The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1918-09-19
OUR FORCES IN RUSSIA;
GOVERNMENT POLICY
TOWARD RUSSIA

States is determined to come to the
id of The Czecho- -Slovak troops whose
existence i; threatened by German
and Austria armed prisoners of war,
acting in cooperation with the Bolsh-
evik Red Guard.
This decision will require the use
of force of American troops. TO
augment those forces, the Japanese
Government has been invited and has
consented to supply Japanese troops
in about the same number, to act with
the American forces as single unit
to assist the Czecho- -Slovak troops.
The decision of the Government re-
quires some understanding of the
character and position of the Czecho-
Slovak troops.
The Czecho-Slova are a race speak
ing, Slavic language very much like
Russian, living in Austria and consti-
tuting for the most part the native
population of Bohemia. In the early
days of the war Austria drafted the
Eirn INTO Eer polygot army. The
Czecho-Slovaks were hostile to the
tyranny of the Austrian Government
and sympathetic with their fellow
Slaves, the Russians. Consequently,
when brought into battle on the East
crn front thcy surrendered by regi-
mcnt$ and even divisions. III this way
some 100000 Czccho-Slovaks became
prisoners of war in Russia.
The Government of the Gar sus-
pected their loyalty and did not SYM
pathize with democratic aspiration to
be free With the revolution of March
1917 however the Provisional Govern
ment of Russia took different view
and agreed to assist in reorganizing
these troops as unite of the Russian
Army. Through the efforts of Prof
.ssor Masaryk, President O. The Cze-
ho-Slovak Nation Council, who was
n Eu7sia for the purpose the organ
:ation of these prisoners of war was
undertaken clcrEc ical!y. Several
thousand Of them formed the back
Done of General KurniloT's army in
June, 1917, which for a time made
successful attack upon the Austri-
ans The organization of Czccho SLOW
axis continued and in September and
October, 1917 their number had in
creased to about 10000 fully organ
lZed with measures IN progress to
mobolize an additional $4,000. When
the Bolshcvik came into power in
November 1917 CZccho- Slovaks re-
allied that their ambition TO fight Ger
many and Austria could not be ac-
compli$hcd in Russia. Professor Mas
aryk according negotiated with Len
me and Trotsky for their free pas
sage out of Russia Vim Vladvostok
and Archangcl where shipping would
be provided for them to go to the
French front. The men began to
move back from the Russian front
toward the Volga. The movement had
not preceded very far before German
"ad ABSTAIN propaganda excited the
fo.ahcvik authorities to believe that
The C2Cchn- -Siovai:s constituted a dan
gerous element. Attempts in various
localities were therefore made to dis.
"rm them wholly. But disarmament
IN several cases resulted in hostile
attacks Thereafter the CZecho-Slo
vaks refused to deliver their arms
upon which Trotsky ordered the ar.
rest of their leaders in Moscow and
the disarmament of all Czecho -SlovaL
troops in Russia. The Czechs refused
to enter into hostilitics with the Sow
eta or to interfere in Russian affairs
| They persisted in their purpose tc
leave Russia via Vladivostok and Is,
600 OF them actually reached that Far
Eastern port. Their comrades were
in transit along the Siberian Eastern
Railway from lrkutsk, 5000 miles
: west to the VOlga River At Vladi
voStok the first attack was made b,
armed prisoners of war; three Czccho
S:oVak sentrics we're killed aad eighty
OF the men were suDorncd to Ioir
/ the Rcd Guard. The CHccho- -Slovah
commander issued an ultimatum anC
tok but was resisted by German and
Austrian prisoners of war who, how
ever, were finally forced to surrender
With his open breach the activi
ties of armed prisoners of war in
support Of Red Guard Bolsheyil
troops became very active and an or
raniZcd attempt was started to pre-
vent the CZecho-Slovaks at Irkutsl
and westwards from joining those al
Vladivostok.
Only about twenty per cent. of the
Czencho-Slovaks were originally arm
ed in their journey across Siberia ant
their position was an extremely dan
gerous one. At almost every point
they were outnumbered by Rec
Guards and Germans and Austrians
well armed with rifles, machine gun!
and field artillery. To protect the:l
base at Vladivostok and their connec
.aI Al