Daily Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1918-191?, 1918-08-02
Fighting Against Austria, Their
Capture Means Nothing
but Execution.
WON'T LEAVE Their DEAD
All Fallen Comrades Carried From tho
FleId--These vaiorous Warriors
Select Their Own Officers and
Eliminate Weak and Unfit

Italian FrOnt.-iThe Slsv soldiers In !
the Italian army elect their own su-
perlors by the most rigid tests, and
thus they are representative Of the,
manhood Of their nationaiities. The |
Italian soldiery and people have taken |,
kindly 70 them.
The FIRST of the proofs Of valor they. |
caves admirable. although limited
TO modest operations In exploring and !
raiding. wbs:her by themselves OF
with Italian troops. these Czech-sle-
walks. arriving from beyond the ocean.
have kept up the Are Of patriotism and
the ardor TO fight. and have fought
well.
The repatriates Of the Czecho-slovaki
army have been saluted already with
brotherly love by the population In the
zone Of war. especially by the ancient
Inhabitants OF the veneto. who have
the most recent and livellest -recollec-
don of oppression and the eonvulsive
struggle for redemption.
The women Of Verona offered them a
battle flag In the bohemian colors. sur
mounted by lion. The soldiers recog-
nixed the sanctity Of the gift and
swore an oath that they would die for
that emblem Of liberty. The express
sion was not rhetorical and the oath
superfiuous
Are Killed " Captured
The fate that awaits these new war
riors for the ideals Of far-off and
oppressed country is shown by the In
flexible military rules OF the Austrian
empire. They are all subjects 81 the
Emperor Carl and ms such death Is the
only thing In store for them N cap
/ tured.
Their word IL for that reason sacred.
Neither alive nor dead must they fall
! into the hands ~ the enemy. Even the
dead must be snatched from the OPP
pressor. Each one has sworn to carry
OF 10 the Italian lines the body Of n
compatriot killed In action.
Recently. during reconnaissance.
Bohemian fell close 70 the enemy
\ Hines. Drawing hot fire. the explorers
hurried 20 carry him on. fearing that
in n night sortle the Austrlans might
get the body.
These SOLDIERS Of death" know that
N an operation fails OF success they
must Kill themselves. To the igno-
mlnIous. death inflicted by the enemy
they prefer suicide. Whether through
death by the enemy or through their
own hands. they have consecrated their
lives 10 the distant fatherland. from
which they have come TO fight In the
greatest cradle OF all liberty and all
ideals-Italy.
eliminate Weak and UNIT.
Rome. the ancient lighthouse Of CIV
Illty and Of liberty. has substituted
these new companions In arms for
those Of Russia. These warriors for
the freedom of their country have
found In the ranks Of our own combat
ants fraternity and sturdy faith. This
fraternity. more than common ideals
for the redemption ~ their respective
countries, Ia semented by the know
ledge and vision Of the real difficulties
and the resolution and firmness OF
purpose OF the new combatants. From
their own ranks on a spontaneous vote
they have eliminated all about whose
: military vigor or enthusiasm there
could be any doubt. 81 that the recruits
represent the flower Of the soldiery Of
the oppressed natienalliies. Drawn
from the same country. speaking the
same tongue, In the daily intimacy of
their new military life. they have sub
jected each other TO voluntary but In
flexible tests. The results are eonnded
only 10 their officers.
Titus does not please me. He would
not make good corporal. We do not
want him." they say. Thus, out Of the
ancient military system Of Austria
springs elements Of criticism which ex-
clude the weak and UNIT. The officers
a must heed these verdicts. which. ike
all collective Judgments. arise from
full consensus Of the judges.
y Elect Own Officers
The examination OF the political
opinion. Is not less exacting for being
! carried out by fellow soldiers. A Czech
n. recruit who spoke his mother tongue
4 well was challenged by his coinpat-
dots. "Ie speaks our language well.