The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-08-10
DARING DEEDS OF
|CzECHS FIGHTING
I'm RUSSIAN LINE
Captured by Russians, Later
Found Eager to Fight
With Them
A tremendous enthusiasm has been

"A
aroused among the Bohemians
(Czechs) and Slovaks of the United
States over the official Russian war
report on July 8. It announces to
the world that the first brigade of
the Czecho-Slovak army in Russia
covered itself with glory. The dry
words of the report which meant so
much to the Bohemian readers are as
follows:
Yesterday afternoon, after Sc
we're stubborn battle, the Zorafsky
regiment occupied the village of Pre-
soxce, while the gallant troops of the
fourth Finnish division and the
Cheshsko- Slovatsky brigade occupied
,, the strongly fortified enemy positions
on the heights west and southwest OF
the village of Zborof and the forti-
fled village of Korshiduv. Three lines
| of enemy trenches were penetrated.
The enemy then retired across the
Little StIipa.
1.-The Firms have taken 1860 Off
GERS and soldiers prisoner, while their
captures include four trench mortars,
| nine machine guns and one Domp
thrower. The Cheshsko-Slovatsky
| brigade captured 81 officers and 1850
soldiers, Is guns, and many machine
guns were turned against the enemy"
First Czech-Slovak Army
What the cable spellst' Cheshsko-
S1ovatsky Brigade is in reality the
first brigade of the Czecho-Slovak
army in Russia. A few days ago all
American dailies printed the sensa-
tional statement of the Austrian min
lister of defense, Won ,Georgi, that
three Czech regiments deserted to the
4 ms AS Of haS
| assertions en- masse occurred in 1914
and 1915; since then Bohemians could
not desert in entire units, but only
i singly or in small groups, though they
allowed themselves to be captured
whenever possible.
TodaA there is a Czecho-Slovak ar
my in Russia, composed mostly OF
! former Austrian soldiers. Its founda-
ton was the regiment of sharpshoot-
ers of John Zizka, named after the
famous general of the HUSTLE wars.
AS Bohemian and Slovak prisoners
of war received gradually permission
to volunteer for service in the Rus
sian army, the regiment grew into a
brigade, then into two divisions, and
finally with the advent of the revol
| 1utionary government all restrictions
on volunteering in camps of Bohem-
ian prisoners of war was, abolished
| and Czecho-Slovak units in the Rus
sian army were constituted into a b.
hemian army which sWore allegiance
not merely to the Russian authorities,
but also to the Bohemian provisional
government located in Paris.
Surrender Means Death
| Bohemians in this country have
had for some time frequent news Of
the exploits of their countrymen in
Russia. That these men would be
brave to death and under no ciFcum-
stances surrender for the second time
was to be expected. For, from the
Austrian point of view, members Of
the Bohemian army in Russia are
traitors and deserters who would be
shot out of hand. Soa the detach-
ments of this strange army were call
ed regiments, battalions and compan-
les Of death, and their insignia were
black and red stripes on sleeves and
skull over crossed swords on coat
collar.
Before the new Russian offensive
]Bohemians were used principally on
scouting service. Here Is an illus
tration of how they employed their
intimate knowledge of the discipline.
habits and psychology of the enemy.
Lieutenant G. with a squad of Bo-
hemian soldiers crawled to the Aus
TRAN firing trench, Strengthened out
on the parapet and called out in an
imperious voice in German 'eWhere is
the officer in charge? Let him come
Iup here" The officer came up, our
lieutenant turned him over to his men
and then shouted to the Austrian SOL
diers in the trench: your officer Is
tprisoner. You are surrounded and 1t
hopeless to fight. Come out Of the
trench with your rifles and fall in
behind me-" In this manner dozen
/ Bohemian volunteers Captured a full
company of Austrians, $50 men, and
brought them back to the Russian
lines. It was an exploit worthy OF
the famous captain of Kopenick..
In New Russian Offensive
In the new Russian offensive it was
lsupremely necessary, on political
grounds, that the first attack should
be successful. And for that reason
Kerensky picked out troops that he
knew would fight to the death. Bo.
hemians did not disappoint his conf
dence in them. A brigade of them
not over 5000 strong, captured 5000
men, many guns, and turned the seiz
ed guns at once against the enemy
That is again, where their former
service in the Austrian army stood
them in good stead. Many of these
attacking infantrymen had in forme,
years served the Austrian field pieces
they were able to load the captured
guns and find the range without any
7 delay.
Czechs i'm Other Armies
The Czecho-Slovak army in Russia
. is the strongest, but not the only or
ganization Of Bohemians and Slovak
fighting for the allies cause. Their,
are Czechs fighting in the French ar
my, and they specially distinguished
themselves on the Somme in the for
: eign legion. There are Czechs serv
ing in the British army, there is {
Bohemian. detachment in the Cana
= dian army, and there are thousand
of Czechs and Slovaks now in tn,
American army. They know that tn,