Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1918-08-01
fighting Against Austria, Their
Capture Means Nothing
but Execution.
WON'T LEAVE Their DEAD
Al Fallen cemrades Carried From the
Field-Thsse valereus Warriors
Select Their Own ohseers and
Eliminate Weak and Unfit.

Especial Correspondents Of Italian Ameri-
can News Bureau.)
Italian FrOnt.-The Slav soldiers in
the Italian army elect their " su-
periors BY the most rigid tests. and
thus they are representative Of the
manhood Of their nationalities. The
italian soldiery and people have taken
kindly to them.
The first Of the proofs Of valor they
gave are admirable. although limited
to modest operations In exploring and
faiding. Whether by themselves or
with Italian troops. these Czech-Slo-
vaks, arriving from beyond the ocean.
have kept up tho fire of patriotism and
the ardor to fight. and have fought
well.
The repatriates Of the Czecho- SlOvak
army have been saluted 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 liveliest recollec-
ton Of oppression and the c%onvulsive
struggle for redemption.
The women of Verona offered them a
battle flag In the Bohemian %colors, sur
mounted by q 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 onth
super1uous.
Are Killed II Captured.
The fate that awaits these new war
riors for the ideals Of a far.of 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 Is the
only thing In store for them II cap
tured.
Their word is 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 op-
pressor. Each one has sworn to carry
of to the italian lines the body Of a
compatriot killed In action.
Recently, during n reconnaissance.
. Bohemian fell close to the enemy
lines. Drawing a hot fire. the explorers
hurried to carry him on. fearing that
In a night sortie the Austrians might
get the body.
These soldiers Of death know tina.
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 or through their
own hands, they have c%onsecrated their
lives to the distant fatherland, from
which they have come to fight In the
greatest cradle Of all liberty and all
idcals--1taly.
Eliminate Weak and Unfit.
Rome, the ancient lighthouse of civ.
illty and Of liberty, has substituted
these new companions In arlns 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, than common Ideals
for the redemption Of their respective
countries, Is cemented by the know
ledge and vision of the real difficulties
and the resolution and tirmness OF
purpose Of the new combntants. From
their W ranks on n spontaneous vote
they have eliminated all about whose
military vigor or enthusiasm there
could be any doubt. so that the recruits
represent the flower Of the soldiery Of
the oppressed nationalities. Draw
from the same country, speaking thu
same tongue, in the daily intimacy o.
their new military life. they have sub
jec,ed each other to voluntary but in
flexible tests. The results are contldet
only to their officers.
Titus does not please ME. He woult
not make u good corporal. We do no
want him." they say. Thus, out of tn,
ancient military system Of Austrl,
springs elements of criticism which OK
Clude the weak and unfit. The officer,
must heed these vcrdicts. which, Xix,