Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-08-08
Out of the Night

observed. When we changed
trains in Hamburg, these men
also changed trains.
At first / took them for de-
tectives or Nazi Party spies.
But the fact that they passed
each other in the train cor
ridor without exchanging a
word soon convinced me that
they were members of our
own Espionage Defense APP
parat. assigned 10 look after
the safety Tor check on the
reliability of this eXtraordi-
nary expedition of couriers.
We all arrived in Flensburg
without mishap. Still each
man for himself. we pro-
ceeded TO a liaison address
near the waterfront. 1t was
a saloon with placards on the
walls which said:
Drink till you burst, but
uOii tdth pohtiNS.
our illegal cargo was de-
posted among the beer
barrels in the cellar. A special
liaiSon agent. a blue-eyed,
pleasant-looking chap with
credentials from Richard Jen-
sen in Copenhagen, awaited
me here. His name was
julius Vanman. / learned
months later that he was on
the pay roll of the GPp.
Vanman had a boat in readl-
ness.
While my fellow couriers
slept through the rest Of the
day, l accompanied Vanman
TO the waterfront. The boat
was a heavy ships lifeboat.
equipped with six oars. 1t
belonged TO the International
Club in Flensbuyg; but local
Communist sailors, known TO
the Nazis of this frontier dis
trict, were ruled out from
manning the craft for this
particular transport.
The night was icy. Be-
tween IL and midnight
reused my assistants. In
great haste we carried our
contraband into the boat,
showed off a rickety wharf,
and manned the oars. Van
man squatted in the bows; he
knew the waters Of Flens-
burg Ford. l had the helm.
NO LIGHTS
We showed no light and we
forced ourselves not to smoke.
We pulled through perfect
darkness, through short
Choppy sea, with a chill wind
blowing in over the starboard
bows. The shorelightS were
bright. Red and green. the
running lights of small steam
ers passed through the night.
Strips of burlap wrapped
around the oars, where they
toiled in the oarlocks, muf-
fled the sounds Of rowing. The
humping noises were then
not louder than the hiss and
wash of the sea and the
rhythmic grunting of the
wers. The night was
starry.
A tumble of overcoats lay
atop the layer of suitcaSes in
the bottom of the boat. Only
Vanman and /, not engaged in
hard labor, remained swathed
up 10 the ears.
In six hours my comrades
rowed SO miles. AS we APP
preached close TO the Danish
shore. we proceeded with
caution. Only half OF the
men rowed now. The chug-
ging sounds Of fishermen's
motors were about us.
Toward dawn the sky be-
came overcast. and the sea
among the promontories had
the smoothness and color of a
sheet of steel. The shore was
low, and rocky in places.
A sprinkling of houses hove
into sight. There were rows
of trees lining a highway. 1t
was still too early for the
houses TO show light. Van
man canned the shore
through nightglasses. There
was bright light high above
the half-hidden roof, and an
other one, less bright below.
Easy now" Vanman muir
INJURED. "There-pull inshore."
Only four men rowed now.
The others crouched low be-
hind the gunwhales to keep
themselves out of sight Of pos
sible watchers. Ahead was a
landing, barely above the
level of the water.
TWO MEN MEET THEM
AS our boat drew alongside,
two men stepped out from
cover ashore, L breathed
freer. The gray tension which
assails men in the quieter
hours of a perilous under
taking slipped away. Van
man was happy. He whistled
a dance hall tune:
"Das list die Liebe der
Matrosen :"
The Germans lit cigaretS
and relaxed. They left it to
the comrades ashore to un-
load tho t,1yctarioiiS caron