Evening star., 1918-07-06
BY Louis EDGAR BROWNE.

BY Louis EDGAR BROWNE.
The most serious internal situation
in Russia Of the moment is the con-
fict between the Czecho-Slav forces
and those Of the soviet government.
1t is likely to result In a catastrophe
for western European Russia. The
conflict has cut Off the last food
source Of an already starving land.
When 1 left Moscow there were then
occurring 900 deaths a day in Petro-
grad from starvation. The wholly
inadequate railways and river trans
ports were moving grain westward
from Siberia in disorganized man.
ner. but now the Czecho -Slovak troops
are astride the lines of communica-
tfon and the results of this are likely
to shock even blood-weary world.
Result Of Misunderstanding.
There are two explanations of the
cause of the CONFLICT. one which is
believed by the soviet leaders and the
able. The soviet charges that certain
ailied interests involved the Csecho-
Slovak troops In a counter fevolu-
tionary plot against soviet Russia.
the other explanation 10 that through
a peculiar combination Of circum-
which resulted in an armed clash.
The Czecho- Slovaks are Bob emians,
branch OF the Slav family. This
nation. which 10 the westernmost
country Of the Austrian empire sx-
ss. ssR. tss hs y Tyrol Is bounded on three
ria. Saxony and Prussia. The Cxecho-
Slavs, like other races dominated DO
litfcally by Austria. have long resent
ed that subtuFation.
Austria mobilissd the. Csschs. and
asainst their will forced them to
and Russians. Those lighting Rus
slams deserted to russia at every
frequently during an advance or a
retreat they would surrender to Rus
sian troops in whole battalions, and
several times whole divisions laid
down their arms. The Czech deserters
These men from Bohemia thought
enough of freedom to nght for il.
Whole divisions were organized and
sent against the. Austrians. When
captured by the Austrians they were
war. but were shot down as traitors.
Even this drastic measure did not
deter the Czechs. Until Russia's coll
lapse they continued to. desert the
Austrian army for the. purpose of
SLAMS against the central powers.
There IL no doubt where these Czech
forces stand. They are fighting
against Germany and Austria to free
Bohemia from Austrian domination.
ru>ohc 1-~-r nskA~.
When the defeated Russian army
broke up and went home the Czecha
were bitter against the Russians
They were disappointed that the
armies OF the Russian revolution had
not swept into Germany.
Large numbers of them volunteered
to serve In the allied armies. They
called on allied military attaches In
droves. Every allied embassy in Pc
Of petitions for service. The French
military mission finally took up the
matter and decided to organ nize
Csecho-slovak legions for service in
France.
After the ratification of the treaty
OF Brest- -Litovsk representatives of
the French military mission went to
the sovist government and asked per-
mission to organize this force. The
permission WAS granted and the So
Wet government promised to aid the
French In any way 1t could.
For several weeks officers of the
British, French and American mis-
sions were in daily cooperation with
Trotsky. who was minister Of war.
A British intelligence officer instruct
ed 4 few OF tho officers of the new
! red army how to operate an intelli-
l'gence bureau to obtain Information
about tho then advancing 0ernans
WhAn 7 1nff Anarcxrr fp r.
ish oficer was yet receiving daily re-
ports from 1t.
Suddenly. without apparent reason,
allied cooperation with the soviet
forces ceased. It looked to us al
though some external force had caused
side of Russia itself But during this
period Of cooperation the Czecho.
Slovak forces had been raised, clothed
and armed by the soviet government
and were only waiting transportat tion
to take them to the battlehelds OF
France.
In all there were 10000 of them
They were clad In new Russian uni.
forms. they carried Russian equip.
ment, the soviet commissary supplied
them with food.
Bills Paid by France.
The French mission had made some
arrangement with Trotzky to pay the
| soviet for the uniforms and rifles
Just what the arrangement was l dc
not know. One Ffenoh officer told me
that France had paid the soviet well
for squipping the Czecho- -Slovaks
Some certain number Of the Czech
regiments had brought their arms
| with them from the front when the
army demobilized.
When these Czech divisions were
organised It WAS necessary to &c,
them from central European Russia
to the western front. The British
military mission arranged with the
soviet for the transportation Of some
| 10000 Of them to q northern Russian
port.
Those men were at this port when
left Moscow. They were awaiting
ships to take them to France.
The allied missions decided that II
| was imprectioa BILE to transport more
Of the Czech divisions via the North
sea route. and made arrangements
with the soviet government to send
the Czechs to France via Siberia.
At Vyatka we passed the first OF
the trains bearing Czech battalions
They were hitchins an engine onto
their train as we pulled into the sta
tion. We had time to talk with them
before their train pulled out
| Our car was attached to the weekly
ttranssiberian express-the only train