The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-04-18

soldier who was standing there; ''this
comrade will act as liaison with H.
O." said the on-commissioned off
Ger, 81 will send him to tell you how
things are going on"
"And your name comrade, asked
the non-commissioned officer?"
Ensign Reutov," he replied.
Comrade Samsonov again tapped
off an order on the typewriter and
Ensign Reutov, after receiving it,
came boldly forward, shook my hand
and marched out with a gait of a
young fine soldier.
He had hardly gone out when again
the same "cyclist" ran in and threw
himself on me almost shouting.
"Comrade! Our commander is gone"
'How, where?"
"The devil knows. only know that
the Junkers are making it hot for us
on Lubyanka and we can hardly hol6
out. Send someone"
ooh hell, this Reutov has only jgst
gone out"
I went to the field telephone.
phoned up the detachment of Red
Guards and soldiers which was operat-
ing in the town district, coming down
from the Sukharevka to Lubyankq
with the object Of getting onto the
Red Square through China Town.
l spoke with Bobinsky and the nom
commissioned Ershov, who were at
/ the head of this detachment.
"Where are you," / asked.
''Near the Lubyanka. Moving for
ward successfully. :"
"Link up with the cyclists and
take them under your commander"
1 went off to the Cyclists" myself.
They had certainly been having it hf5
from the cross-fire with the Junkei4.
/ There was no general command. Who
ever liked was commanding several
groups. Running from group to group
l told the Cyclists" they should go
through from Lubyanka and join up
with the detachment of Boninsky and
Ershov.
In the evening of the second day,
was again going round to the Moscow
Soviet with Comrade Gurelov, in order
to talk with the soldiers. Suddenly in
one of the corridors, l noticed the
familiar face of the non-commissioned
officer. He was sitting on the floor
changing his footwear.
"Comrade," l said to him, "why
are you here and not in the position
with the cyclists?
The question was also as unexpected
to him 1.-THE non-commissioned officer
had not seen me as / had walked up
to him from behind) as stone drop
ping from heaven.
The non-commissioned officer
I jumped up on one leg with one gaiter
unwound and muttered:
"They are shooting there.
did not succeed in understanding
him as the soldiers who were 5ostling
around replied by concerted outlaws
of laughter.
And without malice, but with
amused contempt, they arrested the
unfortunate non-commissioned officer
on the spot and sent him to the Hotel
Dresden ."*$%
Returning to our little room at
headquarters after making the round,
found a soldier there who was to
have been the liaison between US at
H. @. and Ensign Reutov. This sol
der was smothered in mud and TAX
ing off his grey fur hat, wiped the
sweat that was running in stream
from his forehead.
"Non-commissioned officer Reutov
is killed." the messenger said TO me.
"Comrade Reutov commanded, went
from one house to the other where
our soldiers were stationed. We made
sally out Of one house against the
Cadets on two occasions. And nothing
happened. And Just little while ago
he came into the house where our
detachment was stationed---on the
third floor. A stray bullet got him
in the nut. He fell down straight on
the spot without word. The soldiers
were on the verge of tears especially
our regiment"
And all the time, something was
trickling down the face of the narra-
tor towards his chin, both dirt, sweat,
and perhaps tears.
The soldiers carried Comrade Reu-
tov's corpse gently away from the
fighting zone.
THE END.
49, Now trade union houss Con the