The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-07-12
BY JAMES KEEINY

BY JAMES KEEINY
tFormer Publisher Of Chicago Hereld)
Especial Cable to Universal Service. }
London. July 10. 1880 Czech lexions
are fighting as independent units for
England. France and Italy. why
should not America do . similar honor
to the indomitabIe race that has bat
tied for centuries against Austrian
tyranny and which today is making
mt st profound sacrifices for the cause
for which the allies are fighting.
We have Czecho -slovaks in our
army, as we have Poles. Yet we per-
mftted the recruiting of an independ =
ent Polish brigade. raised through the
efforts OF Jan Paderewsky and other
patriots. who look to the day when
Warsaw will again be the seat of their
nation. In this brigade are many who
| otherwise. for reasons | need not emu
| merate, would have had no oppor-
tunity OF serving In the cause of free
! dom.
! Among the million and half
CZechs IN the United States there must
| be thousands who would gladly fol-
| low in the footsteps of their Polish
| brethren. The response from Chica go.
| cary. Cleveland, the coal fields OF
| eastern Pennsylvania and other com
munities where this hardy race has
| gathered would, | believe. be instan-
/ taneous and inspiring
| The effect of such a brigade. aerv-
| Ing on the Italian front. to which /
note we already have sent troops.
would be superb.
! Possibly 1t could not be raised in
| time to send II to the aid OF their
countrymen who are battling alone in
Serbia, IL the powers finally decide to
see the opportunity offered by this
/ gallant feat OF arms.
Worid-Wi Value.
The announcements that the United
States proposed so signally to honor
this heroic people would be of world -
wide value. The tale would not only
/ inspire the Czechs who are fighting
wherever there is German or an Aus
! trian head TO be hit. but it would
/ hearten the hearts of those at home
who are fighting Just as sternly as
those at the front.
Czechs are fighting anxiously on
every front. and that despite the little
understanding with which their cause
met In the early stages of the war.
| They enlisted in the French foreign
legion. AS soon az permission was
given 70 them TO enroll in the British
army practically all of military age in
Great Britain did so. In Russia they
| begged for permission to enlist and
the Russian high command under the
ancient regime supported their de-
| mand They were invaluable In the
! intelligence service as scouts. because
most of them understood German and
were well acquainted with the Aus
trian army organization.
| But the old czarist government did
| all It could to impede the enlistment
| of Czechs in the Russiaa army despite
the urgent demand of the high com
mand During the short period OF
| constitutional rule In Russia, the
| Czechs succeeded in forming several
| divisions.
In France. by the decree of Decem-
| Der, 1917, the Czecho- Slovak national
army was created. In italy similar
/ rights were conceded to them In April
| of this year. Great Britain recognized
! the Czecho- Slovak national army.
All three powers--Great Britain
! France and Italy---acknowledge the
/ Czecho -Siovak national committee I'M
| der the Craftsmanship Of Professor
! Thomas 6. Massaryk, as the political
! organ of that army and concede TO
| that committee certain consular rights
| with regard to Czecho- Slovaks within
| their territories,
Join Three Allies.
Why cannot America join its three
allies in recognizing the Incompatible
| devotion of this small but heroic ma
| ton, and organize q legion OF Czechs ?
! Not only are the Czechs fighting as
| Independent units. but whole regi-
| ments have deserted and Joined the
| armies that were battling their
| hereditary foe Their hostility to the
| central powers was one OF the chief
| causes of Austrias inability to win In
| battle.
| The defeat Austria suffered In ST.
| IBERIA In December. 1914. was largely
caused by CEechs regiments crossing
] over the siberian side. similarly on
| the Russian front entire Czech regi-
| ments deserted On the Italian front
| the same thing occurred,
| But that the Czechs surrendered not
| out of cowardice hut In order, to fight
| their true enemies is proved by the
/ fact that whenever they were given
chance they Immediately took up
| arms on the allied side.
| Today in Siberia a gallant force of
| 10000 Cxecho -Slovaks is the only i'm
! pedlment that stands in the way of
| complete Bolsheviki domination. Form
! ing part OF 100000 patriots Of Bohemia
| who surrendered to their Russian
| They are fighting with the desperation
| of men who have sacrificed much for
| their cause and who will give up all
| II need be.
/ Moving eastward from Omsk TO
! vladivostok they were attacked by
revolutionary forces and had to defe nd
! themselves. This they have done sue
| cessfnlly to date. Whether they can
| win through liz a grave problem. To
allow them to perish futilely seems
something analogous to an interna-
! tional misfortune.
They are lighting not only Rus
! SLAMS, but released German and Aus
/ TRAN prisoners who would delight in
| the shedding OF this patriotic blood
| Worldwide politics or policies OF
| great Importance doubtless have been
responsible for the failure to send
! aid to this gallant sroHr,-fe lea We
| them to their fate seems unthink-
| able: to fail to take advantage OF the
| opportunity created by their heroic
! conduct appears inexplicable. II any
action is taken 1t should be taken
| speedily. otherwise that all too com
| monplace too late" will appear on
| the tombs of this band OF valiant ex-
| lies fighting for the cause for which
all allies are making so many sacri-
| Aces.
ALI. STOLEN PAPERS ARE