The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-05-17
Fighting Against. Austria, Their
Capture Means Nothing
but Execution.
WON'T LEAVE their DEAD
All Fallen Comrades Carried From the
Fieid-These valorous Warriors
Select Their Own Officers and
Eliminate Weak and Unfit.

select Their Own OfficerS and
Eliminate Weak and Unfit.
Especial Correspondence Of italian Ameri-
can News Bureau.)
italian Front.--The Slav soldiers in
the Italian army elect their own SUI
periors by the most rigid tests, and
thus they are representative Of the
manhood Of their nationalities. The
Italian soldiery and people have taken
kindly to them.
The first of the proofs Of valor they
gave are admirable. although limited
to modest operations in exploring and
raiding. Whether by themselves or
with Italian troops, these Czech-Slo-
vaks. arriving from beyond the ocean,
have kept up the fire of patriotism and
the ardor to fight, and have fought
well.
The repatriates Of the Czecho- Slovak
army have been saluted already with
brotherly love by the population in the
zone of war, especially by the ancient
inhabitants Of the Veneto, who have
the most recent and liveliest recollec-
ton Of oppression and the convulsive
struggle for redemption.
The women of Verona offered them 8
battle flag in the Bohemian colors, sur
mounted by lion. The soldiers recog-
nized the sanctity Of the gift and
swore an oath that they would die for
that emblem of liberty. The express
sion was not rhetorical and the oath
superluous.
Are Killed If Captured.
| The fate that awaits these new war.
| riors for the ideals Of far-off ano
oppressed country is shown by the In
flexible military rules Of the Austrian
empire. They are all subjects of the
Emperor Carl and as such death is the
only thing in store for them if cap
tured
Their word is for that reason sacred
Neither alive nor dead must they. fai
into the hands of the enemy. Even the
dead must be snatched from the op
pressor. Each one has sworn to carr!
Off to the italian lines the body OF {
compatriot killed in action.
Recently, during reconnaissance
a Bohemian fell close to the enem.
lines. Drawing hot fire, the explorer
hurried to carry him off, fearing tina
in a night sortie the Austrians Nigh
get the body.
These soldiers of death" know tina
If an operation fails Of success the'
must kill themselves. To the igno
minious death inflicted by the enem!
they prefer suicide. Whether through
death by the enemy or through thei
own hands, they have consecrated thei
lives to the distant fatherland, iron
which they have come to fight in tn
greatest cradle of all liberty and al
ideals-ltaly.
Eliminate Weak and Unfit.
Rome, the ancient lighthouse of civ
iIity and of liberty, has substitutes
these new companions in arms TO
those of Russia. These warriors 10
the freedom of their country hav
found in the ranks Of our own combat
ants fraternity and sturdy faith. Thi
fraternity, more than common ideal
for the redemption Of their respectiV
countries, is cemented by the know
ledge and vision of the real difficultie
and the resolution and tirmness o
purpose of the new combatants. Fror
their own ranks on spontaneous vot
they have eliminated all about who's
military vigor or enthusiasm Their
could be any doubt, so that the recruit
represent the flower Of the soldiery Q
the oppressed nationalities. Draw
from the same country, speaking tn
same tongue, ip the daily intimacy Q
their new military life, they have sui
iected each other to voluntary but II
i flexible tests. The results are confide
only to their officers.
"Titus does not please me. He woul
not make good corporal. We do nc
want him." they say. Thus, out of tn
ancient military system Of Austri
springs elements of criticism which e.
clude the weak and unfit. The officer
must heed these verdicts, which, lik
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