The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-09-12
DRIVE FOR FUND
 FOR CZECH ARMY
 HERE NEXT WEEK
Bridgeport Asked to Con- tribute $5O,00O to Aid
 Cause of Their Forces
FIGHT FOR ALLIES
 IN EAST SIBERIA
Former Captives of Russia Now Helping in the War
 for Democracy.

One of the most romantic exploits of the war is that upon which the Czecho-S -Slovak army is engaged in si- beria. In the view of some observers 1t may be much more than an ex- pDoit; 1t may become the beginning of a revival in Russia which will put the Russian people upon their feet again, and put rifles in their hands and re- kindle in their hearts the old deter imitation to fight Germany. The Czecho-Slovaks are now in possession of Vladivostok, and are united to other bands of Allies.
 Those who closely follow the war news and remember what they have read will have no difficulty in recall ing that one of the last great drives of the Russian army before it con tracted the sleeping sickness resulted in the Capture" of some hundreds of thousands of Austrian soldiers. These soldiers were for the most part Czecho- -STovak troops, Austrian sub jects forced into the Austrian army in Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia. They surrendered without a struggle. In- deed, most of them actively cooper ated with their Captors, explaining that they hate1 Austria above all na- tions, had only fought for her under compulsion and now sought the op- portunity of fighting against her if given the opportunity. In France then as now were many leaders of the Czecho- -Slovak movement which is a movement to free the Czechs from the Austrian yoke. These leaders at once set about arranging with the Russian government, at that time represented by Kerensky, to return 100000 of the captured Czecho -Slovaks to France
 When Lenine and Trotsky seized power they objected for a while to the former prisoners leaving the country, but later on gave a grudging consent and the Czecho -Slovaks set out on their march to Vladivostok, the rail- way accommodation being of course utterly inadequate to transport the army eastward. The Czecho-S Slovaks were well armed and equipped, and aroused much enthusiasm in the course of their advance. Not long ago the attitude of the Bolsheviki changed from one of toleration for the Czecho-Slovaks to concealed hos tility and from that to open opposi- ton. The Czecho-Slovaks were fore ed in self-protection to fight Bolshe- vik troops that tried to bar their pro- gross, but when they did fight it was not as they had fought against Rus sia earlier in the war. They fought in such a manner that they routed the enemy, and continued their march tC Vladivostok. Here again Lenine ana Trotsky tried to prevent them from entering the city. There was a battle and the Bolsheviki were again defeat ed.
 News of the past week other Bol shevist defeat at the hands of tht battalions of victory or death.
 There seems little doubt that toda- the Czecho -Slovaks constitute tn most formidable fighting unit in tn Russian empire. Their enthusiasm for the cause of the Allies is not t be denied, and it Is possible that be ing of the Slav race themselves the may say the magic word, perform tn magic deed that will rouse Russi from her present stupor. Their ma ton has been recognized formally a one of the Allies Their soldiers a IBdully 6LChuOWIeuSe LHe ( Gen. Foch as an American battalion They are now actually co-operatin with British, French, American an Japanese marines. and with 2,50 Dalmatians now in Siberia serving UT der the Italian flag. They have seize the door Of Russia from within an can swing 1t open, and hold it open
 the Allies aid them. Should this done, the exploit of the Czecho-Slt yak army will be remembered in hi tory for its profound affect upon u war. They hold the key to the Ru sian situation and are grave menat to the eastern front of Austria.
 The history of the Czecho-S -SlovaI is lost in antiquity Certainly the were established in Bohemia and Mic ravia at least 500 B. c. Love ( poetry and passionate Jealousy of 1T dependence are said to have bee striking characteristics of them frol time immemorial. As business me they have been proved not the mate for the Austrians and Magyars, VII