Emil F. Prantner

“ The United States is the haven for many Czechs and Slovaks who migrated to improve their material, political, religious or cultural conditions. In the realization of their hopes or the fulfillment of their expectations they were not disappointed.
Before, during and after the war, the Czechs and Slovaks demonstrated that they were loyal to the United States; invariably law abiding. The most of them have become citizens of the world’s greatest democracy. What is our duty to those who have failed to take advantage of the opportunities to become an integral part of the republic? ”

“ Shivering “neutrals” hate and fear them, while open enemies cover the earth. The condemnation, the contempt, the distrust, the disdain of the entire world has been heaped upon their heads. Thus the case now on trial before the court of last resort, that grim and ghostly court, may fairly be listed, in the annals of history, as “Teuton Madness vs Humanity and Civilization.”
In no past war has universal public opinion been so unanimous in condemning acts of sheer mad barbarity. Why is the alignment of humanity and civilization so bitter toward the Central Powers? ”

“ To become good Americans is our solemn, peremptory and just obligation to the United States. Those who need aid urgently are the persons who do not speak the English language, who are strangers to our scheme of government who fail to grasp our ways, who do not understand our customs and those who are ignorant of our laws. ”

“ The nation of Comenius is now an active factor, and a useful one, in the world’s daily life. Those of us of Czech or Slovak birth or descent offer it our hearty well wishes and blessings. Hopes shall brighten the days to come while memories will gild the past. Success is assured. The nation goes forth lustily singing the Hussite Battle Hymn, and guided by the words of Pelisek’s noble character of Comenius, they must succeed ”

“ Austria-Hungary recently signed a treaty with the Kaiser by the terms of which it is reduced to a mere vassal state of Germany. Her continued existence depends upon German toleration, pleasure or whim; so long as Austria responds to and obeys German orders, she will not be absorbed or dismembered. For centuries the peoples inhabiting the lands of the ancient kingdom of Bohemia, the Czechoslovaks, have sought to obtain for themselves from the Austrian crown civil rights equal to those granted to other inhabitants of the monarchy. ”

“ But it must not be assumed that freedom and liberty mean the totally unrestrained sphere of action, but, on the contrary, contemplate the unrestricted exercise of the rights, to the full measure, guaranteed by our laws, but within the bounds of the constitutional limitations. ”

“ When war was declared, the world rocked and trembled to its very foundations. The Czechoslovaks then realized that the purposes for which this war was waged by the Germans and the Austria-Hungarians, were the conquest of territory and the Kulturing of the conquered peoples. From the day of the declaration of hostilities they opposed the war, but they were forced to shoulder arms against brother Slavs, the Serbians and the Russians, and against the French, their devoted friends for many years. ”

“ This declaration of fundamental truths is just as true today as the day it was uttered by Samuel Adams. For the preservation of these principles the world offers its most precious and sacred possession, manhood, as a sacrifice that the insane cravings of foul minds shall not rule the earth. ”

“ A German critic admits the numerical superiority of the Allied armies, the German people will soon be convinced of it. Both will soon enough admit that the force and morale of the Entente armies are superior to those of the Central Powers.
Germany is without friends. The realization of this fact is being driven home more forcibly every day. Is it any wonder? The civilized world is purging itself of a loathsome infection, “Kultur”. The German press is beginning to realize the isolation of the Central Powers. ”

“ Thus we are led to the following conclusions: that a de facto government, recognized by the Entente Powers as such, for the Czech and Slovak Lands exists, that it has an army, that the soldiers comprising that army complied with all the prerequisites of the civilized war code to be regarded as soldiers of a belligerent country and that the soldiers, if captured by the German or Austrian armies, could expect to be regarded and treated as prisoners of war. ”

“ Why has Germany no friends? The natural inclination to support the weak side, for she is the weakest side in this great war, has not made itself felt. Why? The answer fills a column, but it may be boiled down to a few words. She has always been bragging and still brags about her strength. ”

“ Autocracy breeds contempt, if not open revolt, for organized governmental authority. The complete state of chaos now prevailing in Russia and Germany is but a striking illustration of the inevitable resulting reaction. Freedom of the individual, and his consequent liberty of action, makes for respect of the duly constituted governmental agencies. ”

“ That the laws and customs of war must yield to the law of military necessity, whenever the observance of the law would prevent or hinder the attainments of the objects of the war. That persons not clothed in a uniform, not under the command of responsible leaders, may be summarily shot as francstireurs (guerilla) . When the presence of prisoners of war is a danger to their captors, they may be put to death. [3]
The Hague Convention provides, that “They (prisoners of war) must be treated humanely.” It is significant that both Germany and Austria-Hungary are parties thereto. ”

“ Governments clothed with the strange trappings and the primitive authority of an age that is altogether alien and hostile to our own. The Past and the Present are in deadly grapple, and the peoples of the world are being done to death between them. ”

“ The Czechs and Slovaks of the present day are imbued with the Hussite principle? and they go forth to battle with the same spirit as that which prompted the medieval warriors of Bohemia. They will not disappoint the world. ”

“ Since that day many other peoples, within and without the sphere of Teutonic influence, have joined hands with the modern crusaders until now but few nations remain outside of the sphere of operations. The most notable, dependable and financially strong ally of the Entente is the United States. Through our efforts, aided by the English, French, Italian, Czechoslovak, and possibly the Russian armies, this war will be determined in favor of humanity annd civilization. ”

“ On the other hand an unwritten code is constituted of the accepted usages during a war between civilized nations which have been handed down from one generation to another. They form the fundamental law of the world, sort of a “common law”. ”

“ The program can be carried out—in justice to the United States it must be carried out. The Bohemian people must not be permitted to remain any longer in blissful ignorance or at the mercy of unscrupulous exploiters. They must become good Americans. ”

“ The Austro-Hungarian autocracy froths and gives vent to its feelings, because, "it is the acme of hypocrisy when England gives these notorious traitors a testimonial that they are waging legitimate warfare. ”

“ In the eyes of civilization and humanity these men were troops of a belligerent nation, and if taken prisoners in a battle they were to receive treatment accorded to prisoners of war, because before going into battle they complied wtih all the prerequisites of international law. Treaties, international conventions and international laws govern and bind civilized peoples only ”

“ The gratifying accounts of the steward ship in the March issue of the Czechoslovak Review, rendered by the two major organizations engaged in alleviating the sufferings of Bohemians, illustrate very strikingly what an organization of forces with a purpose can accomplish. ”