THE NEW SLAV MOVEMENT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16876, 14 June 1918, Page 4

THE NEW SLAV MOVEMENT

The fighting between Czechoslovaks and Bolsheviks which is reported from various parts of Siberia and Russia is another manifestation of a national movement, the full significance of which can yet neither be seen nor forecasted. It is a movement of which Servia is the natural leader, and which has already profoundly moved the Balkans, influenced Italy, disturbed AustriaHungary, and produced fighting in Russia. Its origins lie far back iu history and deep in the hearts of the Balkan Slavs, but the first visible development took place in July last, year, when a conference was held on the island of Corfu between the Servian Cabinet and representative Croats and Slovaks, resulting in the theoretical creation of a Greater Servia, or Jugoslavia, to include Servia, Montenegro, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Dalmatia, Croatia, and the Slovene lands of Hungary. The next development was an agreement by which tb-? rival claims of Italy and the Jugoslavs were merged in an understanding for the control of the Adriatic and the division of such territory as may be taken from Austria. This agreement was reached as recently as April, but already it has had farreaching effects. It has made Italy and Servia allies in reality as well as in name, and it has stirred Slav sentiment, the world over. It increased desertion from the -Austrian army and swelled the large forces of Slavs which are already fighting for Italy. The Austro-Hungnrian commanders are said now to feel full confidence only in the Teutonic and Hungarian troops. Even the Croats, although the propaganda is not so far advanced among them, are under suspicion, and this may be one of the factors accounting for the delay in the Austrian offensive against Italy. The subject nationalities of the Dual Monarchy have been roused by the vision of a Greater Servia, particularly in Bohemia, where the population is 65 per cent. Czech. A congress of Jugoslavs, Servians, Croatians, Slovenes, and Czechs was held at Prague recently, and independence was openly declared to be the policy of those represented on it. Commenting on the resolutions a Bohemian journal said: "If the Czech policy of independence means high treason we are proud to be called traitors."' News of these events h,-> r reached the camps of prhonern cf war in }>>sFia and Siberia, where large numbers of Czechs and ! .ndred races are interned Russia's prisoners were tak- '■ p.-. icipally from Austria, and mci n;.' i .'-msands who had no love for A<.'itr.« '.nd surrendered ivillinply ... fchei 1 brother '>levs. These me;:; .ire now faced w_u. R.he prospect, of repatriation and forcible service in the Austrian army, and have preferred to take arms against their captors What the result may be 'annot be prophesied, but it is of first-rate importance that the Slav movement should have survived the dnin:<gr-.;.ior of '>■>■ -ssia. Betrayed b; tho B"lsr.-vita, it has ..utp/i ... home in tie Calk*:-.*, and with its millions of natural .adherents throughout the world may yet form jan unconquerable bulwark against ! German aggressi -••.,