Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1918-08-21
CzECHO SLoVAK
LIEUTENANT HERE
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Continued from first page)
The next speaker was First Lieu
tenant A. Holy from the Czecho
Slovak army In France. He was the
principal speaker of the day. Lieu-
tenant Holy's address was long but
so fervent and full of information
that the audience, was held SPELL
bound. He narrated the struggles
in Bohemia at the beginning of the
war and made clear that the Czecho
| Slovaks knew their duty to the world
and to their own nation right from
the very beginning. When the deci-
nation of Czech regiments put
stop to. the first mutinies, the Czechs
: resorted to new method of attack.
They lined up in battle with Austro-
! German-Magyar forces but surrender
/ ed to the enemy at the first OPP
portunity, not because of cowardice
| but because they wanted to don the
uniform of Serbia of Italy or Russia
and fight against their oppressors the
Germans and the Magyars. In Rus
STA alone over 100000 Of these
Czecho Slovaks were to be found.
Lieutenant Holy then described the
difficulties encountered under the
Cars regime to organize which
difficulties, howdyer; disappeared
with the Russian revolution. His
description of the fighting in Galicia
in the last Russian offensive, July
1917, which in fact, was Czecho Of
fensive, was vivid and brought bursts
of applause. 1t may be well to re-
member General Brusilloff's official
statement about Czecho Slovaks in
this offensive: "These Czecho Slovaks
shamefully abandoned by our infan-
try at Tarnopol, fought so that we
should all fall on our knees before
them"
| 1t. Holy then described the
transportation of the first contin-
gent from Russia to France via the
Attic oceap and England. He was
himself member of this force. He
also describes the conditions follow
ing the Observation-Disclosures Treaty
and the preparations for the trans
portation of the Czecho Slovaks via
Siberia Pacific ocean, America, At
lantic ocean to France; the hardships
and obstacles to be overcome and the
final break with the Germanized
! Bolsheviki which made the world
hear more of these heroes in Siberia.
The Czecho Slovaks are fighting on
the right side and there is only one
right side. The Czecho Slovaks must
and will be free and independent.
It. Holy wore the French uni
form of the "Blue-Devil's," the uni
form also worn by the Czecho Slovak
army in France.
r Next speaker, Mr.. Svoboda, of
Cedar Rapids spoke shortly on the
ways and means of raising funds and
gave many valuable suggestions based
I on his experience as the Secretary of
che Iowa Chapter of the Bohemian
Alliance.
| OF Protivin, Iowa, tireless worker
for all patriotic causes. He made it
clear that all citizens of Czech de-
scent irrespective of religion or other
convictions should be members of the
Alliance and literally support it..
His references to Bohemian history
and Bohemian legends were well re-
ceived and appreciated. His presence
on the program was a pleasant sur
prise to all citizens of Spillville.
The music was under the direc-
II ion of Miss Emma Mikesh and some
lof the songs rendered, especially
Kde Domov Muj showed artistic
rendering and talent. Besides the
American and Bohemian national
ianthems, that of France was also
rendered. A number of other APP
propriate songs were sung by her
trained choir.
Mr.. A. G.. Fisher collected around
/ himself some members of the once
famed Spillville band and rendered
music on the streets, grounds and In
! the hall prior to the opening of the
program.
One feature of the day was the ap-
Ipearance Of four young ladies dress
ed in Czecho Slovak national cos
tunes. They drew attention and
likewise cash for membership in the
Alliance
Dinner and supper were served,
the proceeds of which went to the
Alliance.
In the evening, Lieutenant A. Holy
showed lantern slides of the Czecho
Slovak army in Russia and in France
| and gave a comprehensive expla-
nation of them. These pictures were
from the trenches, battlefields and
camps of the army.
| 1t may be added that the army Is
under the supreme command or
professor T. A. Masaryk, now in
washington and is recognized as an
.Ally" by France, Italy and Great
Britain and soon will be by U. s..
Lieutenant Holy while stopping In
Spillville, was guest at the home
lof Professor Koyarik's mother
Uses Electric Fan When Milking.
An Iowa farmer has an ideal way
for milking his cows. He has a
movable electric fan, which he moves
from one COW to another, thus Keep
ing the COW cool and comfortable as
well as himself, and the flies all seek