New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1918-02-19
Will LITHUANIA
REGAIN LIBERTY?
One Of Oldest Countries in Europe
Seeking independence

Britain I4ithua mans to ask President
Wilson to recognize the recently de-
clared Republic OF lIthnania, mass
meeting on March > having been
called, information concerning that
once prosperous country is of timely
interest MANY Iithuanians make
New Britain their home; many are
bringing up their boys and girls to
be good American men and women,
thus infusing into American blood the
sturdy vigor of Northern Europe.
1t may surprise some to know that
the Lithuanians arc not Poles. IT
may also be surprise to know that
the Lithuanian language is one OF
the oldest known In fact il is SO
old that it closely resembles San
scrit and is used as a, key in the
study of that language.
I-ithuania was once one Of the
dominating countries of Europe. Its
territory stretched from the Baltic to
the Black Sea. Its absorption by the
Poles and its almost extinction by
tho -Austrians, Germans and Russians
are matters Of interest at this day
when it bids fair to take its place
once more in the family of nations.
The first step in that course was
taken on January 5 when delegates
assembled in Stockholm. declared
that Lit7luania WAS an independent
republic.
Tt Lithuania does succeed in win
ming recognition it will have popu-
laton of 100000. 1t is intended to
take in Lettiand, which would in
>:rcase the population to 100000.
At present there are about 100000
LithuanianS in the United States and
Canada, all deeply interested In the
campaign for self determination by
the mother country.
Entered Europe 2,0OO b. c.
A. M. Martus Of New York, in a
recent edition of the New York
Times, contributed facts concerning
the history of Lithuania that cannot
but be of interest. THE Lithuanians
are Indo-ArNan, fair, lisht-hared.
blue-cyed. tall and strong" Mr.. Mar
tus' article said They are in no
way related to the Sav. or Teuton.
They are said to have crossed from
Asia to Europe about 1000 B. c.
They settled along the Black sea near
the mouth of the Danube. Ora dually
they were driven by other races until
they came to the shores of the Baltic,
where they finally settled. Here
They were peaceful folk, never fight
Ing unless attacked. busy with agri-
cultural pursuits and few with
hunting and fishing. AS a nation
they were prevented from going into
manufacturing or into commerce by
physical surroundings but some Of
the more vcnturesome made trips to
Roman territory with cargoes of am
Der and various products of their
country
1.-THE language Of the Lithuanians
has been preserved to this day. Some
even say that it Is tho oldest lam
guage in use. It closely resembles
the Sanskrt and, in many cases OF
research work, is the key to It,
Helped to RepeI TartarS.
During the carly years of their eX-
istence the Lithuanians lived in clans
but a common danger, outside foes,
prompted them to band together and
they chose Ringaudas as their first
grand duke. From that time until
the decline Of their power, the Lith
uanians were frequently on the de-
fensiNe. rcpelling invasionS by their
neighborS or fighting Tartar hordeS
that were attempting to enve1op Flu
rope. In 1886 the reigning grand
duke married Hedwig, queen of Po-
land, bringing the nations in closer
communion but not graduating the
individuality of Lithuania. In 1869,
the beginning Of the end approached
with tho formation of a dual Polish
Lithuanian government. From that
time until 1853 factions were con-
tinua1ly in dispute and in that year
they appealed to Catherine of Russia.
and Maria Theresa of Austria to act
as arbters Sitting on his throne
not many miles away, was the crafty
Frederick the Great of Germany. Flo
connived with the empress Of AUS
tria and their armies swarmed into
Lithuania and Poland, The his
torically-fam Gus partition of Poland
was effected, most of the original ter
ritory of Lithuanian going to Russia
Following its customary procedure OF
wiping out completely subject coun-
tries, Russia forbade the publication
of any books or newspapers in any
tongue other than the Russian. In
spite of this oppression, the Lithu-
anian language continued to live and
is spoken today in its pure form
Want German Territory.
What may prove to be a stumbling
block in the way of the new Reprb-
nc OF hiIntd VIA 10 tllc LotCI LliStt pdi
of it en- braces territory now claimed
and occupied by Germany, stolen
during the partition Of Poland. This
section is now known as East Prus-
STA and Includes the important city Of
KOenigsberg, which has always been
known TO the LithuanTans as Karalia-
uchus. Mr. MartuS visited KoeniGs
berg a short time ago and reported
that while the Lithuanian tongue is
little heard in the city proper, it is
spoken freely in the surrounding
country. Resides koen3gsberg, the
Lithuanians claim the seaport of Ri
ga, seized by the Germans from Rus
STA and Mcmcl, in German territory.