Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-07-24
HUNS DIDN'T GET
r ukraine GRAIN
II Was Burned There by REM
nants of the czeChO.SlOvak
Retiring Army.
TOUCH TEUTS IN STOMACAS
Food Allowances Reduced, and star
walton in Some Places Is Appar'
ent-Take Revenge for Oppres
siye Treatment Of Bohemia.

Washington Amid the many easy
triumphs which enabled the leutons
this year 10 slice great sections IRON
the map of Russia, like coupons from
q bond. Germany and Austria both SUI
fered one frightful disappointment.
And the pang was in the weakest part
of their political anatomy-the collec-
tive stomach Of their peoples.
The grain of which the two kaisers
expected TO plumber the Ukraine was
not there-at least there was SO little
of il that Germany had 10 lower her
bread ration while Austria continued
to starve Bit more rapidly. The sup
plies had been burned.
These fires were lighted, with KIND
of poetic justice, by the remnants OF
the Czecho- Slovak army-deserters
from the Austrian ranks and invet-
crate enemies of the Hapsbnrgs, who
had been reconstructed into Russian
military units under the kerensky
regime and fought so splendidly TOR
Russia before the whole nation col
lapsed from the gnawing OF the BOZ
sheyiki.
Fortunate for the Allies.
Until March of this year this Czecho-
Slovak army had been stationed III the
Ukraine-50.0O0 men In line and 5oUV
more In reserve. Then bolshevik rep
rssentatiyes dissolved their organlza-
ton and took away their arms, though
about 10000 refused to part with their
weapons. They were given promises
that they would be allowed to leave
Russia for the United States, but, OF
course no means Of transportation
were provided. And SO they remained
where they were.
II was fortunate for the allies that
they did. AS soon as they realized
that Germany's chief objective in
Russia was the Ukrainian grain sup
ply they began systematic campaign
Of pillage and burning, In which they
were assisted by the peasants them
selves, aroused at the thought that
the old landowners were to return I'M
der German protection.
The evidence that the CZechO Slo-
vsks were successful Is incontestable.
Count Czernin, Austro-Hungarian
prime minister until his little ex.
change of pleasantries with NJ.
Clemenceau, placed the responsibility
for the bare Ukrainian cupboard on
the shoulders of the Czecho- Slovaks.
German representatives in the Aus
trian reichsrath repeated the charge 10
greater details. A Magyar deputy in
the Hungarian parliament recently de.
clared that the Czecho- Slovak army in
Ukraine had burned or taken away
everything OF value.
Had Their Revenge.
Not only did they DESTROY what they
could, but they fought bitterly to pre-
vent the Teutons taking what was
left. Retiring and hampered by their
lack of equipment, they stopped to
meet the advancing Germans repeat
eddy In the field. Their last battle,
one of those confused struggles which
get little space In the cable reports,
was fought near Bachmac, halfway
between Kieff and Kursk on the road
TO Moscow. After the fight though
the Czeeho-Slovaks had been armed
chiefly with axes, they themselves
buried more than 800 Germans.
Certainly In Ukraine the C2echo-
Sloyaks have had their revenge for
three centuries Of suif0cation and
oppression In Bohemia. But through
out the war they have launched shat
tering blows against their Austrian
and German enemies and the whole
idea OF Mittel Europa.