Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-02-19
ny sTlFF CORRESPONDENTS.


rErERSBUkG. VA. Feb. lS.--Littlc
bohemia that garden spot OF Virginia
made 10 bloom under the hand of hardy
land well In its newly won freedom.
This is the message Charles PerYler.
commissioner of the new republic Of
czccho- Slovakia to the United States,
VIII take back TO his people from their
$1,000 brothers and sisters who have
settled in the Old Dominion TO become
numbered with it's most valued citi-
Zens.
Here TO give to the mother state of
the great Western republic the first
Official flag of his nation presented TO
any country. Commissioner Perglcr
ana his STAFF today visited tho center
OF the bohemian colony Of Southsidc
virginia. They were accoinpa MED By
Colonel Leroy hodges. rs Governor
Wcstmorcland Davis personal rcprc-
sentative. ana by several business men
Of Petersburg
SAVED FROM CRUEL DEATH
ny COMPANY OF CZf:CIIs
on c2mmiss:ioner Pergiers stan are
ihe C@echo- Siovakian legation. and
Thomas capck. Jr.. private secretary
20 the commissioner The latter is :,
son Of the celebrated bohemian author,
whosc works played so large a part in
the revolution which won the nation
its freedom. Major Sipck is veteran
% the first Russian army TO go against
the AustEians. and was one of the
original band OF tZecho- Slovak troops
which afterwards grew to such formid-
able proportions in the hgh: against
the BOlshevists. He was captured with
scEora! others at the time Lenine and
Trotzky started their crusade against
the czcchs., Trotzky sentenced him to
be shot. but on the morning set for
his execution his company storn!ed the
town In which he was imprisoned and
liberated him.
subsequently he and his followers
made their way TO Vladivostok: thence
across tho Pacific, and eventually home
He wears three medals for d!stin-
Iuished service.
MAYOR OF PETERSBURG
MEETS VISITING PARTY
The party left Richmond this morn
ing, arriving in Petersburg about 10
o'clock. AT the railway station they
were met by reception committee
resenting the city; tucker whyte and an
William Nj. Martin. representing the
Chamber OF Commerce. and w. Fl. Will
cox and X, c. Parsons. representing
the Retail Merchants Association 4
soldiers band from Camp Lee had been
pressed into service 10 furnish music
AZ the Petersburg City Hall the
coined by Mayor Gillian, who spoke
EF,i aSgy Of the par, played by, the
turai industry around Petersburg lie
was especially emphatic in his declara-
ton That Virginia had no better citi-
they had dwclt among his people h.
had never, heard of any OF them being
prosecuted in the courts.
The com missioner was pleased with
MS statement from the Mayor, but
did not appear surprised. In his reply
20 the address OF welcome, he stated
that 1t was characteristic of his
IT. THIS ,i he thoqght, was the best evidence
OF thcir ability 10 govern themselves
Snd, since they had won the right 10
iLec government. he was certain that
THIS CHARACTERISTIC would prove a val
nahie factor in their national life
PERGLER LAUDS AMERICA
AND IT'S PRINCIPLES
Mr. PerEier paid high tribute to
america and those men who founded
us government The Declare ton or
Ihdcpendence. as written by Thomas
Jefferson. was nowhere more widely.
read and more thoroughly understood
,ahsan among his people. America n
inca!s, american culture had proved a
big factor in Bohemia. he said-ius,
as big factor as had American Mon
ana guns in the crucial moments ius,
before victory came. There was no
doubt, though. that American force had
proven tho deciding factor in the rrea,
,ttrrnGgle. he declared. And for ali of
'hIH ne was grateful.
WIN the retention ceremonies over
IN" marty left Petersburg for Roba