CZECHS IN ITALIAN ARMY.

Taihape Daily Times, 28 June 1918, Page 3

CZECHS IN ITALIAN ARMY.

AUSTRIAN COMMAND UNEASY. STOEY OF FIRST ENCOUNTER The first detachments of the Czecho- . Slovak army, which is being formed 1 in many centres in Italy out of the one-time subjects of the Emperor Charles, have taken up their positions in various parts of the Italian line. They -wear the Italian uniform with certain distinctive signs, and one detachment, before leaving its base, was presented by the inhabitants with a flag in the national red and white Bohemian colours. It is known that their arrival at the front has already created uneasiness among the Austro-Hun-garian commanders, who fear effect on their Slav troops, says the special correspondent of the Morning Post, writing on May 1. Hitherto the loyalty of the Southern Slav troops in the Austrian Army has been inspired by the declarations of the Austro-Hungarian authorities that in fighing the, Italians they were defending their homes against the Imperialism, of Italy. Thus the Croats especially wore induced to do ia good deal of fighting. Now the knowledge that fellow Slavs are fighting under the Italian banner in order to win the complete independence of their common country may change the whole attitude of the Slavs fighting for Austria, The new position of affairs is being assiduously and competently explained to them by aeroplane propaganda, and committees of their own race are accredited to and working with the Italian high command.

I visited a detachment of Czechoslovaks now engaged on this front againt Austria. I have never seen finer, sturdier men. As one of their officers faced a steel-hclmeted line of them ,and shouted the command, "Fix bayonets!" their bayonets came out with a rattle and were driven in with i a stern precision that bodes no good to the Germans, Austrians, or Magyars they meet. They seemed in wonderful spirits. Every man feels that an effective reconstitution of their nation is at hand.

When they first found themselves matched against German-Austrian -troops, they could scarcely be restrained, and their first patrol went out •si-nging_ The Austrian fire got quite ■ragged and demoralised as the Czccho-Slavs advanced. One group of :six, in contempt of the Austrians' marksmanship, actually stood up in a row some 70 yards from the hostile trench and lighting cigarettes together puffed the smoke simultaneously at the foe, whose volley injured no one. Only once have Austrian patrols dared to attack them, and they retired when the Czechs fired their first shot ;yi reply. Each of these men .is like ;) comrades, the Italian Irrcdonti, in a

way a hero, for the possibility L >of capture does not exist for them. If (tjaken they would be treated by the •Austrians as deserters, and in addition nearly every one has some or all the members of his family virtually hostages in the enemy's hands. Most of those I saw were exile 3 from Bohemia proper and the Slovak provinces of Hungary. The men are very broad-shouldered, with fine, opop, honest faces. Such is their enthusiasm that they have been long in training in the hope that some opportunity might occur to serve against Austria, and so, when the constitution of their arn:y was decided on, they were scon ready for the ranks

Officers with whom I spoke expressed their deep gratitude to Italy for the maimer in which she has taken this great new movement to her heart, and ssid they would never forget it.

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