The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-11-09
BOHEMIA'S NATIONAL
 ASPIRATIONS

Although the Bohemian regiments are the flower of Francis Joseph's armies, and the German Boheniians are deeply attached to the cause for which they are fighting, the Czechs who comprise the great masses of the Bohemian population are by no means so loyal to the Hapsburgs. Recent re- ports from Switzerland indicate that Bohemia is "seething with sedition," and that large numbers of influential deputies, statesmen, publicists and journalists have either been executed or imprisoned for treason. The Czechs of Bohemia are, of all Slavonic peoples, undoubtedly the most gifted, cultivated and the richest in litera- ture and art. They are pre-eminently musical people, and very fond of song and poetry. For centuries they have held a vision of Bohemian free- dom and nationality, and it would seem that many of them believe that the war will give them the oppor- tunity to realize that dream It was Palacky, the great Bohemian histor- ian, who declared in 1848, "If Austria did not exist we would have to create it." This phrase was taken up by all the statesmen of Europe, and it was held to be the whole truth Bohem- ians point out, however, that Palacky repented of his Judgment as to the necessity of Austria's existence, and, in 1872, asserted that we Bohemians existed before Austria, and will con- tinue to exist after she has disappear ed"
 The anti-Austrian sentiment now said to be f1ourishing in Bohemia is shared by the majority of the nearly half a million Bohemians in the United States and Canad. While many of them sympathizs with the flaps burgs and Hohenzollerns, the majority appear to be pro-Ally in their sympa- thies- and hopes, believing that an AL lied victory would mean the breaking up of Austria and the recovery by Be- hemia of it's long lost liberty.
 It was just five centuries ago that the Bohemians inaugurated an in- surrection against their imperial rulers which ranks among the most remarkable in history. The execution of Huss and Jerome of Prague, in 1416 and 1416, aroused the people to re- bellion, and on Nov. g, 1416, their anger took the form of open defiance. This era of the Hustle wars in Bo- hemia brought to the front the inn mortal John ziska, who took the lead ership in 1419. Although blinded, Siska defeated all the powerful armies sent against him, and on his death bed demanded that a drum be made of his skin to terrify his enemies even after death.
 Siska was old, bald-headed, one eyed and hawk-nosed when he be- came the chieftain of the Bohemian rebels. He called himself John Siska, of the Chalice. Commander in the Hope of God of the Taborites." He soon proved that he was more than a religious fanatic, for when an army of a hundred thousand was sent against him he routed and dispersed the forces of the Empire. Siska's ad- voeacy of communism alienated the Bohemian nobles and cost him much of his support. Some of the more fla natical of the religious enthusiasts called themselves Aaamites, and both men and women went naked until Sizka suppressed them. In putting down the Adamites Siska lost his re- maining eye. He was then surround ed by great armies on all sides, but defeated them in turn.
 After Siska's death his followers divided into factions, and they were then defeated. Ever since the Hussite wars, however, the Bohemians have treasured, through centuries of war and persecution, the great ideal of hu- man freedom and religious liberty, and they are today, in both ligion and politics, the most liberal and free- kin1 1rin 0f