Page:The Czechoslovak Review, vol4, 1920.pdf/272

their headquarters, receive their mail and be generally served. Naturally it is not in a position to serve in other capacities.

In the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy there were 25 enamel-ware factories with an annual output of 50 million kilogrammes. The home consumption of the Empire was 20 million kilogrammes or 40 per cent, while the rest was exported. Up to present, 80 per cent, of the factories, with a yearly output of 40 million kilogrammes, representing a value of about 450-500 million kronen, is concentrated on Czechoslovak territory. Of this quantity, 6 million kilogrammes are essential for the home requirements of the Republic, if 2/5 kg. (about 1 lb) per head per year is taken as a standard, while the remainder, amounting to 34 million kg. or 80 per cent would be available for export.

In the last years before the war the Czechoslovak factories supplied the other territories, at that time composing the Austro-Hungarian Empire, with about 10 million kg. of manufactured goods or about a quarter of their total output, which fact shows clearly that these territories, viz. Austria, Poland and Jugoslavia are the most important markets for the Czechoslovak enamel-ware, although a great part of the production was sold in Bulgaria, Turkey and Russia. Large quantities of first class products were also sold to France (Paris), North and South America.

The following are the largest Czechoslovak enamel-ware factories:

Gottlieb Bros. & Branchbar, Brno (Brun).

Austria Joint Stock Company, Brno (Brun).

První Česko-budějovická továrna, Čes. Budějovice (Budweis).

Vulkán, Čes. Budějovice (Budweis).

M. Ullman & Son, České Budějovice (Budweis).

Bartelmus & Co., Plzeň (Pilsen).

S. Sternlicht, Lučenec (Losonocz).

Rakottyay & Co., Lučenec (Losonocz).

The production is on a very high level, and the goods find a ready market everywhere, thus representing a considerable credit item in the balance sheet of the Czechoslovak trade.

For fear there may be some who do not connect this name with modern history, it might be well to explain that Thomas Masaryk is president of the New Czech republic. The world knows all too little about him and about his nation’s affairs. The Czechs are described as a temperamental and ambitious people, ambitious for culture as well as for political classification in universal concerns. President Masaryk is a man of tremendous force. Look his nation over and you would not find a citizen equipped by education and energy better able to fill the important post to which he was called. He is said to be a man of much “civil courage,” which is understood to mean that he does not hesitate to stand up for what he thinks is proper. Utterly indifferent to the criticism of his enemies, much like Woodrow Wilson one might assume, he has brought about many reforms in this new republic and stabilized the infant republic in such a way as to win acclaim even from political foes. It takes a man of strong resolution to face the responsibilities of launching a new and independent nation. Of the thousands who seek authority only a few would be courageous enough to assume direction of national affairs. Happily for the Czechish people they have selected one who understands thoroughly their innermost desires. President Masaryk is both student and scholar. He is not bound by traditional customs, except in such instance as where these have been found to represent the majority thought of his own race.—(Springfield, Ohio. News).

San Francisco has the reputation of being a most cordial host. In view of this, the welcome given the 2600 Czecho-Slovak troops, arriving on the Mt. Vernon, is, to say the least, unusual.

They arrived a week ago. Since that time they have been prisoners on board the ship. There was a welcome by their fellow countrymen, a sort of reception, and then—imprisonment, discomfort and humiliation.

Of course it’s more official red tape. *** Checking over their history, it will be recalled that the Czecho-Slovaks made their way into Russia and, fighting on the side of the allies, were brave and effective aides. Then came the revolution, and with Russia out of the war they undertook to reach the western front via Siberia, San Francisco and the Atlantic.

For a time they opposed the soviet government because it opposed their military progress. Kolchak’s forces offered them aid, but when they found Kolchak to represent reactionary interests they took their stand against him.

Throughout their campaign these troops gained the reputation of upholding the principle of democracy on which the war was fought.

We don’t pretend to know exactly who is responsible for their virtual imprisonment, though we suspect the reason for the action.

The city should have welcomed them as it did their fellows who returned a year or so ago. There should have been a typical San Francisco greeting.

Surely they are at least entitled to those comforts and conveniences that any human being has the right to demand.—The (San Francisco) Daily News.