The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-05-18

Thousands of workers came to the
alley in the afternoon from all parts
of the town. The police did not dare
TO enter the district. Only civil in
formers" were present-and they were
in large numbers. The workers were
in control of the areas far beyond
the actual barricade both in Neu-
-kolln and in Wedding.
About this time Hermann returned.
He hurried through the masses on
the Nettelbeckplstz without pausing.
There was no sign of the police. He
went through the alley and saw the
innumerable marks of shots on the
houses. On the stairs he met Anna
Where are the comrades2"
"A good thing that you have come,
Hermann" said Anna in relief.
They're all at your place"
50 He went up the stairs. The kit
chen was full of men and women.
Halo, Hermann, thank goodness!"
Kurt greeted him. Lets go to the
Red Room at oncep
Hermann asked how his wife and
children were and then withdrew an
once with the comrades into the
Red Room
While Kurt was telling him in a
few words what had happened, Her
mann looked across several times to
Paul who was sitting silently on a
chair. Kurt did not mention his
virtual replacement of Paul, but Her
mann knew from Paul's expression.
He heard how calmly and pointedly
Kurt was speaking. He scarcely rec
ognized the cement HEAVIER, formerly
so shy The night had altogether
changed him.
Kurt had finished his report Have
you spoken to the people on the
street," Hermann asked. Kurt look
Cd at him in establishment Damn
it. no one had thought of that in the
excitement. Hermann was annoyed.
That was the most important thing
lust now. the few copies Of the Rote
Fallne which had reached the alley
we're insufficient to inform the mass
es about the real situation. Moreover
the police had not allowed the news
bov with the Rote Fahne to pass the
control in the morning.
But none Of us can speak prop
erly" Kurt attempted TO excuse their
neglect. Hermann could not help
LAUGHING as he saw Hurts depressed
face. He remembered what they had
done during the night But, make
speech? Motley were too scared
for thatl
A little later the strains Of the
international" were heard in the
sIlev. Hermann was standing on a
deirv wagon and addressing the
fs- 7ses.
10 evening Of May End approach
ed
Tobodv knew what the coming
riai't. what the next few hours might
brln~. The press reports Of the po-
Bc~ nresidiur bod been copied with
nvt criticism - - entire bourgeois
pTass. Anger . had not been a
witness of the aNts in the alley or
in Neukolln was bound to conclude
after reading these reports that Ber-
lin was in the midst Of "revolu-
ton and that only the victorious"
advance Of the police could stop it.
Thomas nearly choked with laugh
ter when someone gave him a copy
Of the Vorwarts in the ''Red Night
ingale' which wrote that the Com
Imunists from their positions on the
roofs. etc. had shot IA carbines to
bits in the very hands Of the police
without even 50 much as scratch
to single policeman" 'By lingo
that's what you call a perfect
aim We're all Of us prize sharp
shooters he called out laughingly.
1t seemed as If the police intended
to fortify their courage with these
lies. they had to magnify, distort,
nnisrerNesent everything. How else
would anyone in Berlin have believed
that in two small, vigorously sur
rounded areas, in Neukoiln and in
the alley in Wedding, a mere hand
full of workers armed with the most
primitive weapons had been defend
ing their streets and houses for
thirty-six hours against about $4,000
policemen with the most up-to- date
equipment, including heavy machine
guns. hand-gTenades and arTnoured
cars?
Hermann had theoretically contra
dicted Hurts contention that they in
The alley, isolated as they were,
should never have taken up the fight
in this way. Certainly the alley was
poorly situated from the strategic
point OF view, that Hermann had to
admit. It was too easily cut off. But,
he said. fights Of this kind would al
ways develop first in localized Sums