The Czechoslovak Review/Volume 2/American press praises the Bohemians

AMERICAN PRESS PRAISES THE BOHEMIANS.

 

So much has been written during the past month about Czechoslovaks and the cause of free Bohemia that we have not space enough to give a summary of it here. We shall quote briefly three editorial articles from influential publications as a sample of what the American press thinks about Bohemia.

The Saturday Evening Post is the most widely read periodical in America and probably in the world. Its issue of June 1 has the following article on the editorial page:

BOHEMIANS

The war has produced no greater paradox than this: Unnaturalized Bohemians in the United States are technically enemy aliens, because they are subjects of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Bohemians are Slavs—not Teutons. Surrounded by conquering Teutons and Magyars, and brutally oppressed by both, their history for generations gives a record of the miseries and humiliations of a subjugated people. Their sympathy in this war is overwhelmingly with the Allies and against the Central Powers. Many Bohemian regiments, dragooned to war under the Hapsburg banner, have revolted and deserted. Other regiments have been decimated for mutiny. It is said that three hundred thousand Bohemian soldiers fought on the Russian side. Others went over to Serbia; and lately thousands of Bohemians have enrolled with Italy. Delegates who undoubtedly represented the will of a great part of the Bohemian people declared their country independent of Austria-Hungary. The Bohemians have done about all a people so situated could do to express their hope of Teuton defeat.

It has happened, however, that many Bohemians and other sincere friends of our cause have been annoyed and humiliated merely because they bore names which were neither Anglo-Saxon nor Latin.. The loyal people of the United States have plenty of real enemies to fight. Let them take care that they do not fight friends. The Outlook, a famous American weekly, has not the circulation of the Saturday Evening Post, but it counts among its readers all the intellect of America. It says in its issue of May 15th:

 

“There never was more need for the expression of sympathy and for actual help for the oppressed peoples of Austria-Hungary. Although, as subjects of Austria-Hungary, they are technically enemies of the Allies, these people are really the Allies’ friends. By the thousands they are risking, not only their lives, but all they hold dear, for the cause for which the Allies are fighting. . . . Czechs, or Bohemians, as we would call them, have deserted in groups from the Austrian army in which they were impressed. They have sent messages across the lines to the Italians; and then the Italian guns have put down a barrage behind the Czechs, cutting them off from the Austrian rear, and then the Czechoslovaks have gone safely over to the other side and joined the Italians in fighting for liberty.

Men who do this know that if captured they will be hanged.

Such peoples deserve our sympathy and aid. They ought to be told that we are not going to stand for the preservation of the Austro-Hungarian empire, that we believe in their liberty as we believe in our own; that though they are technically enemy aliens when they are in this country, they are really our friends, and when they go to fight for our cause and theirs, they have our Godspeed.”

 

Most of the great dailies of America have commented with admiration upon the brave stand of the Czechoslovaks. An editorial typical of many others appeared in that earliest friend of Bohemian freedom, the Chicago Journal of May 21. After refer ring to the riots in Prague, the editor goes on:

“The work of the Bohemians is magnificent; it is also war, and we in America must not forget our obligation to that heroic people. The reinforcements which they have drawn to Prague relieve the pressure on our boys at the front. But to give us that relief, the Czechs and Slovaks have put their head in the lion’s mouth, and staked their all, not merely on an allied victory, but on the good faith and sound judgment of the allies when that victory is gained.

To leave the Bohemian people under Hapsburg or Hohenzollern rule is to hand them over, helpless, to the vengeance of tyrants who know neither mercy nor justice. No treaties bind either of these degenerate dynasties. No supervision can thwart their hate in territories which they are allowed to control. . . . . . . .America must be the liberator or the slave-catcher. There is no middle ground—and of course there is no real doubt as to the role that our country means to take. But it would be well to announce our decision in terms that the dullest can understand.”