The Mankato free press., 1919-03-07
DISPLAY YANk GOLORS
BABY REPUBLIC LOVES THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE
CzECH0- SPIRIT
Great Regard For the Entente Is
Shown In Every Way
Possible

Prague, Czecho- -Slovakia, Febru-
ary 5.-[By Mail. bohemia prob
ably is the most pro-ally country in
the world nowadays. At least you
have that impression when you arrive
in Prague. coming from Berlin. The
Czecho- Slovaks have not been al
lowed to give vent to their feelings
during the four years of the war,
when they were dominated by Aust,
ria. and they are making up for it
now.
Prague is mass of allied flags,
stuck in every possible corner along
the crooked streets and in inches of
the quaint buildings. American and
the new Czecho- Slovak republic flags
predominant though there are thous-
ands of English. French, Italian flags.
When the Austrian empire finally
collapsed. thousands of flags suddenly
were brought from hiding, many of
them printed on paper, since cloth
enough was impossible to find.
Pictures Of Wilson.
Every store has two attractions,
a picture of President Wilson, and
with him President Masaryk, of the
new republic. To the Czecho- SLOW
axis, they are the greatest men of
history, and both are universally
admired almost TO the extent of wor-
ship.
The Czecho- Sloyaks have organic
ed committees to look after foreign
ers, Some of the most influential
university people are serving volun
tarily on these committees, and there
is nothing they will not do to assist
visitors from allied countries.
Everyone in Czecho- -Slovakia is
looking forward to the arrival of the
first official missions from other
countries. The Italians were the first
to cross Austria and break the isola
tion of this stranded member of the
entente. An American mission under
the leadership of - Captain Manual
Voska, bringing train of trucks
loaded with medical supplies and
food from Italy, Is en- route. French
and British missions are expected.
Manifest Their loyalty
The Czecho Slovaks manifest their
lozslty fo TIE eptepks u seyerx Fsy
possible They have undertaken pro-
lection of all allied subjects within
the former Hapsburg empire, and as
sist their travelling aud work by
means of station officers and repre-
sentatives in Vienna, Budapest, and
other cities.
The spirit of the Czecho- Slovaks is
at high ebb and is contagious. Ev-
eryone in the land, with the excep-
tion of the Germans, is jubulant at
freedom after 400 years." as the
new born independence is called.
The people Of the land have as many
privations as other Inhabitants of the
defeated countries, by joy at being
liberated.
German Language Tabooed.
German is language tabooed
among the Czecho- Slovaks, not by
decree but by public feeling. Some
times it works difficulties for for
eigners who know no Slav tongue.
Go into a restaurant and order your
meal in German, and the walters
probably will not understand you at
all. You may not be served, unless
you explain you are an American,
and don't know Bohemian, and ther-
fore must speak German. Then they
will talk German ard understand it,
anu Will yOu any tAiiS liSy Soh
get. The same is true of shops.
Prague is a very old city with
quaint, somewhat oriental passage
ways, the least modern of the large
cities in the former central empires,
due, according to the Czecho- SLOW
axis. to the deliberate plan of the
Austrians to keep the city undevel-
oped. 1t is a city OF nearly million.
including the inhabitants Of the sub
urbs.
The people are lively and intelli-
gent, mostly dark complexioned and
black eyed They are Independent in
spirit ard ambitious to make their
isolated little country a strong mem
Der of the allies. They keenlyv ap-
preciate recognition by President
Wilson, whom they credit with hav-
ing put Czecho Sloyakia on the
map.