Page:The Czechoslovak Review, vol4, 1920.pdf/300

In the Sunday afternoon quiet Czechoslovak songs are distinctly heard far off, and like to the roll of the drum, the rythmic step of the soldier resounds—the Czechoslovak Legionaires appear in the distance. They sing that their march might be more pleasant, that through song they might feel nearer their homeland which, for five years, has been but a hazy memory.

This is Sunday, June 13, 1920, at Norfolk, Va. At the embarkation station is anchored the American ship Mt. Vernon, which yesterday brought in over 3,000 Czechoslovak soldiers from Siberia. Possibly misfortune was their gift in the chrisom-cloth, for it seems to follow them constantly. The opening of the world war finds them in Bohemia in the throes of the deadly monarchy, which they hate from the bottom of their souls. They were forced, against their will, to the Russian front where, not singly, but in entire regiments, they went over to the Russians. Immediately they began to form the Czechoslovak army. Then came the revolutian, and during the Kerensky regime we find the Czechoslovaks on the Russian fronts, where at Zborov they covered themselves with undying glory. The Kerensky government fell. Then came the Brest-Litovsk peace, but the Czechoslovaks did not feel their task was finished. They requested transportation to France; they wanted to prove by action on the western battlefields that they not only ask for independence, but that they will fight for it and die for it.

The Czechoslovaks began to move to the east, to Vladivostok, from whence the allied ships might transport them to France. But the Bolsheviks, while they assured a free passage to the Czechoslovaks through Siberia, immediately began attacking their rear guards, in order to make as difficult as possible their journey. The Czechoslovaks were forced to use their weapons in self defense. Then began the battle in which a handful of Czechoslovaks put to flight the Bolshevik hordes and completely dominated all Siberia. At that time there also began guerrilla fighting, the exchange of shot was a daily occurrence, it was a vitally absorbing fight, for there were none who could relieve the war-weary Czechoslovak fighters. In fact, they knew not the day or even the hour.

Then came the armistice and battles ceased on all fronts. The Czechoslovak troops in foreign countries, except Siberia, returned to their freed homeland. There were no ships. America, England and France transported their own troops. It was nearly a year later, before the first ship came for the Czechoslovak heroes of Siberia.

In review, they march before your eyes singing, for to them a song is as necessary as water to parched desert. They carry themselves easily in their khaki uniforms, though burdened with full equipment. The history of this transport which, by chance, put into Norfolk is truly remarkable. They left Vladivostok on the 13th of March, 1920. Stops of short duration were made in San Francisco, Colon and Panama. From Panama the transport set a course for Hamburg. In mid-ocean it met with an accident—the right propeller was lost—the ship was forced to seek the haven of the nearest port, which happened to be Norfolk.

The Czechoslovak heroes, comforting themselves with the thought that shortly they will see their homes, that to their breasts they shall clasp aged parents, wife, children or sweethearts, into whose faces they have not gazed for five long years, must again disembark, go to military camp and wait untill another ship will carry them to the old world—home.

The boys prove the high intelligence of the Czechoslovak soldiers, as the newspaper published on the transport Mt. Vernon shows. It is called “Return” (Návrat). It reflects the deep love of the Czechoslovak individual for the land of his birth, a love which even the longest separation does not diminish. Their plans, their projects and experience of many years in foreign lands are discussed freely. In all of the articles one finds not only great longing for a glimpse of the homeland, but also an understanding of the tasks which await them at home. Each combatant on the eve of his new life is fully conscious of his duties.