The state herald., 1920-12-17
CZECHO.SLOVAklA: BORN
ABOARD FREIGHT
TRAINS

Amid the disorders Of Central Eu-
rope one new nation affords con-
spicuous exception to the chnos strife
and revolutions prevalent on all sides
of her. That nation is Czecho-Slo-
vakia.
The inception Of this new national
ity from a racial unit of ancient and
distinguished lineage Is n modern TO
nance comparable to the crusades Of
the middle ages.
Early In 1918 the intrepid Czech
warriors started out from the Klev
district Of western Russia In railway
cars. some Of which were decorated
with the slogan, From War to War
Around the World"
At that time 1t looked as though
the summer Of 1913 would find them
In Chnrapagne or the Argonne, Joined
with the thousands Of their compa-
triots who were already fighting In
the allied armies TO down the Hun.
But strange combination Of cIrcum-
stances delayed them In Siberia
through the short summer OF long days
and the long winter of little sunshine
A communication follows from
Maynard Owen Williams. first Amer
lean correspondent with the spectacu.
lar nnabasis 6f the Czecho-Slovnks
across siberia:
"Ncn0phoD had lne trip. II one
Is 10 Judge from the accounts of hin
fayorite press agent, and Napoleon
and sherman have made famous cx-
cuFslons. but when It comes TO the
world encircllng vision of the tourist
bureau writer. and tie doEgeduess OF
death. the wonderful Czechs take thc
palm.
"rhr war found them about us en-.
thusinstlc lp their friendship for WI
liam Hohenzollern aud his Potsdam
confcderates us they were for the
llnpsburg house that betrayed them
centuries ngo. after they magnanlmous-
ly Joined the Austrinns In the repulse
OF the hordes from Asia that then
threatened Europe.
''rhelr going over TO the enemy was
one OF the reasons why Gernany's
southern neirhbor failed TO pick up
rapidly amid the heavy traffic Tint re-
suited from the mobilization Of
Europe.
"Wholc regiments OF thcm went over
io the Zoe, Other tnou lnds were
shot down hy their Austrian c1Hun,
lln, 90 arms. and ail thcir oreUnsh
lions were heavily olAoored hy ihe
Germans on Alnmau whose metpls
and alms they hutcd Thousand of
thom escaped 20 i.ua}u where hey
we're sen, 10 thc cold of Siherln or iho
malaria Of the Tnshtpnt region as
prisoners of war,
"Muuy of them entered thc Ru 300
army under kcrgntky, but wiIh lh0
glgnlug Of the BrostLltoysi trraty.
they LOST faith ln thelr Russian con-
panions In nrms nnd with d split OF
loyalty TO tho cauqc of freedom that
no other group surpassed. they set out
from Russla to cross Siberia. the ia,
oIhc. America. the Atlnntic and France
to hnrl themselves once more against
thclr opprcssors nud traditional foes.
when I met them their rs trains
were strung out from the ukrnlne to
Lake Bnlsnl. all moving toward the
port OF vladivostok.
"Thc Bolshcvlld walked into the
irap which they hnd themselves pre-.
pared. for hnd they lived mp TO their
promises. the Czcchs would hnvc ali
been In viadivostok by .iuly When
the Reds attempted 10 dlsnrm the
Czccho-Sloynk expedition, the 30
hcminns refused to be- ns meek na
the anti Holshcyiks usually were then,
and the result Hns a continent saved
Tor democracy while the world wnH
hunting through lis atlnH 10 nnd oifi
who those Nighttime men with i'
strange name rcnlly were and wln
tlioy wora dolng sn inr from honip'