Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-08-23

lTelel dll the IIlOHcy Hdu All
my possession.
From the telegraph office I
rushed TO the branch head
quarters OF the Western Secre-
tariat in the Rue Lafayette.
An imperturbable secretary re-
'ceived me. l demanded 10 be
contacted with one Of our
executives.
walt" she said.
WAITED FOR HOURS
I waited an hour. and an
other hour. Couriers came
and went. bent on business OF
their own. Finally the secre-
tary directed me to go TO a
foot-bridge which crossed the
Seine in front Of the Louvre.
On the bridge stood a
middle-aged man, immacu-
lately dressed in gray. He
was Rene. the Pole. leader of
the newly formed Comite
Mondial-the general staff for
the Leagues against War and
Fascism the world over.
Immediately he began to
talk 10 me about my next
assignment.
"You must go TO Stras-
bourg and Basic" he said.
I'VE must arrange facilities
for a large-scaIe transporta-
ton OF the Rundschau across
the Rhine 10 Germany"
The Rundschau, published
in Basic. was the journal Of
the Comintern press service.
! hardly listened. Rene talked
on,
I'VE are bringing out a
Brown Book about the Reichs-
tag Fire. II IL highly i'm
portant. A hundred thousand
copies of a miniature edition
must go TO Germany. And
Strasbourg-"
Listen" / interposed, 81
am troubled by another mat
ter. My wife, Comrade
Firelel, is in desperate
situation"
yes"
I spoke. Rene was a good
listener. l requested that the
party should help me get
Firelei out OF Germany. The
look of curiosity on the Poles
face changed into frozen
little smile.
PART WITH HOSTILITY
Dear comrade," he said
patiently, 81 respect your
sensibility. But the situation
IL too serious TO allow us to
jeopardize our Apparat In the
solution of our comrades
private difficulties. Later per-
haps. We need you TO build
up a working bridgehead in
Strasbourg. 1t Is very press
ing"
We parted, hostility be-
tween us. In that instant
Firelei meant more 10 me
than the sum of all political
schemes and conspiracies.
l went in search of Richard
Jensen. But Jensen had left
Paris. He had flown back TO
Copenhagen.
/ went TO Ginsburg. the
liaison man. 1 needed money
and a reliable courier who
was not known 10 the Ces-
tapo. Ginsburg was syrnpa-
thetic, but afraid. He would
do nothing without exact in
structions from his superiors.
I was determined not 10
engage in any further assign
ments as long as Firelei was
hunted and homeless in Ger
many.
l decided TO return 10 the
waterfront. The sailors would
not hesitate 10 help me. Most
of those who had been in
Hamburg in bygone days
knew Firelei and considered
her as their pal.
I wrote Firelei 10 hold her
self ready 10 travel at a
moments notice. II was a
reckless thing 10 do. II the
letter fell irto Gestapo hands
all would be lost.
/ borrowed 100 francs from
Comrade Beaugrand. It was
enough to pay my fare to
Antwerp.
SAILORS GIVE HELP
In the office of Comrade
Anto in Antwerp I found a
letter from the Western Secre-
tariat, ordering me TO proceed
10 Strasbourg without delay.
/ paid no heed. In the back
room of Cafe Belgenland,
/ gathered about myself the
hard-bitten elite of the Ant
werp waterfront brigades.
Help me to rescue Flrelei,"
was my appeal 10 them.
They gave a subdued cheer.
Their loyalty and enthusiasm
brought tears 10 nv ewes.
Among them was Birzinsch. a