The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1918-08-08
IN ITALY
MUST WIN OR DIE
Fighting Against Austria, Their
Capture Means Nothing
but Execution.
WON'T LEAVE their DEAD
All Fallen Comrades Carried From the
FIeId-These VaIorous Warriors
Select Their Own officers and
Eliminate Weak and Unfit.

Especial Correspondence of italian Ameri-
can News Bureau)
Italian Front.-The Slav soldiers in
the Italian army elect their own SUI
periors by the most rigid tests, and
thus they are representative of the
manhood of their ~nationalities. The
Italian soldiery and people have taken
kindly to them.
The first of the proofs Of valor they
gave are admirable, although limited
to modest operations in exploring and
raiding. Whether by themselves or
with Italian troops, these Czech-Slo-
vaks, arriving from beyond the ocean,
have kept up the fire of patriotism and
the ardor to fight, and have fought
well.
The repatriates of the Czecho-Slovak
army have been saluted already with
brotherly love by the population in the
zone of war, especially by the ancient
inhabitants of the Veneto, who have
the most recent and liveliest recollec-
tiOn of oppression n the convulsive
struggle for redemption.
The women of Verona offered them a
] DdllIc nag III l1G DtllNIiAun GOlbISs sur
mounted by a lion. The soldiers recog-
nized the sanctity of the gift and
swore an oath that they would die for
that emblem of liberty. The express
sion was not rhetorical and the oath
superfiuous.
Are Killed If Captured.
The fate that awaits these new war;
riors for the ideals of a far-off and
oppressed country Is shown by the in
flexible military rules of the Austrian
empire. They are all subjects of the
Emperor Carl and as such death is the
only thing in store for them If cap
tured.
Their word is for that reason sacred.
Neither alive nor dead must they fall
into the hands of the enemy. Even the
dead must be snatched from the op-
pressor. Each one has sworn to carry
off to the Italian lines the body of a
eompatriot killed in action.
Recently, during a reconnaissance,
a Bohemian fell close to the enemy
lines. Drawing a hot fire, the explorers
hurried to carry him off, fearing that
in a night sortie the Austrians might
get the body.
These SOLDIERS of death" know that
If an operation fails of success they
must kill themselves. To the ignO-
minious death inflicted by the enemy
they prefer suicide. Whether through
death by the enemy or through their
W hands, they have consecrated their
lives to the distant fatherland, from
which they have come to fight in the
greatest cradle of all liberty and all
ideals-Italy.
Eliminate Weak and Unfit.
Rome, the ancient lighthouse of civ
ility and of liberty, has substituted
these new companions In arms for
those of Russia. These warriors for
the freedom of their country have
found in the ranks of our own combat
ants fraternity and sturdy faith. This
fraternity, more than common ideals
for the redemption of their respective
countries, is cemented by the know
ledge and vision of the real difficulties
and the resolution and firmness Of
purpose of the new cOmbatants. From
their own ranks IN a spontaneous vote
they have eliminated all about whose
military vigor or enthusiasm there
could be any doubt, so that the recruits
represent the flower Of the soldiery of
the oppressed nationalities. Drawn
from the same country, speaking the
same tongue, In the daily intimacy of
their new military life, they nave sub
snn4nA .nnOh Afhor IN xyClNrntnp v but In
flexible tests. The results are confded
only to their officers.
"Titus does not please me. He would
not make a good corporal. We do not
want him." they say. Thus, out of the
ancient military system of Austria
springs elements Of criticism which ex-
clude the weak and unfit. The officers
must heed these verdlcts, which, like
all collective judgments, arise from a
full consensus of the judges.
Elect Own Officers.
The examination of the political
opinion is not less exacting for being
carried out by fellow soldiers. A Czech
recruit who spoke his mother tongue
well was challenged by his compat-
riots. III speaks our language well,
but his heart is not Czech they said.
1t was learned that during protracted
, business transactions in Vienna he had
lost the herceness and the intrepidity
Of the Bohemian character through
daily contact with the Austrian author
tiles.
, This control has been fraught with
excellent results. Those who have sur
vived the tests of the assembled judges
have furnished the best war material
and proved themselves dependable In
military and moral affairs.
The officers are also elected by the
soldiers. who trust their leaders with
blind faith. and give them the most
rigid obedience and discipline. Such