Page:The Bohemian Review, vol1, 1917.djvu/150



During the visit of the Russian commission to Chicago on August 3 and 4 a memorial meeting was arranged by the Bohemian National Alliance in honor of the brave men of the Czech regiments which fought so bravely at Tarnopol. The meeting was addressed by Professor George Lomonossov of the Russian mission. Six thousands Bohemians and Slovaks waited nearly three hours in the Pilsen Park for the distinguished speaker. A Bohemian flag was presented to Prof. Lomonossov with the request that he deliver it to the Czecho-Slovak army in Russia, and tremendous enthusiasm was aroused, when the Russian diplomat kissed its folds, as he received it. The following day at the Stock Yarks Pavilion meeting an engraved address of welcome was presented to Ambassador Bakhmetieff on be half of the Bohemian National Alliance.

During the discussion of the problem of drafting the numerous aliens who claimed exemption as non-declarants, Dr. L. J. Fisher, President of the Alliance, addressed a letter to the members of the Senate committee in favor of a bill to make aliens equally liable with citizens. “All the rules of square deal, all the obligations of gratitude, demand that when the country is in danger, all residents, citizens and aliens alike, should offer their lives in its defense.”

The International Typographical Union, numbering 460 locals with 70,000 members, adopted at its annual convention at Colorado Springs a strong resolution in favor of Bohemian independence.

Steady growth of the Bohemian Alliance in numbers and influence is to be recorded for the month of August. The number of branches reached 215; it will not grow much now, since nearly every Bohemian settlement in this country, however remote, has already a branch of the Alliance. Several of the larger branches are making extensive preparations for a national fete on Labor Day; in attendance and enthusiasm these „posvícení” will probably exceed anything arranged in the past among Bohemians in America.

Among the new workers in the interest of Czecho-slovak independence is Erwin L. Chloupek, an attorney of San Francisco, who is making friends for Bohemia by his English lectures on this little-known country.

An incident is related in the Aberdeen (S. D.) News, August 15, which illustrates the position of many Bohemians in this country. The story is this:

Charles Mejstrik, a young Bohemian whose home is in Bon Homme county, who has enlisted in the military service of the United States, furnishes a striking example of devotion and sacrifice for the cause of humanity. Young Mejstrik received a college education in Bohemia prior to coming to the United States.

His father is an officer in the Austrian army, now supposed to be fighting on the eastern front. When Archduke Ferdinand was assassinated in 1914, young Mejstrik sensed the impending calamity in which Europe would be involved, and, not sympathizing with Prussianism, determined to leave Bohemia while he could.

He barely had time to leave before war was declared. After a round-about journey he finally reached South Dakota. Since the outbreak of the war two of his brothers have escaped from Bohemia, and one is fighting with the Russian armies while the other is serving with the allies in France.

In this case the Biblical prophecy of father against sons proves literally true.”

The subtitle of this book of 309 pages is: A Fresh Consideration of the Case between Germany and Ourselves. It is perhaps impossible that during the war an Englishman could write impartially of the deadly differences between his own country and Germany. But this author certainly writes without passion of the hate of Germany for England of the various currents of opinion with reference to the war aims of Germany, of their relative weight and of the hope of reconciliation after the war. But though most moderate in tone and temperate in judgment, the author concludes that no lasting peace is possible, until Germany is completely defeated.

A simple but stirring account of the wonderful relief work by which millions of the Belgian people are kept from starving. The author is the wife of the American manager of the Brussels office of the Relief Commission and spent a few months with him.

Most of the books on Belgium, published in this country, deal with the German atrocities. Here there is no direct mention of German cruelty, although the whole book is overshadowed by German bayonets. The emphasis here is on the fine points of human nature which calamity called out both from the Belgian people and the charitable souls from all over the world. The burden of the book is an appeal to America to keep up the work of Belgian relief.

The introduction to the book is written by Herbert Hoover, formerly in charge of the Belgian relief, now United States food administrator.

Copies of the following pamphlets may be obtained free from the Bohemian National Alliance, 3639 West 26th St., Chicago, Ill.

Lewis B. Namier: The Case of Bohemia.

Lewis B. Namier: The Czecho-Slovaks.

J. W. Mackail: Russia’s Gift to the World.

T. G. Masaryk: The Voice of an Oppressed People.

When you write, please send two cents postage for each pamphlet.