New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-08-11
Czecho-ylouak Army
OF $1,000 Moving
On European Russia

Gently TOOK control OF VladlvOStOk, have
left that city and are moving west
ward toward European Russia, accord
ing to official reports received by the
Czecho-Slovak National Council and
made public to-day.
1t was learned also that the Czecho-
Slovak army in Russia numbers at the
present time more than 100000 sol
diers, all trained and equipped, and
that they will serve under the com
mander in chief of the Allied troops in
Siberia. Vladivostok is now controlled
by the Allied forces landed there.
1t is not the intention of the Amer
can and Allied governments to take any
special action with reference to the
declaration Of the Bolshevik Foreign
Minister to the Allied consuls at Mos
COW that Russia was in state Of de-
fence against the Allied powers on &C
count OF the landing of military forces
IN the north of Russia.
The State Department has not re-
ceived conformation of the reported ar
rest Of the Allied representatives at
Moscow. Establishment of such an act
on the part Of Bolsheviki, however,
might create very serious situation,
resulting eventually in the dispatch of
a, military expedition to their relief.
The combined Czecho- Slovak and anti
Bolshevik Russian troops in Siberia
might constitute q force sufficient for
such an enterprise.
Official News Lacking
There is also lacking confirmation of
the rumored declaration of war by the
bolshevlk government against Japan.
Such a declaration on the part of the
Lenine- Trotzky regime, it was believed
here. might prove good politics for the
Bolsheviki, at least, as it would enable
the Soviet authorities to play upon the
prejudices Of the Russian masses
against the Japanese.
The Bolsheviki would be able, also,
TO make very clear distinction be-
tween the action of the japanese in
northern provinces, holding that the
Japanese expedition constituted an in
vasion of Russia, while that of the
Allies and the United States in north
ern Russia followed revolutionary
movements on the part of the Russian
inhabitants, who invited the Allies to
give them protection and assistance
The fact that no mention was made
in the report connecting the United
States with Japan in the predicted or
actual declaration of hostilities against
Japan was taken here to mean that the
Bolsheviki recognized that their cause
would not be benefited by declaring
war upon the United States, but in
Jured. as Russians would not be willing
to enter into q conflict with America,
the nation most respected and loved by
Russia
Officials here pointed out o-day that
1T was not unusual for the Bolsheviki
to do illogical things, such as omission
Of America from the inclusion among
Russlas enemies in the event of
declaration of war against Japan. The
Bolsheviki, it was stated in Russian
circles, in very few instances have OBJ
served the law Of nations or the comfy
internationally practised. pursuing,
rather, course and practices peculiar
to themselves, without any regard
whatever for established conventions.
The impression prevails here that
the conduct Of Ambassador Francis in
Russia, and the declarations to and
concerning Russia by President Will
son, while they have not wholly dis
armed the Bolsheviki in their animos-
lty toward every country and every
person not favorng them, have at least
had the effect of making it difficult
for the Moscow officials to create an
antl-American sentiment in Russia,
such as they maintain exists toward
England, France and Japan.
News of the arrival Of the interna-
tional expeditionary forces in Siberia
is momentarily expected here, but
there is doubt whether it will precede
or follow the clearance by japanese,
and possibly American troops also, of
the Amur branch of the Siberian Rail
road, which at points west of Nikol-
skai is controlled by German Magyar
Boshevik soldiers.
1t is also not known here what ar
engagements have been made with Gen
eral Horvath, self-styled Siberian die
tator, who controls the Manchurian
branch of the Siberian line, for the
use OF that road, but no serious com
pllcations are expected to arise from
that quarter Horvath himself would
be p0weriess to act on Chinese terri
tory against the combined Japanese
and Chinese armies, which would be
Immediately available for any Difficult
ties which might be placed in the path
OF the relief expedition.
statement of the relations which
VIII be observed between the Czscho-
Slovak army IN Russia and the Amer
Japanese expedition, of the
strength of that organization and of
the probability of contact established
between the Czecho Slovak forces and
the Allied troops in Northern Russia
was obtained to-day at the Czecho-
Slovak National Councils Headquarters
here as follows:
Czecho-Slovak Statement
"Czecho- Slovaks in Siberia are part
OF the Czccho- Slovak national army.
winch IS fighting also on the Italian
and the French fronts. The highest
authority for all of these men is the
Czecho-Slovak National Council to
whom every soldier swears allegiance,
as the supreme representative Of the
Czecho-Slovak nation. But from the
strictly military point Of view. the
Czecho-Slovaks fighting in Italy are
subject to the supreme Italian com
mand, while the regiments in France
are subject to the French command.
"The fact is that the international
expedition to Siberia will have as its
strongest unit the Czecho- Sloval
forces There is, however, no danger
that the Czeche Slovaks will claim the
leadership. They do not care to play
the leading role, except in battle.
Among them are few officers with cx-
perience in handling large bodies of
troops, since in the Austrian army.
where their training took place, they
had no chance to command more than
company.
AT present these forces, as is
known, are split into two armies. In
Vladivostok there are only Is 900. un-
der General Duchonin, the last real
Russian commander in chief. The
forces west of lrkutsk are commanded
by Colonel Gaida. In any case. the
tzecho-Slovaks. az one Of the Allied
armies, Will operate under the gen