The Czechoslovak Review/Volume 2/Paris presents a flag

PARIS PRESENTS A FLAG

 

Upon the motion of M. Ernest Gay the Municipal Council of Paris voted to present a flag to the first Czechcoslovak regiment fighting alongside of the French.

The flag is made by artists from a sketch prepared by the noted Bohemian painter Kupka. It is made of silk with golden tassels and is divided horizontally into two fields: white above, red below, with a blue hem trimmed with gold. In the center is the number of the regiment and the Czechoslovak monogram. In the corner are the coat of arms of the Czechoslovak lands whose union is symbolized by four golden rings attached to the top of the flagpole instead of the usual pointed end. Underneath is tied a ribbon of white and red silk with the embroidered French and Bohemian inscription: “Paris to the Czechoslovak Army.”

The presentation of the flag took place on June 30th. President Poincaire himself made an address upon this occasion in which he said: that France constituted the Czechoslovak army as testimony of her gratitude to the valiant soldiers of that race who had volunteered to serve her from the beginning of the war and had won honor and death under her flag.

“It never entered the mind of the French Government”, said President Poincaire, “on the day that Austria the faithful servant of Germany’s ambitions, sent an insulting ultimatum to Serbia, to treat the Czechs who are resident in France, notably young students, as its enemies.”

The President recalled that the protest of the Bohemian Diet was the only one made anywhere against Germany’s annexation of Alsace-Lorraine.