THE DALMATIANS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19513, 16 February 1926, Page 11

THE DALMATIANS

FOUGHT AGAINST BOLSHEVIKS. VOICE OF FELLOW COUNTRYMAN. A reply to recent criticisms of the Dalmatian character, in which the Dalmatians in New Zealand were referred to as a kind of Bolshevik, was given at Auckland by Mr. N. B. Marinitcli. a Yugo-slavian journalist and Press correspondent, who is travelling in New Zealand. “The Dalmatians,” he said, “are not an independent nation, but belong to a province that is a part of Yugoslavia (the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes). It is my duty to repeat the past history of that nation which, during the last ten or twelve years, has made an effort to free itself from subjection to Austria and the treacherous rule of Vienna. There have been so many national martyrs who were victims in the cause of liberty.”

Continuing his review of the recent history of these people, Mr. Marinitcli said that when war broke out they deserted in masses and fought against their oppressors, Austro-Gcrmany. In Russia they formed four legions, which at the beginning of the Bolshevik regime in 1917, together with Czechoslovakian soldiers, fought in the White Army against the Bolsheviks, and by their own efforts found a way through Siberia and Japan till they came to ports where they were able to board ships for their own country. After that there was another outbreak in Hungary in .1919 during the terror of Bela Kuna and his dictatorship, and a similar disturbance arose in Bulgaria. Each of the races on the boundary of the new State tried to dominate the country of Yugoslavia, but in spite of this internal trouble, the people were conscious of a national cause, and fought sternuously against anyone who attempted to stop across their boundary.

“That is clear proof,” he observed, “that the people of Yugoslavia defended their country and fought under the flag and dynasty of Karadjordjovich. If the Dalmatians (Yugoslavs) were what they have been named they would not have been in existence todav. The nation of Yugoslavia gives the best instance of their pride as a people, and their loyalty to their nation and their ruler.”