THE CZECH LEGION

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 74, 24 September 1938, Page 19

THE CZECH LEGION

MARCH ACROSS SIBERIA

Reference to the Czech march across Siberia in the cables yesterday recalls one of the romantic stories of the World War.

During the World War 45,000 Czechoslovak deserters from the Austrian forces were formed ifito an army to fight for their country's freedom. When the Russians collapsed they remained a fighting force and plans were made in Paris to move them round the world to the Western Front. In March, 1918, the Soviet Government agreed to provide transport across Russia, but the | Czech legionnaires had continual trouble with local Soviets over food supplies and right of way for their trains. By the middle of May the entire force, moving eastwards to the Pacific, was strung out in detachments across 5000 miles of railway from Kazan to Vladivostock. At this time rumours (without real foundation) were spread that German and Austrian deserters in tens of thousands were being armed to combat the Czech. Legion. v The Czechs, however, were' -in no position to judge the truth." On-May 14 one of the detachments met a trainload of Austro-German prisoners being repatriated iri accordance with the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. A fracas ensued and the local Red forces became involved. SURRENDER OF ARMS. At once Moscow demanded that the Czechs should fulfil their pledge to surrender their arms. They refused and on May 29 repulsed with force attempts to carry out the disarmament order. In June they embarked on another phase of their remarkable odyssey, fighting the Bolsheviks openly throughout Siberia and overcoming the Soviets by their discipline. At the end of the month their Vladivostock contingent overthrew the Soviet there and, set up an anti-Bolshevik Government with the approval of the Allies. By July 31 almost all Siberia (had changed from Red to White and the Czechs moved westwards to attack the Soviet State. It was their advance which brought death to the Tsar and his family. By November, after upholding General Kolchak at Omsk, where he became dictator of the socalled "All-Russian Government," however, they were, disillusioned and soon ceased to be a factor in Russian affairs. They returned home by way of North America. . •■