Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-07-03
By JAN VALTIN

form pattiesnlp gray. benlnd
the desk sat a man. Two
small. black. piercing eyes
glowered at me.
The man was short and
burly. His thin hair was
combed to cover a bald spot
on his head. He had chunky
hands. a hard round forehead.
and a thick, straight mouth.
His chunky face was OF an
unhealthy color, and the ex-
preston on IL was the most
saturnine / had ever seen. Ii
denoted power, patience, ruth
lessness. distrust.
But the really outstanding
feature in this man we're his
eyes, unblinking, glistening
Sits without a trace of white.
Before a word was said. L
knew who this man was. i had
seen him before. He was the
stoker from the battleship
Helgoland, who In 1918 had
hoisted the first Red flag OF
revolution over the Imperial
Fleet.
Ernst Wollweber had travelled
far since the day he had risen
from the depths TO kick one
of the main props from under
the kaiser's war machine. He
had become a member of the
inner bureau of Communist
strategists in Central Europe,
a member of that anonymous
aristocracy of professional
revolutionists without whose
expert and formidable assist
ance the constantly pub
licized top-rank party officials
would be naught but garrulous
generals without an officer
corps TO lead their army.
To obtain for him constitu-
tional immunity from arrest
by police, Ernst Wollweber
had been elected to the Prus-
sian Diet. AS q member OF
that legislative body, Wolf
weber had also acquired the
right to free travel on German
railroads between the Rhine
and East Prussia. Moreover,
The government paid him the
substantial allowance granted
to all members OF German
parliaments.
WE NEED YOU HERE
Thus the Weimar Republic
financed the journeys and
maintenance OF a host OF
agitators and organizers,
elected as deputies. whose
policies and actions aimed at
nothing less than the complete
destruction OF that Republic.
you are Comrade Ernst
WoJlweber," said huskily.
The man nodded. He gave
the party salute:
Rot Front"
Then he growled:
"Sit down."
We shook hands over the
desk. Wollweber's grip was
hard. His face screwed itself
into a mirthless grin. which
revealed a row of irregular
tobacco-stained teeth.
How long have you been
away from German Party
work ?"
About seven years" ] said.
slow are the American
prisons ?"
"Not bad"
"You did good work there.
But the political storm center
Is now Germany. We need you
right here" He lit fresh
cigaret with the butt OF the
last. by the way" he added,
have you already communi-
Gated with Comrade Albert
Walter In Hamburg:"
Not yet. ] shall write .
report to him."
THAT IL not necessary"
Wollweber said. "The party
leadership II here. Give your
report to me-"
"All right"
And he continued to ques.
ton me. l had the feeling
that Wollweber was circling
around me with infinite eau
ton. tightening his circle and
coming a little closer after
each OF my answers. Suddenly
he said;
II have read your report on
your conversation with Com
rade Ewert."
/ was startled. The Comm
terms previous usage had
been 10 forward letters of
denunciation TO those who
had been so denounced. This
had been done in spirit OF
franknesS and comrsdeship.
But now il was brought home
10 me once more how much
conditions in the Comintern
had changed.
Ito He Continued)