The appearance of the Czecho—Slovaks on the Far Eastern scene was the close of a very remarkable adventure. As the fragmentary rumours of the doings of these gallant troops emerged from the dark interior of Russia — the story of how they had successfully defied the Bolshevists in the heart of the country, of how they crossed the vast spaces of Siberia, deposing Soviet factions, fighting the lawless dregs of the population, till they finally achieved their liberty —they wore the aspect of legionary and almost incredible incident, and even now the Checho—Slovak episode must be regarded as an astonishing one. Their ultimate rescue, indeed, became one of the first reasons calling for Allied intervention, and therefore the history of their sojourn in Russia deserves some attention.

Originally the Czechs were unwilling conscripts ofthat amalgam of races, the Austrian Army, from which, like the soldiers of the other oppressed peoples of the Monarchy, they seized every opportunity to desert to the Russians. Before the Bolshevist Revolution there were some 120,000 of them in Russia. They had readily consented to be formed into battalions, and served under the Russian standards in Galicia, fighting with a dogged staunchness which won for them the respect of their commanders. What is more they remained free from the taint of Bolshevism.

The Treaty of Brest Litovsk provided for their exchange, but with a lively apprehension of the fate in store

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