The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-12-11

| barbed wire, advance guard, all was
unprotected on the riverside, and as
visible as on teaboard. Slowly Gid
ing along the bank, the torpedo boats
take convenient positions the gun
ner directs the cannon. The shells
are brought up out of the ammunition
room. The command sounds:
"Fire!"
The cannon mouths are hurting
flashes of fire, with light, metallic
ring the cartridge shells fall, and af-
ter ten to fifteen seconds an ash-cOl-
ored and Understanding fountain
rises amidst the fleeing ranks of the
adversary, the gunner alters the di-
rection.
Visor 2, Fire!"
The torpedo boat "Retivy" also be-
gins firing; "Proshny" sets the
church afiame with his stern-chaser.
We shall probably reach Galyany
(65 kilometers above SarapuD by
daylight.
Another stretch of ten kilometers
and we are at our destination. The
red flags are lowered-it was decid-
! ed to surprise the enemy and to let
the squadron pass for that of the
White guards, that of Admiral Stark,
J which is impatiently expected by the
Whites. The ships dart out from be-
mind an island in full steam, pass
he wharf Of Galyany, and put them
| selves in position-a difficult maneu
yer at this shallow and narrow point.
"Shoot only when ordered one
boat signals to the other. The stu
alton is this: about 10 meters from
shore, next to the church, heavy,
sixinch cannon is plainly visible.
Back of it on the hillock, many Curl
Gus peasants, and among them-a lit
tie band of armed soldiers. On the
church spire-another cannon-per-
haps machine gun. At the shore
on the left-a tow-boat with a White
guardist. Field kitchens are smok-
ing, white tents are cleaning among
the bushes, soldiers are stretched out
at the shore and observing with curl
osity the maneuvers OF the torpedo
boats. Midway in the river, however,
guarded by a sentry, floating grave
motionless and quiet.
"Pritky' communicates orders with
lowered voice to the other ships.
"Retiyy" approaches the tow-boat,
and without betraying itself, gains
assurance that the precious live car
go is ON board. "Pritky" directs it's
cannon on the six-inch cannon of the
opponent in order to destroy 1t at
the first move of the enemy; nor does
it overlook the infantry.
But how can the heavy tow-boat be
liberated from its anchors, how can
it be released from the narrow trap
of sand shoals and islands? Fortu-
nately hostile tracker is putting at
the wharf. Our oficer-in a gold
braided cap, of conrse-gives to the
captain of the tracker the positive
order:
"In the name of the commander OF
the fleet. Admiral Stark, l command
you to take the boat with the prison
ers in tow and TO follow us!"
Trained by the Whites to slavish
obedience, the captain of the tracker
Immediately executes the order, ap
proaches the boat and takes 1t in
tow. Infinitely slow, the minutes DRAG
on. until the awkward steamer attach
es the steel hawser and makes al
preparations for the trip. Our crew
stands motionless, their faces are
deadly pale, they believe. and yet dc
not dare hope, that this dream should
be realized, that the hopelessly doom
ed boat should gain liberty. Whisper
ing, they ask each other:
"Wen, is he ever going 10 move
He is still standing"
However, impressed by the sharI
command Of our officer. the trackel
nlavs his role brilliantly On tho tow