army. The Serbian troops are excellent but few, and the Turks will give them trouble (Turkey had declared war on November 12). Italy will at least be neutral, perhaps Roumania also, despite her pro-German King (Italy declared her neutrality on July 31, Roumania on August 3). The geographical distance between the Allies and the consequent lack of unity in their military and political plans will be a serious draw- back, making for uncoordinated action. In the East, communications are very disadvantageous to Russia. On the other hand, the battles of the Marne and of Ypres are promising. The Entente is resolute against Germany but less resolute against Austria—a danger for us. To sum up:—A victory of the Allies is possible but every ounce of their strength will be needed to win it. The German failure to smash France at once and to checkmate Russia awakens hopes of victory. A long war would give us time to develop our revolutionary propaganda.
In December 1914, when I was preparing to go abroad, feeling was depressed at Prague and in Bohemia generally. Our people began to be uncertain about Russia and the Allies and also about themselves. Vienna declared and Berlin confirmed that the mobilization had gone smoothly, all races rallying round the Throne. I was convinced that this was not true. At Prague and elsewhere there had been some loyal mummery, but feeling was anti-Austrian. Though some were weak and some ill-disposed, the deliberate resistance offered by a comparatively large number of individual soldiers and the mood of the people warranted, in my view, organization for an active struggle. While our people, especially the educated classes, had long been schooled in the idea that Austria was necessary to us as a dam against the Germanic flood, and while it was to be expected that some leading men would be determined partisans of Austria, the feelings and the convictions of the majority of our people were decidedly anti-Austrian. If only the Czech Parliamentary representatives, as a body, do not disavow me, I said to myself, individual disavowals and newspaper articles extorted by the police matter little. Therefore: Go abroad and get to work, with God’s help! And if Germany and Austria manage to win, or if the war is indecisive, stay abroad and carry on revolutionary opposition to Austria for the future.
Our people abroad had already shown their feelings by demonstrations against Austria. As early as July 27 the Paris Czechs had pulled down the Austrian flag at the Embassy, and on July 29 they resolved to enter the French army. On July 27 also the Czechs in Chicago got up a manifestation against Austria-Hungary, as did the London Czechs on August 8. In Russia our people laid before the Government,
