The evening current., 1918-07-22
Fighting Against Austria, Their
Capture Means Nothing
: but Execution.
WON'T LEAVE THEIR DEAD
All Fallen Comrades Carried From the
Fleld-These ValoroVs Warriors
Select Their Own Officers and
Eliminate Weak and Unfit.

Special Correspondence OF italian Ameri-
can News Hureau.)
italian Front.-The Slav soldiers in
the italian army elect their own SUI
perlors by the most rigid tests, and
thus they are representative of the
manhood Of their natlonalltles. The
Itnlian soldiery and people have taken
kindly TO them.
The first Of the proofs of valor they
gave are admirable, although limited
60 modest operations In exploring and
raldlng. Whether by themselves or
with Italian troops, these Czech.Slo-
yaks. arriving from beyond the ocean.
have kept up the fire Of patriotism and
the ardor TO fight, and have fought
well.
The repntrIates OF the CzechO-S Slovnkl
army have been snluted 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 livellest recollec.
tion of oppression and the convulsive
struggle for redemption.
The women Of Verona offered them n
battle flag In the bohemian colors, sur.
mounted by 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
superfuous.
Are Killed n Captured.
The fate that awaits these new war
riors for the ideals Of n 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 In the
only thing In store for them II cap.
tured.
Their word In 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 OPP
pressor. Each one has sworn To carry
on % the Italian lines the body Of a
c0mpntrlot killed In action.
Recently, during n reconnaissance.
Bohemian fell close 10 the enemy
lines. Braylng hot fire, the explorers
hurried tO carry him on. fearing That
In night sortle the Austrlnns might
get the body.
These soldiers Of death" know that
II 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 ar through their
own hands, they have consecrnted their
live To the distant fntherlnnd, from
which they have come to fight In the
greatest cradle OF all liberty and all
iIlenis--Itnly.
elm, nate Weak and Unfit.
Rome. tn ancient lighthouse of civ.
llity 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 cementod by the know
ledge and vision of the real difficulties
and the resolution aud firmness Of
purpose Of the new cOmbataDts. From
their own ranks on a sponianeor vote
they have eliminated all about whose
military vigor or enthusiasm there
could be any doubt, no that the recruits
represent the flower of the soldiery OF
the oppressed nationalities. Drawn
from the same country. speaking the
came tongue. IN the daily intimacy OF
their new military life, they have sub
,ected each other 20 voluntary but In