Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1918-09-06
GOVERNMENT POLICY TOWARD
RUSSIA.

The Government of the United
States is determined TO come to the
aid Of the Czccho-Slovak troops
whose existence is threatened by
German and Austrian armed priso-
ncrs of war, acting in cooperation
with the Rolshcvik Red Guard.
This decision will require the use
of force of American troops. To
augment these forces, the Japanese
Government has been invited, and has
consented, to supply Japanese troops
i'll about the same number, to act
with the American forces rs a single
unit to assist the Czccho- Slovak
troops. The decision of the Govern
ment requires some understanding
of the character and position of the
Czccho-Slovak troops.
The Czccho- Slovaks are race
speaking Slavic language very
much like Russian, living in Austria
and constituting for the most part
the native population of Bohemia.
In The carly days of the war Austria
drafted these men into her polygot
army. The Czecho- Elovaks were hos
tile to the tyranny of the Austrian
Government and sympathetic with
theft fellow "Slavs. the Russians.
Consequently, Wien brought into
battle on the Eastern front they sur
rendered by regiments and even di-
visions. In this way some 100000
Czecho-Slovaks became prisoners of
war in Russia.
The Government of the Gar sus-
pectcd their loyalty End did not
sympathizc with their democratic
aspirations 10 he free. With the
Revolution of March, 1917, however,
the Provisional Government of Rus
sia took Il different view end agreed
to assist in reorganizinz these troops
as unite of the Russian army.
Through the efforts of Professor
Masaryk, President of the Czccho-
Slovak National Council, who WIS
IN Russia for the purpose, thc organ
lzation of these prisoners of war
was undertaken cLergctic:lly. Sew
eral thousand of item formed the
back bone Of General rniloffs
army in June 1917, which for Il time
made Il successful attack upon the
Aus,rians. The organization of the
Czccho Slovaks continued and in
September and October, 1917, their
number had increased to about 49,
600 fully organized, with measures
in progress to mobolizc an additional
10000. When the Bolsheviks came
into power in November, 1917, the
Czecho- Slovaks realized ;hnS their
ambitions to fight Germany and
Austria could not be accomplished in
Russia. Professor Masaryk accord
ingly negotiated with Lenine and
Trotsky for their free passage out
of Russia, via VlaGivostock ard Arch
angel where shipping would be pro-
vldcd for them to go to the French
front. The men began to move bact;
from the Russian front towards the
Nolga. The movement had not pro-
ceeded very far before German and
Austrian propaganda excited the
Bolshcvik authorities to believe that
the zccho-Slovaks constituted a
dangerous element. Attempts in var
ious localities were therefore made
to disarm them wholly. But disarm-
ament in several cases resulted in
hostile attacks. Thereafter the Cze-
cho-Slovaks refused to deliver thcil
arms. upon which Trotsky ordered
the arrest of their leaders in Moscow
and the disarmament of all Czecho-
Slovak troops in Russia The Czecho.
refused to enter into hostilitics witt
the Sovicta or to interfere in Rus
sian affairs. They persisted in theil
purpose to leave Russia via Vladi
vostock and $4,000 of them actual,
reached that Far Eastern port. Tbeir
/ comrades were in trcn5it along Tho
Siberian Eastern Railway from lrk.
utsk, 5000 miles wesi to the Volga
River. AT Vladivostock the first
attack was made by armed prisoner.
of war; three Czecho- Slovaks sen
tries were killed and eight of tn,
men were suborned to join the Re,
Guard. The Czecho- Slovak comman
der issued an ultimatum and disarm
ed the Red Guards at VladivostocI
but was resisted by German an,
Austrian prisoners of war who, how
ever, were finally forced to surren
der.
With this open breech the activ
tiles of armed prisoners of war il
support of Red Guard Bolshevi.
troops became very active and al
organized attempt was started t.
prevent the Czecho- Slovaks at Irk
utsk and westwards from joinin.
those at Vladivostock.