New-York tribune., 1918-07-28
Czecho-Slovaks to
Stay in Russia AS
Aid to the Allies
Army in Siberia Directed to
Remain There Rather
Than Go to France
Supplies Are Needed
Spreading of Detachments
Nearer to Murman Coast
May Reform East Front

Nearer to Thurman Coast
May Reform East Front
WASHINGTON, July 27.-T. G. Ma
saryk, chairman Of the Czecho- -Slovak
National Council, in accordance with
the plans of the Allied Supreme War
Council, has instructed the Czecho-
Slovaks in Siberia to remain there for
the present, according to a statement
issued to-day by the council.
These Czecho-Slovak contingents oc-
cupy unparalleled" strategic positions
and realize, the statement asserts, that
by remaining in Russia they may be
able to render far greater service both
to Russia and the Allied cause than if
they were transported to France. They
have stretched out detachments toward
the Murman coast, which is held by
Anglo French h-American forces, and
their activities make possible the re-
establishment Of the Eastern front.
campaigns started in Russia during the
last year of which nothing more is
heard that the people in this country
watch with a certain lack Of confidence
the successes of the Czecho- -Slovak
forces in Siberia and Eastern European
Russia.
The statement says:
"Will they be permanent or will they
come to nothing, as did the ill-fated
campaigns of Korniloff. the Don Co.'S
sacks, the various Siberian govern
ments and many others? Can the
Czecho-Slovaks stand .he.~ ground, a
hundred thousand men among a hun
dred million? And are they not them
selves talking about withdrawing from
Russia?
Agreed with Allies
"The Czecho- -Slovak army in Russia
was created in order to fight the Ger
mans and Austrans, and when Russia
rangements we're made by Professor
T. G. Masaryk, President of the Cze-
cho- National Council and by
virtue Of that commander in chief Of
the CzechoSlovak forces, with the Al
lied representatives in Russia, and
also with the Bolsheviki, to march the
Czecho-Slovaks out of Russia and
take them to the Western front.
1T should be kept in mind that oc-
cupatlon of Russian territory or the
restoration of an Eastern front was
W.T.
ments were made, in February, 1918.
1t was due to one of these German
blunders, like the one that brought
America into the war, that the Czecho-
Slovaks, instead of withdrawing from
Russia, are now in control of Siberia
and of considerable territory west of
the Urals.
Trotzky's Plans Baked
"Under pressure of Austrian and
German demands, Trotzky tried to
disarm the Czecho-S -Slovaks and put
them in prison camps, with a view of
turning them over to Austrian authori-
ties. The Czecho- -Slovaks. being at
tackled, had to defend themselves, and
as a result found themselves in control
of the greater portion of the trans
Siberian railroad and the Volga River.
They were like Saul, who went to seek
his fathers asses and found kingdom.
professor Masaryk was by this time
leaders, under the changed conditions,
hesitated as to their course of action.
The only orders they had were to take
their forces to the Pacific. They had
no desire to play policeman in Russia,
and they realized that their position
could not be indefinitely sustained un-
less they were assured of a steady
flow of supplies. And yet the unparel-
leled strategic opportunities which
their position gave them made a strong
appeal to their imagination. This
seems evident from the fact that, in
stead of withdrawing from European
Russia, they occupied more cities on
the Volga, stretching out their detach-
ments in the direction of the Murman
coast.
Would Form New Front
"A week ago Professor Masaryk re-
leaders of the Czecho- -Slovak forces in
which the following words are found
indicative of the present desires of
these men:
"'In our opinion it is most desirable
and also possible to reconstruct a
Russia German front in the East. We
ask for instructions as to whether we
should leave for France or whether we
should stay here to fight in Russia by
the side of the Allies and of Russia.
The health and spirit of our troops are
excellent.
professor Masaryk has since then
instructed the forces in Siberia to re-
main there for the present.
"The question, however, of staying in
Russia or getting out does not depend
on the Czecho- -Slovaks alone That is
something which much be decided by
the Allies. The Czecho-Slovak army is
one of the Allied armies. and it is as
much under the orders of the Yer
sailles War Council as the French or
American army. No doubt the Czecho-
Slovak boys in Russia are anxious to
avoid participation in a possible civil
war in Russia, but they realize at the
same time that by staying where they
are they may be able to render far
greater service both to Russia and the
Allied cause than if they were trans
ported to France. They are at the or
ders Of the Supreme War Council of
the Allies"