The Czechoslovak Review/Volume 1/Russian sailors entertained

RUSSIAN SAILORS ENTERTAINED.

 

Officers and sailors of the Russian warship “Variag” which recently called at the harbor of New York were guests of the Bohemian and Slovak organizations of New York City on June 26.

Between the Russians and the Bohemians there has been close touch and warm sympathy for the last hundred years. Both nations are branches of the great Slavic race, their languages are nearly related and the consciousness of blood relationship is very strong. The Russian people, being by far the most numerous of the Slav nations, is looked upon as the big brother of the Slav family, the champion of the oppressed Slavs of Turkey and Austria-Hungary.

As such, and as representatives of the great Russian democracy, the sailors of the “Variag” found a cordial welcome in the Bohemian Sokol Hall on 71st St. Officers and delegates of the crew were seated on the platform alongside of the representatives of the Bohemian National Alliance and the Slovak League. Gustav Košík who recently returned from Russia where he had spent a year on behalf of the Slovak League welcomed the guests in the Russian language. Response was made by Captain Kolzevnikov who pledged the assistance of Russia toward the liberation df Austrian Slavs. In a similar tone spoke the Russian naval attache Capt. Piotrowsky and the military attache Capt. Buckoy who talked warmly of his visit to Prague and of his Bohemian teachers in Russian schools. Very remarkable was the address of the spokesman of the crew Kalinsky who brought out excellently the character of the Russian revolution and its significance for the democratization of the world.