of Sevastopol could not take place without a great increase in the number of our wounded. Add to that even the smallest number of normal sicknesses among our people as well as the wounded prisoners and it becomes clear that the number of those that required thorough medical attention among the military forces concentrated in the Sevastopol area was considerable. Consequently, in order to provide for the sick, it was necessary to have medical equipment and furnished hospital quarters in 578 THE STATE readiness, to say nothing of medical remedies, a compassionate nursing service and an effective supervision. The city of Simferopol, situated nearest to the center of the war, was filled with casualties in short order. It was essential that they be moved further inland. And what did the Mennonites from the District of Molotschna do now? They took full responsibility for the care and provision of five thousand wounded and sick (soldiers) from Simferopol, transported them to their colonies, and offered them excellent accommodations, care, and nurture as prescribed by the doctor. Their wives and daughters took on the sacred duty of sisters of mercy. They themselves dressed up the wounds, they tore up their own laundry for cotton batting and bandages, took care of the sick as they would their own children and brothers and all of this without charge to the government for all those in their care. Only doctors and medicine needed to be supplied. A number of persons were given lodging in a tidy dwelling, and placed in soft beds. The sheets and pillowcases, supplied by the host, were changed frequently and the wholesome nourishing food as prescribed by the physician served in an atmosphere of tender feminine care. One can imagine how much faster the wounded must have recovered here than in the atmosphere of even the best of field hospitals! How very many have the Mennonites saved for future battles with this service. 3 In this m ann er they have returned a service to Mother Russia for allowing them to settle on one of her best little corners and for the prosperity which came to them because they knew how to acquire and develop it from the native potential of the land.” (“Four Wars. Notes during the Campaign” by P. Alabin, pp. 33, 34.) “In view of these undeniable facts,” Mr. Kamensky continues, “which characterize the conduct of the former colonists, the reader can judge for himself how audacious and lacking in truth the contention is that in our time of trial the colonists were passive and coldly indifferent to our heartache— that they sought their own well-being and exploited Russia’s time of stress for their own advantage.” (Velizyn, p. 134, op.cit.) Mr. Kamensky further refers to the colonists' exemption from military service at that time (p. 17) and emphasizes that they were all the more useful in view of their unique position. We may add here— when Mr. Velizyn an