New-York tribune., 1918-06-30

The original plan, emanating from
Slavic leaders in America and in
dorsed by M. Paderewski, Dr. Mi
losh Trivounatz, president of the
Serbian National Defence League
and member Of the South-Slav Ma
tional Council, in Washington, and
Czecho-Slovak leaders, among them
GAIA H. Mika, member Of the
Czecho- -Slovak National Council, and
others, comprises not only the vol
untary enlistment of men exempt
from the draft, but also those
draftees already in training in
American training camps. The lat
ter, fervent Slavic patriots, live,
many Of them, under the technical
stigma of "enemy aliens" by vir-
tue of their Austrian sovereignty;
furthermore, their imperfect knowl-
edge of the English language rem
ders their training with American
troops difficult. High ranking
American officers, dealing with this
foreign element and the attendant
difficulties Of its training, have con-
CURED in the opinion that it would be
more practicable to form these men
with those of voluntary enlistment,
and thus create Slavic army un-
der American CONTROL; or Slavic
contingent of the United States
army, to be at least partially Off
cered by men speaking the Slavic
tongues.
If, as the resolution of the SEN
ate Military Committee would indi-
cate, the approved plan comprises
merely the enlistment of under and
over draft age Slavs, it is doubtful
that any large force could be raised.
Poles, Czecho-Slovaks and Jugo-
Slavs would prefer, it is considered.
to enlist in such legions as would
distinguish their service by the spe-
cific designation, Polish, Czecho-
Slovak or Jugo-Slav.
But however the diversities of
the plan may become organized, it
can be but a matter of time, and
little time at that, before the strug-
Cling hordes in captivity will CO.
ordinate beneath the influence Of a
free Slavic army.
The mighty chain Of rebellion
begins to writhe beneath the iron
, heel, waiting with ceaseless, pas
= sionate vigilance for the moment
when it may rise up and bind the
:, expressing giant against any posi-
bility of future tyranny.
I Eyes Expectant
!, For the Light
1nterspersing the three most
Q definite links in the chain, Poland
Bohemia-or rather the Czecho-Slo.
yak nation of which Bohemia is but
9 one province-and Jugo-Slavia
{ which comprises the expatriatec
Serbs Of Serbia, Bosnia, Herzego
u vina, Croatia, Montenegro, Dalmatis
and the Slovenians of Istria clustered
e about Trieste, are Ruthenia and Ru
mania. The Ruthenians, or Little
y Russians, are Slavic people speak
= ing the Slavic tongue, and although
it would appear that Austro- G erman,
depends upon their instability in the
= event of an organized revolution, il
: is doubtful that even the careful
snare Of German propaganda will
> prevail when the beacon light of 6
free Slavonia shines before thei,
" eyes.
Rumania, apparently spared by
her peace terms from the devasta
tions which have been inflicted upor
other conquered territories, still
e suffers acutely and unheard. Peace
n loving, picturesque, an agricultural
d country of fine national spirit ane
r much culture, there can be no doub
d OF Rumania's allegiance to he1
n Slavic neighbor's cause, although
t she alone, of the chain, is not Sla,
v but of Roman origin.
9 Moreover, these two somewhat
Is quiescent states arc dominated a
either end by two Of the most po