New-York tribune., 1918-07-21

TT IS romance, this high adventure
of the Czecho- -Slovak band in ST.
Il beria "One of the thrilling ro-
mances of the war;" The Tribune
phrases it; while "The St. Louis Repub-
lc' observes:
Taking it as it stands, the Czecho-slo-
wax army operating in Siberia forms one
of the most remarkable features of war
bristing with startling developments. If
these men, soldiers under the Austrian
flag, but hating Austria and Germany,
should prove to be the instruments by
which order is brought out of the Russian
chaos, they will do more to free their own
people than thousand years of struggling
effort at home would do. In q way they
have the future of the Czecho-Slovak race
within their keeping"
But now it becomes necessary to ask
and answer a number of fundamental
questions before confining attention to
this astonishing crusade.
Who are the Czecho-S -Slovaks?
How did they get way up in Siberia?
Why are they moving down in vast
numbers, graphing with the Bolsheviki,
occupying cities, gaining practical con-
troll of the Transsiberian Railway?
The questions may be taken up in the
order here given.
Who are these people? Mr.. Ales
Hrdlicka tells us, ina article published
some time ago in "The National Geo.
graphic Magazine:
"The Czechs are the westernmost branch
Of the Slavs. Besides Bohemia, the Czcchs
occupy Moravia and adjacent territory in
Silica. The Slovaks, who show merely
dialectic differences from the Czechs, ex
tend from Morava eastward over most of
Northern Hungary.
"The advent of the Czech is lost in an
tiquity; it is known, however, that they
cremated their dead, and certain burials in
Northeastern Bohemia and in Moravia
antedate 500 B. c. The nation
possesses code of formal supreme laws,
and the people are noted for their physical
prowess, free spirit love of poetry and
passionate jealousy of independence.
"The Czech is kind and with stock of
native humor He is an intent
thinker and restless seeker of truth, of
learning, but no apt schemer. He is ambi-
tious and covetous of freedom in the
@S'SN'
neerlng, oppression, power by force over
others are foreign to his nature. He
ardently searches for God and is inclined
10 be deeply religious, but is impatient of
dogma- as of all other undue restraint. He
may be opinionated. stubborn, but is happy
10 accept facts and recognize true superb
onty He is easily hurt and does not for
get the injury will fight, but is not last
'ngly revengeful or vicious. He is not
cold calculating, thin-lipped, nor again as
lnlammable as the Pole or the southern
Sav but is sympathetic and full of trust
ana through this often open to imposition.
MS endurance and bravery in war for a
cause which he approved were proverbial
as was also his hospitality in peace. He
IS often highly capable in languages, sci
ehce, literary and technical education, and
Is inventive as we'll industrial. but not
commercial. Imaginative, artistic, crea-
1--WE, rather than frigidly practical In
eined at times to melancholy, brooding,
pessmism, he is yet deep at heart~forever
0aoyant, optimistic, hopeful-hopeful not
ei possessions or power, but of human
happiness, and of the freedom and future
golden age of not merely his own, but all
people"