The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1930-01-16
The Red Flag Waves!
ITO Be Continued)
By SARAH VICTOR.

IN the 10th of August, 1929, we arrived at
v Stettin, Germany, from where we were to
take the steamer to Leningrad, U.SS.R. We
had scarcely enough time to get from the train
to the boat. While hurrying the baggage to our
cabin, ! noticed mass of workers IN very
excited spirit, but had no time to question what
it was all about After we settled ourselves
in the cabin, came out on the deck OF the
steamer and somehow was on the side OPP
poste from the shore. AS / looked down,
saw a rowboat with five workers on it. The
red flag waved from one end of it. MY heart
stopped beating for an instant, and then it
began to pound and jump with terrific speed.
AS the wind unfurled the flag, before ne APP
peared the Communist emblem, the hammer
and sickle In the mean time the music of the
International came from the other end of the
row boat, played on a garmoshka (accordian),
and yells and cheers from the other side of
the steamer came loud and strong lntermin-
gled with the cheers came the old revolutionary
song "Long Were We Kept in the Prisons,
and Long Were we Tortured by the Pains of
Starvation" followed the row boat as it
moved around the steamer, until it reached the
side of the cheering crowd.
Not knowing what the demonstration was
about, asked man near me. He explained
that noted Communist was leaving Germany
l felt that when I'd see him would know him.
He would not have to be pointed out to me.
Among the passengers gathered thickly in one
corner of the steamer l soon saw medium
sized man with very pleasant, though stern
face He stood with bent arm and clenched fist
held rigidly in salute. He wore suit of dark
grey cloth almost like uniform OF the old
revolutionary type which added to the strength
and dignity of his face. Whilst the comrades
waved and cheered wildly from the shore, he
repeated again AMI again, "Red Front! Red
'FRONT.'" The red flag waved in reply.
My excitement so great that did not,
notice that the steamer had left the shore be-
hind and was going onward at quite speed.
The sounds of music and the voices shouting
greetings to the comrades in the Soviet Union
were still to be heard. Before those last sounds
had faded away, new ones arose. I saw again
on the shore groups of workers with eyes Shin
ing like stars from silver sky at night, 1ull
of excitement and happiness for their comrade
who had been freed from the clutches OF the
capitalist class. At last he was going to the
land Of real freedom and liberty for all who
fight to free the working class from the slavery
of capitalism. The ocean separated the steam
or farther and farther from the shore. ow
we could see orly small groups Of workers
here and there waving their arms, and the
sounds of their cheers were very faint behind
US. ~
Shortly after came the call to dinner In the
dining room the head waiter showed US to
seats just next to the man who had caused all
the past excitement. Very soon we knew one
another very well. We learned that he was
Max H6tz, at one time high official in the
German army. He had realized what the war
was all about and had become follower of
the teachings Of Marx and Lenin. For this the
German government had sentenced him to
death. Due to the protests Of the working
class the death sentence had been changed to
life Imprisonment. After serving eight years,
he had been released. Now the Soviet Union
has invited him to come and rest up in the
fatherland of the working class. 1t goes with
out saying that we had a wonderful and in
teresting time together.