THE COLONIST. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1918. AMERICA AND THE CZECHS.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14870, 19 September 1918, Page 4

THE COLONIST. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1918. AMERICA AND THE CZECHS.

The United States has followed the example of Britain and France by recognising the Czecho-Slovak movement, and the justice of the national aspirations of Austria's oppressed nationalities which are struggling for independence. The Army Appropriation Bill to which the 'Presidential • signature ■ w asattached last month, and in which American policy regarding the Czech j movement is embodied, provides, besides recognition of the Slavic armies as part of the Allied armies, for the raising of a. Slavic legion in America. This departure may have very import an J o consequences politically as well as in the- .military sense, for"it .promises a shrewd blow at the Austin Empire. T.i> Act of O^grcss i ••*>: --i to provide, that unacr suo'i rt><:ul;:tinii<- a« r- I'iesident may pre -r » •. :i fnrct, of yol-i Loer tvjops i.M ?.!.<h nr. t <>• urnts as ho may direct may be raised, to be composed of Jugc-Slavs, Czecho-Slo-vaks, and Ruthoniaris (Ukrainians) belonging to the oppressed races of the Austro-Hungarian or German Empireresident in the United States, but not citizens thereof nor subject to. the draft. Such force shall be known as the Slavic Legion, or by such other description as' the President may presreribe. No man shall be enlisted .in it until he has furnished satisfactory evidence that he will faithfully and loyally serve the cause of the United States, and that he desires to fight the Imperial Governments1 of Germany and Austria-Hungary. The force so raised and duly sworn into the service may be equipped, maintained, and trained with American troops or separated as the President may direct, and thereafter may be transported to such field of action, as the President may direct, to he used against the common enemy in connection with United States troops or with those of any nation associated with the United States in the present war; anvi the several items of expense involved in the equipment, maintenance, training, and transportation of such force may be paid from the American army appropriations, provided that American citizens of Austrian or German birth, or who were born in alien enemy territory, who have passed the •necessary examination and whose loyalty .is unquestioned, may, in the discretion of th 3 Commander-in-Chief of she army and navy, be commissioned in the United States army or navy. Hitherto the law. has forbidden the commissioning of aliens in the army and navy, and the exception now made is therefore important, and proves the anxiety of the United States to make full use of the resources at her command in tho exiles from Central Europe in the war against militarism. The estimates of the probablevsizo;bf tho Slavic legioh'that canberaised in America" vary/but it is believed that from. 350,000 "to half a million men can be enlisted. Undoubtedly many more will be added from those resident in England, France, and Italy, where a separate legion is already being formed, jeo that in effect the oppressed peoples of Austria-Hungarj- will be mobilised in an actual fight for liberty and independence. America'B policy with respect to the Slav races has undergone a radical change since her entry into the wa£. At first the United States indicated that it did' not approve , : the dismemberment of the Austro-Hunga-rian Empire, and President Wilson's speeches made this very plain. But the unwisdom of that course was demonjstrated w.hen it became known that tho movement for liberty and independence in Austria-Hungary was growing rapidly and the people themselves were in sympathy with the oims of democracy in the present war. It is considered probable that the American Slavic Legion will be employed on the Salonika front.