The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-07-11

federation in 1926, the federation be-
ing a free unon.
Through centuries she fought and
pleaded for independence, and when
in 1867 the Austrian monarchy as
sumed dualistic form, leaving out
Bohemia, she protested. So vigorous
were her demands for her ancient
rights that the late Francis Joteph
twice was on the point of yielding,
but when in 1879 Bismarck played his
trump card and the German-Austrian
alliance was formed, the death knell
of Bohemian aspirations was sounded.
From that moment the struggle OF
the Czecho-Slovaks became more in
tense and bitter, and theiE- record in
the war is a glowing tribute to their
uncomfortable spirit and their rigid
determination to break the tyrants
grasp.
From the very first moment of the
war, they have stood unshakably by
the allied cause. It was their pas
sionate opposition to war which
caused Austria to refrain for almost
three years from invoking Parlia-
ment. During that period Of auto
cratic rule, the Czechs were subject
to the fiercest prosecutions. Thou-
sands Of them were executed by court
martial on evidence which in any
civilized country would not have been
sufficient to hang a dog.
All chief political leaders, unless
they succeeded in escaping from
Austria, were imprisoned. Many men
like Kramaz Masaryk. now in the
United States. and Rasin, Klofacz. and
Maehar were, condemned to death.
Patriotic societies such as the "Sol<ol"
were disbanded. Books were eonfis-
Gated, national music was prohibited,
every form OF oppression and repres-
sion was resorted to by the alarmed
rulers in Vienna.
Persecution Of Ne Avail.
All this persecution has been Of no
avail. Strength of the Czech opposi-
ton remains mistaken. for 1t comes
from the people just as much as from
the leaders. To hamper the enemy,
our enemy, and to aid the cause for
which the allies are lighting, the
Czecho Slovaks have done valiant
service behind the lines. The Czech
banks have refused to subscribe to
war loans. Czech peasants have de-
clined to surrender provisions. Czech
political leaders have refused to sign
any declarations of loyalty. A hun
dred strong they prevented, for three
years, the opening of the Austrian
parliament. Czech soldiers refused to
prisoners in the first year of the
war, of which $4,000 were Czechs.
Twenty-four thousand of these
patriots perished during the Serbian
retreat Eight thousand died OF fever
and cholera, and the remaining went
to France to fight.
When Russia was fighting German
SOC, 900 Czech soldiers sur
rendered to the nation which was
then regarded as their liberator.
Thirty thousand persisted from star
walton, dying no less in the cause of
freedom. Today 10000 of these men
are lighting in Serbia, and it is to
them that the helping hand should be
extended. Czech soldiers were driven
into battle to fight for their hated
master, Austria. and against their
brothers. Serbs and Russians. One
regiment refused TO march against
Serbia and was wiped out Another
revolted in the barracks. and Ger
man troops massacred it. Another
regiment, after an unsuccessful effort
to join the Russian army was slaugh-
tered by Magyars, q fate which like
wise befell two Solvak regiments.
Other Czech organizations had bet.
ter luck, one surrendering thirty
after II reached the front.
When the Twenty-eighh of Prague
went over, its name, by official order.
was wiped on the army roll until
new deeds of heroism retrieve its
The record was purged by the or
Of another battalion, COM
posed of Czech boys, which was dis
patched to the Isonzo and exposed
to artillery FIRE. so deadly, that only
eighteen survived. The Emperor
issued an order, officially
Isonzo had 'atoned for" the disgrace
Of the Twenty-eighth.
10000 Surrendered.
Czech soldiers and officers have
been of great value in the Italian
more than 10000 sur
rendering on this front. Czech OFF,
GERS frequently have gone over with
full details OF impending offensives
and have led the Italians against
points in the Austrian
lines. The recent smashing success
Of the Italians Is openly attributed
by the Austrian press to Czech
While Czech soldiers have been
striking these blows for freedom, in
habitants OF Bohemia have lived I'M
der a reign of terror. More than
20, 900 civilians, political suspects"
have been interned. while 5000 were
hanged by military tribunals. In Ga
licia. 10000 persons were hanged. and
II has been charged in the Reichsrat