Page:The Bohemian Review, vol2, 1918.djvu/166

 something for the liberation of Bohemia from the German yoke, but they were like the voice of one crying in the wilderness. Today their countrymen in all the states have grouped themselves around them, and theirs is the great honor of supporting financially the first free Czechoslovak government until the time comes when that government will come to Prague and will have control of the resources of the Czechoslovak lands.

The Czechoslovak state is the first state to receive recognition by the Allies. This enviable distinction did not come to the people of the Bohemian and Slovak lands by chance; they earned it. It is said that President Wilson delayed the American recognition, even after the European Allies had granted it, because he wanted to make sure that the Czechoslovak National Council was entitled to speak for its people. He found that to be absolutely true. And that is no small matter. When one considers that the Czechoslovaks have been subject for four hundred years to alien rulers, that all their manhood was placed in the Austrian ranks, that their emigrants were scattered over all continents and countless jurisdictions, that there was no compelling authority, except the one of common affection for their native land and of hatred against the Germans the manner in which they lined up back of their leader deserves admiration. To be sure, they were fortunate in having for a leader a man whose claims to leadership were so manifest that no other man could possibly contest the honors with him. Masaryk had such a hold over the affections and respect of his people, he had such not able qualifications for the great task of representing his people before the Allies, that no organization opposed to him could arise in any settlement of the Czechoslovak people. In Russia, France and England, in the United States and Canada, in South America and South Africa Czechs and Slovaks organized themselves under various names, and under widely different conditions they have constructed widely differing organizations; but all of them endorsed Masaryk’s leadership and followed his guidance.

While the supreme leader never interfered in the internal administration of these far-flung bodies, he gathered around him in Paris and London several extremely able and patriotic coworkers. The most notable of them was General Milan R. Štefanik, who holds the position of vice-president of the Council, and Dr. Edward Beneš, who is the general secretary of the Council. Štefanik as soldier and diplomat, Beneš as publicist and diplomat, ably assisted Masaryk, while he was with them, and took his place and carried on his work in the important capitals of Paris, London and Rome, when he was in Russia and America. A less well-known worker, but one whose labors in England bore material fruit and who has been her father's most faithful and efficient colaborator, is Miss Olga Masaryk. And there are hosts of others who gave all their time and all their unbounded enthusiasm to the work for four long years and who will be one day gratefully remembered by free Bohemia.

But after all the lion’s share in the successes gained by the Czechoslovak cause during the war goes rightfully to the heroes of the Czechoslovak armies. No race is worthy of freedom, unless its men are ready to die for it. Six months ago the cause of free Bohemia could show to its credit many expressions of sympathy, but very little of solid achievement or of real guarantees by its friends. Since the Czechoslovaks in Russia and Siberia astounded the world by their adventure, and since the regiments in Italy and France took their places at the front as one of the Allied armies, the situation was changed. The Czechoslovak people at home might be in bonds and the National Council might be a government without a foot of Czechoslovak soil on which to raise its flag; but they have an army and that army one of fighters.

Marshall Foch said recently that the Allies had reached the top of the hill and that the going would now be easier—downhill. That applies with great force to the Czechoslovak fight for an independent position among the nations of the world. The great nations of the world are definitely pledged to this cause. An army of 150,000 men is in existence to liberate the Czechoslovak lands the very moment that the German military power is broken. After four hundred years of slavery and four years of fighting the Czechoslovaks are in sight of the goal. Masaryk at the head of an army will lead them to the promised land.