Evening star., 1918-08-25

Auu JuSO-oldV hdtlOus
is because these nationalities
exist, rather than on account
of territorial existence. That
is to come as one Of the consequences
Of the great war
Confusion arose in the minds OF
many persons when 1t was announced
that Great Britain and France and
italy had recognized the Czecho-
Slovac nation. Person not especially
familiar with the geography Of CEN
tral and eastern Europe thought that
this included the-Jugo-Siav STATE
about whom the newspapers had con-
siderable to say last year. But the
two nations are entirely distinct geo.
graphically, though both of them are
branches of the great western siaV
family.
Il X
Briefly. 1t may be said that tho
Czecho -Slavs are the northern Slavs
and the Jugo -slavs are the southern
Slavs. 1t also may be said that the
creation Of these two nations means
a very considerable subtraction from
the territory and the population OF
Austria Hungary. and this subtrac-
tion means the doom of the house OF
Hapsburg. The territory OF the
Czecho-Slavs stretches across tne
northern part pobsmla Of AussTnaMosiy and Morsyia.
II ia about 400 miles long and lOo
miles broad. The Bohemians and
Morayians occupy the western sec
tiop and the Slovaks the eastern sec
tion. The total number OF people Is
approximately 100000. Bohemia is
cause Of its size and Its population.
and also because of the large NUMBER
Of Bohemians in the United States.
The area lies In the heart OF cen
trail Europe. In the economic pro,
Very vital section. To lose It would
mean a great deal more than the
mere political subtraction OF ma
tionality from the composite popu,
iation Of Austria Hungary. 1t would
Industrial elements Of great value;
The region has coal, iron ore ana
other minerals. 1t also has hops and
varied agricultural products. by the
possession of these natural resources
Il is as self-sustaining as any part OF
middle Europe and has tine basis Oh
Independent existence.
The Czecho -Slovak area also has
Another basis Of existence as an in
dependent state. This is easy access
to the sea: The water I,,. route is
through the Danube ana the EIDE, pu.
Baltic and the North sea. on the
north, and to the Adriatic, on the
south.
The world is pretty we'll informed
of what the Cxecho -Slovaks have been
doing to earn the recognition or tne
the Czecho -Slovak forces who have
prevented the bolsheviki from turn
ing Siberia over to Germany. large
part Of these troops were originally
In the Austrian army, forced to give
against the interests Of their own
people. They revolted at the first
opportunity, or went over to the Rus
SLAMS nominally as prisoners.
X
When tho Russian collapse came
they were fairly we'll disciplined
army. Their original purpose was to
fight their way across Siberia to
vladivostok and then get transporta-
tion by way Of the Pacific and the
United States and Canada to the
western front in order that they
might fight both Austria and Ger.
many and insure tho recognition of
their nation following the victory of
tho entente allies and the United
States.
A larger field opened for them in
Siberia, and 1t Is to their aid that
Japanese troops and troops Of the
other allies, including the. United
states, are to be dispatched. 1t is
now universally agreed that these
Czecho -Slovaks can be vastly of more
aid to the allied cause in Siberia than
on the western front. Also. 1t is
much easier to get Japanese and
other troops to support them In ST.
beria than 1t would be to transport
them from Vladivostok across two
oceans and q continent to the west
in a single week are now carrying as
MANY soidiers from the limited states