New Britain herald., 1918-08-07
BOHEMIA PRODUCES
 DIVISION OF DEATH
CZGChO-SloyakS Swear UndyinS
 Hatred of Austria

Washington. Aug. 7.-Russta, in B fine emotional moment. produced a. battalion of death-wome soldiers with poison phials in their blouses. sworn never to surrender Bohemia, the enslaved and down trodden, the mere historical remnant of a nation, has produced the first division of death
 It has been known for some time that there were about 20, 900 Czecho- Slovak troops in a single group with the Italian army-tirst in training near Perugia and later at the battle front itself. It is not commonly known, however. that those soldiers will never be used on the defensive except in the last extremity and are being held by the high Italian com mand to be flung across No Mans Land when Italy strikes her next great blow.
 The reason for this is simple. These men will be hanged if they are cap tured by the Austrians Four hundred and seventy cho-Slovaks since the war started have been hanged in Triste alone-over i per cent. of the popuIatior-for offenses much moro venial in Austrian eyes than that of serving in the ranks of the enemy. An army loses most prisoners when it stands on the defensive. When it strikes it's casualties in killed and wounded are higher but the wounded can be cared for in the rear of the advancing forces. Therefore the Czecho- -Slovak division will be thrown forward only when the Austrians are ~eeling backward.
 To Fight for n Dream.
 
 possibility of the Austrian moose all ways ahead Of them are the hap ptest men in Italy. They are in arms to realize a dream-to esta blish a new republic upon the ancient coast of Bohemia and in the very heart of the present Austro- Hun garian state.
 Through out Italy they have excited the greatest enthusiasm. They are in stantly recogniza ble, for though they wear the grey green Italian uniform they carry on their collars stripes of their national colors---red and white with another touch of red and white in their Alpine caps. Unlike the Italians, they are mostly big and blond, and as they pass along through the cheering crowds of the towns and villa ges near the front with flowers behind their ears or stuck in their coats they seem
 
 They have been assem bled from all quarters Many of them are deserters from the Austrian armies. Others were taken prisoners-most willingly in successful Italian drives. The Ital- isns repeatedly found Czecho Slovak k machine gunners in the mountains at tached to their weapons by stout chains forged upon ankle bracelets, | Victims Of such a practice, of course, | furnished ready material for the Bo- henian division Others came from Russia, seeping through one out-of- theway channel or another into Italy. | Still others volunteered for this for 1 eign service in the United States.
 This spring and summer. as the Bo- hernian movement for independence ! has grown within Austria itself, re- cruiting for the Bohemian armies has received a tremendous impetus. In addition to the division already on | the front in Italy, another complete l division is being organized in France l From Russia 30.0 more CzeCho-Slo~ | walks are now on their way to Italy l over a safe though little-known route | The Czech ho- -Slovaks in Russia, tens of l thousands of them deserters from the 1 Austrian armies in the early years of 1 the war, and wholly unimpressed by l the Bolshevik anti-national doctrines | are especially restless. It is believed l