Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-01-01
CZECH SIBERIAN ARMY
VOTES AGAINST BATTLE
Declines Fght BolsheUki hen Ofensre Is Ordered
Failure of Allies to Send Aid Is
Resented
By CARL W. ACKERMAN.

dynamite the Baikal tunnels ahead OF
the Czechs and prevent the Allies from
entering Siberia.
In May the Bolshev<i attacked the
Czechs simultaneously at Samara'
Cheliabinsk. Cfa Irkutslt and Chita.
The Czechs were unable to understand
this organized hostility until they
learned that Trotzky had sent the fol-
lowing confidential communication:
"All Soviets along the railroads are
obliged, on pain of grave responsibility.
to disarm the CZecho Slovaks. Each
Czech on whom arms are found Is to be
shot on the spot. Each echelon in which
a single armed man is found must be
thrown off the tracks and the men con-
fined in prison camps.
THE local military commissariats are
enjoined TO execute this order at once
Any delay viii! be equivalent to dishon-
orable treachery and will call down upon
the culprit the severest punishment ST.
multaneously. reliable troops, who are
commissioned to teach mutineers n les
son, are being sent against the rear of
the Czecho echelons. Those Czecho-Slo-
walks who lay down their arms will be
treated as brothers and every support
will be given to them"
Czechs Resent Treachery
When this treachery of the Bolsheviki
was learned. resolution was adopted to
continue the journey 10 France regard
less OF all obstacles"
Meanwhile both Germans and Bolshe-
Wiki made every effort to fasten their
hold upon Siberia by destroying Czech
unity. At this time. in May, the Ger
mans had not completed their organiza-
tions in the big Siberian cities. 1t was
evident that fight would be made for
Omsk which was the temporary capital
of the Bolsheviki
The president of the Central Siberian
Soviet teegraphed to all officers on the
/ trans -Baikal railroad:
From Russia to Vladivostok are NOV
ing sixty echelons of Czecho-Slovall
troops at the disposal of America, os-
tensbly on their way to France. In
view of the hostile attitude of inter-
national imperialism and the threats of
q foreign landing at Nladivostok, the
central executive committee of the ST.
berian Soviets considers a concentration
there Of forces dangerous and inadmiss-
ibe"
Orders Attack on Czechs
Following this telegram came a special
wire from the private car of the supreme
Bolshevist military inspector, containing
the following:
ants Government with plenary powers ir
military matters, / order Czecho- -Slovak
echelons to be confronted by the centra
executive committee with the alternative
of attacks by Soviet troops or of leaving
their echelons and taking quarters IL
barracks to be designated by the loca
military authorities until further instruc
tions."
Attacked by the Red Army and facinc
certain execution il captured individu
ally. the Czechs closed their ranks ant
continued on their way 10 Vladivostok
The Bolsheviki having betrayed them
they saw no other way of reaching thei,
destination except by fighting the Rec
Army along the railroad. which attempt
ed to dsarm and intern them.
Naturally through this intrigue anc
; opposition they became involved in Rus
sian politics, which the Allies at thi
time desired to avoid.
Near Desertion by Allies
At this critical moment. the Czech
We're on the verge of being deserted b,
the Allies The echelon at Isikoul re
ceived the following message from Ma
Guinet. representing the French mission
Your action forces the French mission
to wash its hands of this affair. 1t will
he disgrace for the Czechs to becom
involved in Russian difficulties If tn
! Ccechs persist in their activities every
thing must end between them and tn
French Government The Czechs mus
take no action whatever until the Frencl
mission leaving Omsk immediatel
reaches Isikoul."
, The following day the Allies, Czech
| and Bolsheviki arranged conference
, The Soviets, pressed by Trotzky. insiste
| upon disarmament. The Czechs repie
r I'VE will never consent. We woul
r sooner die"
The conference broke up withou
8 agreement. The Czechs and the Sovie
troops faced each other in war. Al
the German commission from Teuma,
consisting of seventy persons in the mil
tary. diplomotic and consular service
| If these men with the troops reache
9 Omsk. Siberia's fate would be settled
I Germany would have complete contrC
Of Siberia and the Czechs would b
:. imprisoned. Red army forces could b
concentrated at Vladivostok. on Jur
/? Colonel (now GeneraD Syrovtm Ell
!, tered Omsk with the CZechs ahea
- of the Germans. and the Boishs
Wiki. German dominotion in Siberi
!, collapsed and new Siberian governmei
II was formed The Czechs held confe
Z ence June % at Cheliabinsk. BY tn
e time the Allies were considering the r.
e establishment of the Russian front ar
Il the Czechs received this communication
Intervention Promised
II "rhe French Ambassador inform
II Major Guinet that he can thank Il
Czechs for their action. This is in Il
name of all the Allies, who have decide
to intervene at the end OF June. ar
French