New Britain herald., 1918-12-10
CZECHO- SLOVAkS
AN ANCIENT RACE
Originate From Bohemians, Mora
VANS, SileSiaDS and SlaVS

New York, Dec. 10.-Sliced out Of
the heart Of norther Austria and
hungary by the sword of war. the
Czecho- SloVak republic, youngest
recognized member of the Allied
family of nations, is in reality a mer-
ger under democratic government of
ancient Bohemian, Moravian, Silesian
and Slavic kingdoms, subjected for
almost 500 years to Teuton and
Magyar domination.
The re-birth of Czech and SIav In
dependence forms one Of the most
striking romances of the war. For
centuries Bohemia stood in the fore
front of European culture, giving to
the world the Christian martyrs and
educators Huss and Jerome of Prague
the poet Kollar, the linguist and teach
er Clomenius and in the field of art,
Brozi<, the painter, and the musician
Dvorak with many others whose
deeds have found places in history
Hardly less advanced was the civili-
cation Of her sister states. With such
inspiration, the Czecho -Slovaks re-
tanned, despite Austrian oppression, a,
national organization, and were pre-
pared even before the start of the
conflict now terminated by the arni-
stice to strike the blows that have
given them freedom.
They opposed the mobilization of
the Austrian army, resisted induction
Of their manhood, despite courtsmar-
tial and wholesale executions, and
throughout the war DISTRACTED and
undermined the Austrian administra-
ton. From their ranks, through de-
sert1on or capture, thousands Of
lighting men found their way into
the Russian and italian armies,
where they turned and fought the
power that had conscripted them By
their spirit and efficiency as soldiers
they gained recognition by the Allies
of Czecho-Slovak units, and before
the war ended more than 100000
Czecho-Slovak troops, under their
own commanders, We're embatt1ed for
the Allied cause in France, Italy
European Russia and Siberia.
In Russia the cho-Slovaks have
$4,000 men under arms, some recruit.
ed from the dem obilized Russian
army, others deserters from the
Austrian forces or former Austrian
prisoners of Russia released by tho
Kerensky or Bolshevik governments
The Czecho-Slovalz force in Italy is
10000 strong, composed wholly or in
dividuals or units from the Austrian
army taken prisoner by the Italians
In France the organization numbers
1900, including 5000 men from the
Czech army in Russia and 1000 volun-
teers from the United States.
Czecho-Slovaks are ruling their |
liberated countrymen from their capt. |
tai in Prague today because they |
fostered through generations the |
nickering flame Of freedom which |
Austria and Hungary attempted to |
snuff out in 1921. They maintained |
succession of secret political or |
CARNATIONS, eliminating in that which |
set afoot active opposition to Austria
in the early days Of the war. and,
through propaganda conducted
among enigrants in Russia, laid the
foundation for the independent
Czecho- Slovak force which has held
for more than a year the Volga front,
preventing the Germans and Bolshe-
Wiki from drawing on the food sup
plies of Siberia.
OF new nations formed or in pro-
cess of formation through the up1eav-
oil of war, the Czecho-S 1ovak was the |
first to win Allied recognition, and
the only one so far fully recognized by
America. Existing only on paper as
long as the Hapsburg dynasty remain
ed in power, the republic became an
actually with the dissolution Of the
Austro- Hungarian Empire. It's presi-
dent, Professor Thomas G. Masaryk,
formerly of the University of Prague
and lately Stationed in Washington
through DR.. Karl Kramarz the. vice
president, for years a political
prisoner charged with treason against
Austria, and his associates in PRAGUE