The
Czech is a natural-born good mixer.
[Sidenote: The young men make friends everywhere.]
When our train would reach a town, these young men of action won friends
wherever they went. Milk woman and bread seller all along the
Trans-Siberian liked them, for they pay spot cash, deal honorably and
don't know what ruffianism means.
The miracle accomplished by the Czechs is the result of discipline and
courage rather than strategy. Their rise to power was on their own
initiative. They could have stayed passive as have so many times their
number among the prisoners from other parts of Austria. But their stand
for freedom from the Austrian yoke is uncompromising. They started out
determined to fight for France and victory. The great bulk of the
remaining Austrian prisoners are completely satisfied if only they can
keep away from war. The Czechs are passionate in their burning
patriotism. The Austrian prisoners in Russia who still feel a certain
degree of loyalty to Austria are passive in their sentiment. Most of
them shrink from enforced military service--either back in Austria or in
a German-Austrian prisoner offensive on the spot in Siberia.
[Sidenote: Groups that have no love for the Germans.]
[Sidenote: Willing to join the Czechs.]
This Czechish heart centre of virile independence acted as a powerful
magnet wherever their bands moved. All through Russia and Siberia, there
are refugee groups from Poland, Lithuania, Courland and the Riga
District.
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