Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-08-21
] Escape Red PoIond
British Police Smash in Door
To Free Captive Refugee
Stowowoy Told Order to Rescue Him
From Ship Came From Churchill

moments silence, and then the
door shook under a terrific blow.
1t was the axes of the British
police. breaking down the door.
Suddenly it burst open, and
freedom in the form Of men in
dark blue uniforms stepped into
my cabin.
"You are free" someone said
to me in Polish. a man in civilian
clothes. The men led me on the
deck. Sailors crowded around and
tried to get at me. The police
kept them back.
Saved from knitting.
Suddenly the mad face Of De-
ferares danced before my eyes.
He had a knife in his hand, he
rushed at me, but strong blue
sleeved arms pushed him away,
protecting me.
The sky was dark overhead,
and a sweet breeze blew. The
water around the Jaroslaw Da-
browski was swarming with
lighted boats. I descended into
one Of them, and again men in
blue uniforms received me firmly.
gently. All the boats were full
Of them.
Later I was told that 80 Brit
ish policemen were entrusted
with the task of my rescue, that
the destroyer, Obdurate, stood
nearby, and another destroyer
waited in readiness at Chatham.
But why?" I asked, dazed and
quite overwhelmed. This was the
answer:
Free Poles. your friends or
ganized Intervention through
Parliament, political circles. the
government and the press. The
Home Office and Foreign Ofhce
were discussing your fate, my
boy" The speaker was a man
with a twinkle in his eye.
Told Of Churchill's Order.
"And they could not agree
what course to take. So, they ap-
pealed to their superior-to Sir
Winston himself. And Churchill
so people say-replied: take
the boy off that ship"
but the captain will not
agree, they argued. And then
mind you, I was not there, but
people say this is what hap
pened-Sir Winston waved his
hand and said: Send six de-
stroyers!'"
On Tuesday, I was taken to
the law courts, to stand before
Lord Justice Goddard who had
issued writ Of habeas corpus
for me. ] wore decent clothes
given to me by the British. left
the court after a two-minute
hearing as a free man, allowed
to remain in Britain for seven
days, while my application for
permanent asylum was consid-
cred.
I spent the days with some
British friends who took good
care of me. And on Saturday,
August 7, exactly a week after
my release, I learned that polit-
ical asylum had been granted
to me by the Home Secretary
Sir David Maxwell Fyfe.
Later on the same day, ]
Travelled to Victoria Station and
was met by Polish friends. A
press conference was arranged
for me on Sunday. This was
the final stage of my realization
OF the fact that I was famous
not on my own merit. but for
the strange and wonderful way
in which I had been saved.
Cries Like Child.
ALI that time I tried to keep
as calm and self-possessed as
could. But when I was brought
to Gen. AnderS, leader of Free
Poles in exile. and that great
man took me into his arms-I
confess that I broke into tears
like a child.
Now I am resting. My Polish
friends took me from London to
a nice house near Brighton
There Is q garden around the
house: there are trees. flowers
and fresh green grass. and Polish
childrens' voices are heard. Here
am safe and happy, and quickly
regaining my health and strength
But even now sometimes think
that it is all a dream. that sud-
denly I shall awake and find my
self again in the dark. musty
hold. and hear the scuttling OF
rats among the heavy cases.
And then ! say to myself: This
| Is not q dream. You have been
very lucky. my boy. and should
feel humbly grateful to God and
to the people who have delivered
you. A new life Is opening be-
fore you. the life Of q free man In
q free world"
No. this Is reality. and ] am ID