Page:Czecho-Slovak Student Life, Volume 18.djvu/93

hope and inspiration to his people. For centuries he had been the Czech’s model patriot and exemplary christian. He is revered by every Czech regardless of creed or political affiliation. It may be added that two years from today, in 1929, on the thousandth anniversary of his martyrdom there will be paid him a wonderful tribute both by Church and State. All honor to St. Wenceslaus!

After a dedicatory introduction the following are the high spots in Father Michalicka’s speech delivered on October 25th from Radio Station WMAQ.

“Nine years ago, on October 28, 1918, two weeks before the Armistice had been signed a memorable event took place by which the ancient kingdom of Bohemia and her allied sister countries Slovakia, Moravia, Silesia, and Ruthenia regained their freedom and became an independent sovereign state, now known as the Czechoslovak Republic . . . .

“On that day the prophecies of the national bards came true. The inspiration received from their glorious past, from men like St. Wenceslaus, Břetislav, Otokar, Charles IV., George Poděbrad, Komenský, Balbin, and Palacky renewed their hope until it became a reality. The glorious past inspired such political men as Drs. Kramar, Masaryk and Rašin, deputies from Bohemia and members of Austrian Parliament, to work out plans and carry on the work for independence. Professor Masaryk of Prague University worked not only at home, but in other countries as Italy, Switzerland, France and England, where he aroused interest for the Czechoslovak cause. About this time Professor Denis of Paris and Lord Asquith of London also did much to acquaint their people with the claims of the Czechs . . . .

“Czech soldiers abandoned the Austrian ranks at every opportunity. Seeing, however, that their efforts would be futile unless they would organize their military units, Czechoslovak statesmen, under the leadership of Gen. Stefanik, organized Czechoslovak armies in Russia, France and Italy. The most important military group which aroused the interest of the entire world was the one in Russia, where an understanding had been arrived at with the Czar to the effect that the Czechoslovaks would be allowed to form independent brigades. The plan to transfer all the Czechoslovak soldiers, nearly one hundred thousand strong, from Russia to France never completely materialized. Some thirty thousand reached their destination in France, but the rest were detained on account of the Russian revolution. They, however, decided to reach France by way of Vladivostok and started on their historic anabasis across Russia and Siberia . . . . .

“Soon after the Great War had started the National Council, consisting of leading statesmen with headquarters in Paris, was orga-