The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-05-27

Vorwaerts had been fired at by the
police.
Through the half-open door, Crete
heard an officers loud voice. Steel
helmets and uniform buttons gittered
out of a cloud of morning mist and
powdery smoke. A policeman rushed
past with raised carbine. The alley
Swarmed with men roaring and fir
ing. The door banged to and swal-
lowed the momentary view of the
alley. The tobacco girl was trying
to lift the heavy iron bar into posi-
ton.
Butt ends Numbered against the
door.
Opener we shoot someone
shouted from outside. Quickly. See
that you get away" she whispered
terrified, while she still tried to push
the iron further into the hooks which
at present only held the edge of the
bar Crete tore the wounded man
with her across the yard, thinking
that the girl was following.
With a superhuman effort the girl
hung with her whole weight on the
iron bar Fer small trembling body
was D essed against the timber shaken
by the blows which the police rained
on to the door from the outside. Only
hold On, was her sole thought, other
wise the other two are lost!
Her head was thrown against the
hard wood by a terrible blow from
outside. Stunned she fell backward.
Her hands slowly slipped from the
bar The beating and shooting be-
came merged in her ears in a gurg-
ling roar. With metallic clank the
bar jumped from the hook-the door
was open.
She staggered trying in vain now
to escape towards the yard. Peng-
her hands with stretched fingers flew
into the air, her knees gave way and
then she fell without sound on her
face in the middle of the passage.
Passage and yard were occupied,
the searching Of the houses for arms
began. For hours the young dark
haired tobacco girl lay amidst blood
and dirt on the grey stone floor. The
police might have thought she was
dead, they did not allow anyone to
come near. Once one of the attack
erS went over to her, bent down and
picked up a. moist shred Of a gar
ment from her back with the tip Of
his finger. Her back was black, wet
pulp of blood, flesh and pieces OF
cloth.
"Jesus-it's effective at short dis
tances!' he said to one of his mates
and dropped the rag again. A few
hours later the tobacco worker -
Sophie Herder-was dead.
House after house was occupied
flats searched, cupboards torn open
children dragged out of their beds
mattresses thrown on to the floor
Where were the Reds? Where were
their arms? The women stood in the
flats, arms akimbo next to the police
men, and held their tongues, Not g
word was to be got out of them.
Find your 'sharp-shooters your
selves if you want theml"
Where is your husband?"
How should I know, I'm not his
wet nurse!"
Have you arms in this flat?"
"Of course knife and fork ano
a cooking pot tool"
Damned vermin"
Beside the arrnored car which had
stopped outside number 6 there stood
the Deputy G.. with his great black
hat on, protesting against the arbi-
trary arrests. His presence protected
the arrested from being manhandled
there and then on the street. Indis-
criminately the police arrested al
who fell into their hands. Should
Berlin be treated to the farce of q
handful of pedestrians keeping
thousands of policemen, equipped
with the most modern weapons al
bay for three days?
1.-THE gang is still inside, sir. Well
get 'em out-you bet your life,
shouted the officer to the deputy and
then dashed furiously into the next
house.