But we
prospered in spite of all that was done to oppress us.
[Sidenote: Waiting the time to strike for liberty.]
"For a while I managed a cotton factory in Turkestan and later I went to
open some mines further in the country. But all the while we kept in
touch with one another and day by day we waited for the time when we
could strike for liberty and Bohemia. Professor Masaryk was to give the
signal for the blow for liberty.
[Sidenote: The Russian Revolution.]
[Sidenote: Czechs ask to go to France.]
"Then came the Russian Revolution. With the Czar, the German influences
at Court were overthrown. We left our farm work and our shop benches. We
poured out of the dark mines and united in Czech battalions to fight in
the armies of Kerensky. At Zborov, we pierced six enemy lines but were
forced to retreat because the other fighters failed to advance as fast
as we. Then came the long wait for the time when Russia should find
herself, as she is still trying to do. The Slav is not a coward once his
mind is trained. There is hope for his ultimate recovery. The power of
Czardom was enforced ignorance, and this made possible the infamous
treaty of Brest-Litovsk. But we saw that there was no hope for a mere
handful of us to hold the Russian front, and to attempt this would be to
antagonize the Russian people. So we applied for permission to leave
Russia and go to France.
[Sidenote: The journey to Vladivostok.]
"Everyone said that it could not be done.
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