Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-07-10
OUICKSHIFTS
OF RUSS BAR
MOVE BY us.
Rapid Turn of Events Pre-
vents Decision; Czecho-
Slovaks Beat Foe.

eral congress of Russian sOvi-
cts, Leon ThOtZky, the BOlshe-
yik minister of war said, ac-
cOrding to a dispatch received
here from Basel this morning:
"Russia is on the eve of
general military service con-
scriptiOn.
TrOtzky also emphasized the
necessity of Russia having a
powerful army.
Washington, July 10.-The
government regards the situa-
ton in Russia as so rapidly
and constantly changing as to
make it impossible to come as
yet TO any decision as to what
military aid may be extended
! by the United States. This
was stated authOritatively to-
day.
All of the plans so far submit
ted which involve military action,
the United States government feels
involved at the same time a weak
ening of the western front. 1t is
the decision of the government that
nothing must be permitted to de-
tract from the military strength
in France and Belgium.
The project for extending econ
omic aid, it was stated, Is going
forward favorably. While the sit
uation surrounding the question Of
military action continues to be so
Kaleidoscope, 1t was stated, no an
nouncement Of policy is possible.
-
The first definite news OF an
armed body of German and Hun
garian prisoners in Siberia was
contained in report received to-
day at the state department from
the United States consul at Vladi-
vostock, telling of the capture by
Czecho-Slovak forces of 500 prison
ers and the town of Nikolsk about
so miles northwest of Vlidavistok.
The Czecho-Slovaks lost 40 killed
and 200 wounded. They were op-
posed by a large force of Bolshe-
Wiki Red Guards and armed German
and Hungarian prisoners. The de-
feated Red Guards and prisoners
took armored trains and retreated
toward Harborzsk on the Amur
river. They took all the rolling
stock at Nikolsk and did some dam
age to the roadbed.
People Help SIOvaks.
The people of Nikolsk were re-
ported very friendly to the CZecho-
Slovaks and aided in repairing the
road. The prisoners taken are be-
ing held and examined in an effort
to learn where they got their arms.
The consul reported that the Boil
sheviki hanged several members of
the Nikolsk city administration and
a number of the railroad employees.
Want to Fight in France.
London, July 10.-CZecho-Slova
troops now operating in Russia de-
sire to fight on the western front
and do not want to be mixed up in
Russian internal affairs. A mem
orandum to this effect has been
presented to the japanese foreign
minister and the allied ambassa-
dors in Toxic by Colonel Vladimir
Hurban, on behalf Of the CZecho-
Slovak national council. says the
correspondent of the Times at the
Japanese capital.
The memorandum says that the
conflict between the Czecho-Slo-
vaks and the Russian soviets must
be settled for the following rea-
sons:
Our forces are acting in Russia
according to the orders of the
Czecho- Slovak council which can
only be modified by Professor T. G.
Masark in agreement with the
other members of the council.
These orders are 10 transport the
forces from Russia to the French
front.
Object Is TO Free Oppressed.
THE Czech army consists of vol
unteers whose object is TO fight
Germany and Austria, to liberate
the Czecho-Slovak nation and TO es
tablish an independent state. We
shall pursue this course to the last
man We desire above all to ex-
hibit our determination on the bat
tlefeld of France.
THE Czecho-Slovaks are a SUBJ
jugated nation making the first
steps toward liberation by paying
a blood tribute and have no moral
right to pursue a policy of protec-
tion with regard to such a state
as Russia. No party in Russia and
no class is capable of establishing
that will endure. Order
must be reestablished by force, firm
and energetic but friendly and hu-
name force which will open TO the
Russians the possibility of again
finding themselves
For obvious reasons. the Czecho-
lrg nr,r -
plish this. Their clear duty is TO
pursue a strategical movement to-
ward France"