The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1918-08-20
CzEChO-SLOvAK
Tells THRILLING
STORY OF ESCAPE
Explains Romantic Origin. of
Army and Trip to Siberia.

WASHINGTON, Aug. lo-Capt.
Vladimir S. Hurban, an officer in the
CEeeho SluNak army which Japan and
the United State, have decided TO aid
IN Sibc' !, has come 10 Washington
IRON NladvoStuk 10 make report to
Professor Masayk, commander in chief
OF the CzcCho Sloyak army and preSi-
ident OF the national council. Captain
Hurban has given to the Associated
Press his story of the experiences Of
the Czccho-Sloyak, from the time the
army OF escaped prisoners fought their
way eastward from Ukranla
The history OF the origin Of our
army OF ITS operations on the Russian
front, and rs march around the world
80 The French front will some dav read
like fantastic romano before which
the imagination fades into the pro,aic," -"
he said.
" Prisonefs Make Army.
Our army in Russia was organized
from Czecho and Slo,ak prisoners Of
war under almost in,urmountable dlf-
tieuItlcS We were. cooperating with
the Russian army, and since the sum.
mer OF l9H were practically the only
army on thr Russian front. capable Of
any military action IN the proper sense
OF the word I'm July, 1917, during che
frs, revolutionary offensive under ker-
cnsky, It was only our army that really
attacked and advanced
when the bulsheylk soviet govern
sl
beginning OF March, our auny. Of about
5000 mcn was in Ukranid. near kicy
lhe former lkranlan government. 10
escape the bolsheviki. threw themselves
into the arms Of the Germans and called
for German help. When the German
and Austrian armies began their ad
vance into Ckrania, the position OF our
army was almost desperate We were
in state which had concluded pcfrc.
into which, however. the Germans were
advancing and occupying large terri
tories without resistance The Red
Guards Of the soyicts did not represent
any real military power
he Germans advanced against rs
III Overwhelming numbers and there was
danger that We would be surrounded
Our rear was not covered and the Ger
mans were liable to attack Us there
We had no lines OF communication be
hind us, no stores OF materials and mol
reserves: everywhere there was diSor
ganizatlon and anarchy. and the bol,hcv.
TX Red Guards seized the locomotives
and were ilcclng east ~ panic
Amnesty Promised.
Under these circumstances Emperor
Charles sent US a special envoy with
&. the promise, that it we would disarm,
we would he annesticd and our lands
would receive autonomy We answered
that we would not negotiate with the
Austrian emperor.
"As we could not hold a front We
hogan a retreat+to the east Already
tlien in agreement with the allies tour
army had been proclaimed a part OF
the CIecho- Sloyak army on the western
front. and thus allied with the French
army it was decided to transport our
army over Siberia and America to
France We began the difficult retreat
from kiev The Germans in an over
whelmng force were trying TO prevent
our escape About hundred miles
behind us they seized the important
railroad junction at Bachmac, which |
we were Obliged to pass in our trains
on our retreat to the east
when we arrived at Bachmac the |
Germans were already waiting for us
There began a battle lasting four days, !
in which they were badly defeated. and |
which enabled us TO get onr trains
through The commander OF the Ger
man detachment offered us forty |
eight hours truce, which we accepted |
for our duty was to leave Ukrania |
bat, the truce was Cancelled by the Ger |
man chief commander. Linsingen, but |
too late; our trains had already got |
away We lost altogether about 800 men
in dead, wounded and unaccountable,
while we buried 1000 Germans in only |
one day
Escape Uhsinis
SIN this manner we escaped from
Uluainia. Our relations with the boil
sheviks were still good, We refrained
from meddling with Russian internal !
affairs and we tried to come to an
agreement with the bolshevik govern
.irent with respect to our departure, or
passage through Russia But already,
signs were visible that the bolsheviks
--either under German influence or be-
cause we then represented the only real
power in Russia--would try TO put Do
stacles in our way II would have suf-
ficed to order one OF our regiments
(os,r army was then in Mach oaar |