Evening star., 1918-08-07
CHECK |NRUSS|A
OF THE B0LSHEV|KI
DISCUSSED HERE
Czecho- -SIovak Advance and
Allied Co. Operation Topic in
Official Circles.
U. S. AND JAPAN HASTEN
PLANS FOR GIVING AID
Growing Anxiety Of Hun Govern
ment Over Success of the 0p-
position Campaign.

Russian affairs, the trend of the boil
sheviki activities, the Czecho- -Slovak
advance, and the cooperation of the
allies continued to form topics Of con-
sideration and discussion in military
and diplomatic circles today. Pending
the next move>on the western military
front in Europe, these subjects are
considered here to be of paramount
importance.
Acting Secretary of State Polk. in
his talk with the newspaper men this
morning, said that nothing is very
clear as to- the bolsheviki. He ex-
pressed his personal opinion to be
that Lenine still maintains his hold
upon that faction. although he thought
the bolsheviki are not as strong as
they were. Mr.. Polk was not pre-
pared to forecast Lenine's course for
the future. in the possible direction
of affilfating with Germany. The be-
lief Is entertained in important off,
cial circles here that if Lenine should
Germany he would lose considerable
part of his following.
Unable to Keep Appointment.
Gen. March, chief of staff. was COM
PEELED this morning temporarily to
forego his intended explanation of
the military movements of this gov
ernment in support of the Czecno-
Slovaks. His appointed interview
with the newspaper men was frus-
trated by the necessity of his having to
appear before the Senate committee on
military affairs.
1t is possible to state, however. that
plans are being prosecuted with speed
and vigor for the participation of
American armed forces. in conjunc-
tion with Japanese troops. in the
support of the Czecho-SIovaks, and in
time the public will be advised in
general way of the scope of the op
erations.
made public a cablegram from Bern
describing the growing anxiety of the
Germans over the success of the cam
paign of the czecho-slovaks in Rus
sia- The cablegram says:
"The successes of the Czecho- Slovaks
in Russia are causing more and more
anxiety to the German press. The Post
Of the I'd of August utters a real cry
of alarm. There is in this movement.
it says. a burst of enthusiasm that
makes it particularly dangerous. These
are animated with the conviction
of fighting for a>pational ideal This
explains the force Of the attraction
that they are exercising. The oppo-
sition of the Czecho- Slovaks is. so to
say. the nucleus around which very
dissimilar elements group themselves
The Cossacks have rallied around them
and are supplying them with cavalry.
''The social revolutionaries support
them by sowing trouble in conquered
regions. Japan is furnishing them
with arms and ammunition, and, final
ly. England and America are helping
them by intervening in the north of
Russia.
Impression in Austria Seen.
But it is not on the Russian side
that the Post discovers the real dan
ger of the Czecho-Slovaks' movement.
1t cannot fail to make profound i'm
preston in Austria: the Slavic people
of the double monarchy are following
their movements with feverish expec-
tations and the first successes of their
brothers. the help promised by Japan
and America and the agonizing call
of the soviet hive reawakened all
their hopes"
the Czecho-Slovak National Council,
with headquarters in this city, has
been given the report of Capt. Vladi-
mir S. Hurban, formerly of the Rus
sian army, who was with the Czecho-
S1ovak army in its progress from
ukrainia to Vladivostok. The dra-
matte details Of the movement of
these troops across Siberia, en- route
to join the French forces on the west
ern front, by way of V1adivoStok and
the sea, were furnished him.
Capt. Hurban told in his report how
after the peace treaty was signed by
the bolshevik government the Czecho-
Slovak army Of $4,000 men was in
Ukrainia- The Germans advanced
against the Czechs in overwhelming
| numbers, and the Emperor Of Austria
sent special envoy with the promise
that if the czechs disarmed they
would receive amnesty and their
| lands would be made free.
| The answer was that they would
! have no dealings with the Austrian
| emperor.
4 battle with the Germans was
retreat from Kiev. and the Czechs
were victorious to point where the
German commander offered a forty
eight-hour truce. which was accepted.
| In this battle the Czechs lost about
| 600 men,. while 1000 Germans were
| buried in one day.
Escape From Ukrainia.
|
| Thus the Czechs escaped from
Ukrainia and still maintained friend
ly relations with the bolsheviki. They
turned over arms. horses. automo-
biles and other equipment. which had
been taken from the Germans to a
large extent.
Later, a train with 400 Czechs on
board, armed with ten rifles and
twenty hand-grenades, was sur
rounded by several thousand red
guards equipped with machine guns
and cannon. At command in Ger
man the red guards began firing. The
Czechs jumped from the train, and
in five minutes. Capt. Hurban says all
the machine guns were in their pos
session, the Russian bolsheviki dis
armed and all the Germans and Mag
yars done away with"
Can't. Hurban believes that the con-
solidation of Russia is possible. and
he thinks that the Czecho-Sloyak
army will be of great assistance in
this task.