Page:The Czechoslovak Review, vol4, 1920.pdf/126

When the war broke out, Masaryk was in Bohemia, whence he made some important politic journeys to Holland. In 1914 he came to Italy with his daughter Olga. At his return home he received a notice in Switzerland not to go to Bohemia. He went therefore to London where he got an appointment as professor at Kings College. In London Masaryk began his work at first only in the restricted circle of his personal friends, penetrating little and little into English scientific and political spheres, and at the same time directing thence the whole Czechoslovak movement in Russia, America and France.
President Thomas G. Masaryk. Not long after the Russian revolution had broken out, he left London and went to Russia. The conditions there were most critical, and it is due to Masaryk that the Czechoslovak Army in Russia was organized so as not only to make the Czechoslovak name well-known but to render great services to the Allies. In this respect Masaryk’s addresses to that Army were not only interesting, but very important and instructing. Masaryk himself proclaimed several times that it was the simple Czechoslovak soldier who had shown him the way how to make revolution. He saw how these soldiers refused to fight for Austria-Hungary, how they deserted and took side with right and justice against wrong and violence, and he came to the conviction that he as a man of intelligence could not remain behind those simple people. Thus it came that Masaryk, who had been an ardent apostle of all antimilitaristic doctrines, at last became Commander-in-Chief of the Czechoslovak Army. The Czechoslovak soldier accustomed to discipline, yet liking as all Slavs do an open and a friendly relation towards his superiors, found his real leader, friend and father in Masaryk who not only took care of all his wants but inspired him with his strong will and moral intrepidity.

When Masaryk saw how desperately Russia was torn by the Revolution, he decided after overcoming difficulties and risking several times his life to leave Russia with his Army and to go, as it had been arranged upon, to France to fight against the Germans. But in the meantime the conditions changed completely and the Army had to remain in Russia. Masaryk nevertheless left and was the first to come by way of Siberia to America, where he rendered great services to the Czechoslovak nation at the very time, when definite decisions were taken about its destinies. And of no smaller importance Masaryk’s action has been for the whole Czechoslovak revolutionary movement abroad. He was an undisputed authority for the Czechoslovak political emigrants in Russia, France and America to whom he showed how they should behave if they were always to remain strong, united and disciplined.

To-day he has no enemies in the Czechoslovak State, his work abroad having won for him the infinite gratitude of the whole nation that loves and reveres him as the impersonation of all for what it has been Czechoslovak movement for independence, fighting and suffering four long years. The its struggles and final victory were not possible without Masaryk. He will always remain among the greatest benefactors of the Czechoslovak people, as well as President of the Republic as long as he lives.

Jaroslav Hilbert, distinguished Czech poet and playwright, visited the United States in February on his way home from Siberia, where he served as member of the Czechoslovak governmental mission.