Omaha daily bee., 1918-05-11
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Czecho-Slovak Army.

Omaha, Neb., May 9.--To the Editor
of The Bee: Since the Czecho-Slovak
army Is being frequently mentioned
in the dispatches from the, EUROPEAN
war theater, some particulars about
that fighting force will no doubt in
terest your readers. And also what
the Bohemians (Czechs) and Slovaks
in the United States are doing to
help their brothers who have sacri-
feed SO much in this struggle for
world liberty and civilization.
The nucleus of the Cxecho-Slovak
army were the Bohemian residents in
Russia mainly in Ukrania. Some of
them lived there many years, reared
their families in that country, but
under the laws of the old Russian
regime they were not citizens of Rus
STA and therefore not eligible for mill
tary service. These Bohemian resi-
dents of Russia organized a regiment
and called it the Iussite Guard, adopt
ing the old Hdssite black and red
flag as their own, and offered their
services to the Russian government.
The truth is the old Russian regime
did not look with much favor on this
new military force, imbued with west
ern ideas Of liberty and democracy,
and 1t was only under the first provi-
sional government of Russia that. this
army, increased by this time by the
former soldiers of Austria
was fully recognized. 1j-.'1.... &.
This army took part in many battles
on the eastern front, even when after
disintegration of the Russian army
set in, and won great victory against
superior forces Of Germans and Aus
trians near Zborov. After the collapse
of Russia part Of this army was trans
ferred to France, the last contingent
reaching that country only last month
after eventful voyage via the Arctic
Sea. Prof. T. G. Masaryk, former
member of the Austrian house of dep
uties, arrived recently in the United
States, and his chief mission Is to
secure the help of our government in
transporting these troops to the
French front There are, $4,000 of
these soldiers, fully equipped and
trained and ready to go, and $4,000
others ready to follow shortly.
The sons of Bohemia and Slovak-
land are fighting againsts Huns on
all battle fronts Of Europe. In France,
in Flanders, in Italy, in Macedonia,
and even in Africa. These former SOL
diers Of Austria-Hungary joined the
so-called enemy, disregarding their
oath which they never considered as
solemn oath, but sacrilege wrung
from them when their hearts were
full Of bitterness against their oppres-
sors. This bitterness has grown into
hatred when they have seen with their
their own eyes the bestialities COM
mitted by Germans and Magyars up
on the helpless people in the occupied
territories. Do you wonder that they
deserted at the first opportunity from
the Hun hordes and Joined the armies
of liberty, Of light, of civilization? ?
This Is how the Czechs and Slovaks
in the Austro-H Hungarian army have
become the "allies Of the allies" and
our Associates in war;
Now let me say a few words about
their sacrifice for the common cause.
They knew that by Joining the ranks
Of the so-called enemy they for
feited all rights guaranteed prisoners
Of war under international law. But
this Is not all. Their property in
Austria Hungary was confiscated,
their kin are brutally persecuted-and
yet they write to their sons, brothers
and husbands In the Czecho-Slovak
larmy-whenever they succeed in
smuggling a letter across the border
to stand firm and not lay down. the
sword until Bohemia Is free and in
dependent
The Czecho-Slovak army in France
has been augmented by thousands of
American Bohemians and Slovaks,
either not fully naturalized or out
side Of draft age. and our noble Bo-
hemian women, who are everywhere
recognized as the most Industrious
and efficient Red Cross workers, yet
find time to knit and sew and make
bandages for these boys in the Czecho-
Slovak army. They are simply doing
double duty and carrying double bur-
fden, and are doing 1t gladly. The
position Of men in the Czecho- -Slovak
army is tragic in more ways than one,
All the other fighting armies have
their "home folks behind them. But
the motherland Of these sons of Bo-
hemia, and Slovakland is in the grip
of brutal, ruthless enemy, and they
do not even know whether their "home
! folks" are living or dead. All the
home folks" they have are in these
| United States who have sent so
many Of their sons and brothers and
husbands to battle under the glorious
Stars and Stripes, and yet are filling
the ranks Of the Czecho-Slovak army
with recruits, young and old.
| And as for our women who are do
ing their full share in Red Cross work
for our American soldiers, am sure
America will not grudge the little
help they are giving our boys fighting
under the white and red flag of Bo-
hemia in the ranks of the allies, but
will say. God bless those noble wo-
men," The blood of Americans and
Czechs and Slovaks is commingling in
a crimson stream on the western
front, all fighting for the same ideal
the world liberty and democracy,
and all fighting for our firesides to
protect them from the Huns, from
the fate of Belgium and northern
France. r. J. KUTOK.
| iop Natt