The Daily Worker Newspaper, September 1, 1934, Page 8

Page Bight orker Daily CROFEEN CRANE OEIRENITT PRETTY E.S.A (IECRON OF CONSENT MOTERRUTHONAL | “America’s Only Working Class Daily Newspsper’ FOUNDED 1924 PUBLISHED DAILY, EXCEPT SUNDA, BY THE COMPRODAILY PUBLISHING CO., INC., 50 E. 13th Street, New York, N. Y. Telephone: ALgonquin 4-795 4. Cable Address: “Daiwork,” New York, N.Y. Washington Bureeu: Room 98, National Press 14th and F St., Washing C. Telephone: Nati Midwest Bureau: 101 So St., Room 705, Telephone: Dearborn 393 Subscription Rates: nd Br ly 36.00. By Mail: (except Manhattan and Bronx), 1. year. & months, $9.50; 3 months, $9.00; 1 month, 0.78 cents. Manhattan, Bronx and Canada: 1 year, $9.00; 6 months, $5.00 00. By Carrier: Weekly, 18 cents; monthly, 78 cents. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1934 All Ferces Behind the Textile Strike! = unbreakable unity of the entire working class, in every section of the country, must now be reared in defense of the general textile strike. Terror against the strike, under the slogan of the “red scare,” of “drive out the Commu- nists,” is already in full swing. The em- ployers and their government are mobilizing every agency — national guards, police, machine guns, poison gas and the capitalist press—to demoralize and split the strikers’ ranks. The poison gas of dis-unity, of attack on all fighting textile workers, is at this moment the chief weapon of the strikebreakers. In the forefront of this poison gas attack on the strike, side by side with the employers’ detective agencies, and the fascist Hearst press, stand William Green and the national leadership of the United Textile Workers Union, shrieking the loudest, “throw out ths reds.” A fierce terror of national guard troops and police is now being prepared against the strikers under cover of the “red” scare The workers must not allow the fascist terror drive, now being rapidly launched, to break up their solidarity. The Communist Party in every section must now mobilize the whole labor movement to defeat these fascist attacks. The entire resources and all of the forces of the Communist Party in every section and every district without exception, must at once be un- stintedly thrown into support of the textile strike. The Communist Party in every section of the country must mobilize all of its energies for the winning of the textile workers’ strike—for the win- ning of the demands of the textile workers, sap winning of the fight against the vicious stretchout, against discrimination, for shorter hours and higher wages, is now the most important concern of every member of the Communist Party. The Communists will take leadership in every section in the fight to achieve the broad united front of the textile workers, to defeat the splitting “red scare” and other splitting tactics. The Com- munist Party especially calls on every member of the Socialist Party to jom the united front to achieve an aggressive fighting policy to win the strike and a united front against the fasetst “red Scare” terror which, if successful, would mean the defeat of the strike. The Communist Party will answer on the picket lines the slanders of the employers’ finks of the treacherous U.T.W. national leaders, and of the fascist press attacks. Every worker in the textile area who follows the leadership of the Communist Party, will, to the fullest extent, take part in the mass picketing of every textile mill in the United States and in all of the strike activity. ‘The Communists inside the United Textile Work- ers Union will raise their voices against any at- tempt on the part of the U.T.W. national leaders to defeat the textile workers’ demands, to break the strike. This applies to any attempts of the U.T.W. leaders to split the ranks through the red Scare; and to any attempts of these misleaders to end the strike in Roosevelt “arbitration” boards before the demands are won. The Communists put forward the slogan—no arbitration, no settlement, no move back to work, until the demands are won. The building and strengthening of the Commu- nist Party in the textile areas is an urgent task, as the building of the Party will in itself strengthen the strike and ensure a militant fighting strike. The distribution of the Daily Worker in every textile center, the immediate increase of the cirou- lation’ of the Daily Worker, to mass proportions in these textile areas, is an important task in the Strengthening of the strike, in defeating the terror and the red scare, and achieving a united fighting policy to win the strike. ‘ . * T COMMUNIST PARTY calls on the textile workers to take the strike activities and strike leadership into thelr own hands—into the hands of the rank and file. The setting up at once of broad united front mill strike committees, elected by workers from every department of the mill, will guard against betrayals by the misleaders. These united front mill committees should take over all strike activities and all negotiations, The U.T.W. national leaders must be swept aside before their attempts to betray the demands of the strike are achieved in a Roosevelt arbitration board. For the broad unity of the workers aM over DAILY WORKER, NEW YORK, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1934 the country to defeat the terror now being pre- pared against the textile strike. For the broadest united front of all textile work- ers to defeat the fascist terror and the splitting red scare.” For an aggressive For mass picketing. fighting policy in the strike. No settlement, and no arbi- tration. No end of the strike until the demands are won One united strike front of the entire working class to win the strike and the textile workers demands. The Words and Deeds of Socialist Leaders HE latest issue of the Socialist “New Leader” throws a piercing searchlight on the chasm between the words and dgeds of the Socialist leaders on the united front. Instead of taking steps towards sin- cerely establishing such a united front, discussing controversial issues, obstacles and con- ditions in the manner of the Communist and So- cialst Parties of France, the New Leader comes out with a most vituperative attack on the Com- munists and shows evidence of closer alliance of the Socialist leaders with the most reactionary and fascist forces in control of the American Federation of Labor. The main policy and program running through the special “Labor Day” edition of the “New Leader,” just out, is closer alliance with William Green, Thomas F. McMahon, and other A. F. of L. betray- ers, against Communist Party members in A. F. of L. unions. Im_ other words, while speaking of the united front with the Communists, while arguing about all sorts of chimerical obstacles, the Socialist Party leaders find no barriers whatever to moving towards, and actually supporting the anti-working class pol- icies of Messrs. Green and McMahon. William Green is given prominent space in the “New Leader” for a specially written article on “New Inspiration for Labor.” Not one word of eri- ticism is uttered about Green’s treacherous strike- breaking in the San Francisco strike; not one word of protest is printed about Green’s breaking of the steel and auto strikes, nor about his whole history of betrayals as a member of the National Labor Board of the NRA. Quite the contrary! While disagreeing slightly with Mr, Green on methods of attack against Com- munists in the A. F. of L., both the editor and Norman Thomas wholeheartedly approve of Green’s pogrom against all militants and Communists. Thomas writes: “The A, F. of L. will do its best job in defeating wrong-headed Communist tactios making them wholly and obviously unnecessary in the fight against fascism. I say this with full recog- nition of the destructive tactics Communists have often employed in the labor movement.” The editor of the “New Leader,” Janies O'Neal, goes further, resorting to the basest slander, in giving full grounds for the most reactionary drive against Communists and militant fighters in the A. F, of L., declaring: “Communists have helped to weaken unions, they have nearly wrecked some and they have plundered union treasuries. All political, cultural and economic organizations of the workers have had bitter ex- perience with the Communists.” Such support to the A. F. of L. leaders, and especially such aid and comfort to their drive against the Communists, is support to treacherous, strikebreaking policies of these officials, which have cost the workers lowered living standards, attacks on their most elementary rights, and the advance of company unions and fascist attacks on the labor movement. The Communist Party has never for a moment relaxed in its energetic efforts to achieve a united front of the Communist and Socialist Parties. In a series of letters to the Socialist Party, in the letter of Karl Browder, general secretary of the Communist Party, it has made its position crystal clear. It is ready to enter into the broadest dis- cussions on the basic conditions for the united front. Especially now, with the rising strike wave, in the first place the textile strike, with the sharpening of the class battle in the United States, with the growing fascist terror and the gravest danger of war, this united front is more imperative now than ever. « We call upon all Socialist Party members to discuss these issues. Let them examine the spirit, the tone and the implications of the “Labor Day” issue of the “New Leader.” They should ask them- selves: “Does this show a serious effort towards overcoming obstacles to a umited front with the Communists?” Does such support for Green’s and McMahon's expulsion policies strengthen the posi- tion of the workers? The united front against war, fascism and hunger is a burning necessity. Every worker interested in united action of the working class should do all in his power to strive for the establishment of this united front. The Communist Party, in the words of Earl Browder: “While we write, colossal crimes of strikebreak- ing are being committed against the working class, with the use of troops in four states, and extra- legal bands of armed thugs, organized by and cooperating with the police, are beginning openly to appear in strikes to carry out the earlier phases of Hitler’s methods. . . , So sharp and increased is the danger that every day of delay in bringing about the most powerful united struggle against this danger adds to the hazard of being engulfed by it. We regard the united front as primarily a weapon to meet this situation, and not as anything else.” 180,000 Votes Cast For Leo ) Gallagher (Continued from Page 1) Legionnaires, pitched battles feared to bring him into court. He is still in a Glendale hospital, suf- tering from his injuries. | leaders. i Klan Active GLOVERSVILLE, N. Y., Aug. 31.—Workers should work harmo- niously with their exploiters, the Grand Kleagle of the Ku Klux Klan declared at a meeting in Bleecker Square, which was called to fight Communism. He depre- cated any effort to gain their , them out of here.” It gloatingly reports that a dozen | workers in Britton, 8. D., were run through a “gauntlet” of a hundred who battered their faces beyond recognition, The paper further reports that | occurred on streets of Britton, 8. D., Saturday | between workers and Legionnaires, indicating that indignant workers had turned out in defense of their ‘Youth Day Rallies Are Set for Today (Continued from Poge 1) Food Clerks, Cafeteria Workers, Hotel and Restaurant Workers, Furniture Workers, Painters, etc., will line up. international Youth Day evening will be marked by a youth affair at the Workers Center, 50 E. 13th St., second floor, There will be en- tertainment given by the Workers |Laboratory Theatre, and a feature anti-war film “Sniper,” shown, and ;@ delegate at the recent Interna- tional Women’s Anti-War Congress, Jennie Giacco, young needle trades worker, will recount her experiences at this Congress. Communist Party Urges Support PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 31.—The District Bureau of the Communist Party issued a call today to all Ne- gro and white workers urging them to join in the International Youth the | evstiiteemntins ser demands by striking, declaring that strikes will get them nowhere. Governor Instigated S. D. Terror ABERDEEN, 8. Dak., Aug. 31.— Last Saturday's attack by drunken } Legionnaires on workers and farm- ers in Marshall County was directly | instigated by Gov. Tom Berry, ac- cording to a front-page article in| the Aberdeen American-News. The paper reports that Governor Berry wired the Legionnaires per- mission “to do anything to drive ‘4 Knitgoods, Neckwear, Painters, etc., will be followed by the Interna- tional Labor Defense, and between Fourth Ave. and Lexington Ave. the National Student League, will be followed by the F. S. U%, the Lan- guage clubs, and the Office Work- ers Union, On 26th St., between Madison and Fourth, the T. U. U. L. unions will line up in the order of the Fur Shipping Clerks, the Furriers Union, Bathrobe Workers, Knitgoods and Metal, while between Fourth and Lexington, the Marine, Laundry, 1 Day demonstration tomorrow after- noon at 2 o'clock at 22nd St. and Ridge Ave. Another meeting will be held at 8 o'clock the same eve- ning at McPherson Square, Ken- sington. “The fact that thousands of Ken- |sington workers will be involved in the coming textile strike makes it extremely important that the eve- ning demonstration in McPherson Square be a real mobilization in which we can reach thousands of workers with our program,” the call read. Japan Plans To Increase WarExpenses Hayashi Refuses Help To Famine-Rayaged Silkworm Regions TOKYO, Aug. 31—All the news- papers here report that a delega- tion of the All-Japanese Silkworm Breeders Association visited the | minister of war, Hayashi, and beg- ged him, in view of the famine im- pending in the silkworm breeding districts, in consequence of the fall- ing silk prices and the increasing rice prices, to employ 10 or 15 per cent of the sum allotted to the mili- tary budget for relieving distress in these districts. The delegation pointed out that “the protection of the state cannot be extended while the peasants suf- fer deprivation.” Hayashi is re- ported by the Japanese news agency to have promised to “inquire into the matter.” A newspaper report states that the total demands put on the new military budget, submitted on Aug. 10, amounts to 550,000,000 yen, as compared with 446,000,000 yen last year, Hayashi declared to representa- tives of the press: “The new budget is bound to exceed this-year’s. In Manchuria measures must be taken for stationing Japanese troops there against the bandits.” He further pointed out that “considerable sums will have to be granted for the air fleet.” With regard to finance, Hayashi observed that “that is a question for the ministry of finance. Should this ministry fail however to place the necessary sums at the disposal of the defense of the country, then the army will be justified in sub- mitting its own proposals with re- gard to sources of money.” Hayashi will propose an increase of taxation to the Ministerial Council, as “un- der the given circumstances the nec- essary protection must be secured to the state.” The figures given in the press state that the new naval estimate is 714,000,000 yen as compared with 487,000,000 last year. This estimate has been confirmed by the naval minister, Osumi. Nazis Warn Italian Fascist Of Expulsion BERLIN, Aug. 31.—The bitter con- flict between the Italian fascist and | the Nazi press reached a critical stage today, with the threat of ex- pulsion of the Italian correspondent, Mario Dasilva. Dasilva is charged with writing an article warning of German fas- cist attempts at invasion of Italian territory. The Nazi paper, “Deutsch- er Zeitung,” responded with a vio- lent attack on Dasilva, who is cor- respondent for Il Lavoro Fascista. Dasilva, in his article, made refer- ence to the invasion of Roman ter- ritory by the ancient Germanic tribes—the Cimbri and the Teutons, and by analogy pointed out this was Hitler's present. policy. The battle has now become a dip- lomatic issue between the German foreign ministry and the Italian em- bassy. “The temperatures prevailing at present in Italy,” said the Deutscher Zeitung, “apparently have robbed Italian journalists of their sense. This is dangerous only when it be- comes chronic, but unfortunately the symptoms appear to Point to that condition.” Tsai Calls for Fight on ‘Traitor Chiang’ (Continued from Page 1) ——————— (which are the terms of the said pact)? i A. Yes, you might say that. But I think the word “hesitation” is somewhat an exaggeration, because the time was so short that it did not give us enough opportunity to do so. I can admit what you said. But I want you to explain to the people our difficulties at that time. Refused to Fight Reds Do you think that the fight against Chiang Kai Shek is a part of the fight against Japanese im- perialism? A. No doubt. After I came to Fukien, the Nanking Government cut off all financial support to cur army. Our soldiers were nungry. In the latter part of 1933, Chiang Kai Shek ordered me to send two divisions into Kiangsi to fight against the Reds. I began to realize that the Reds are all Chinese, they are workers and peasants, I did not comply with Chiang’s order. My idea is, regardless of party affilia- tions and political beliefs, a united front against Japan and the traitor Chiang Kai Shek must be estab- lished. I am a military man, I don’t understand politics. But 1 can fight. I am willing to work for any government, which is really fighting for the liberation of China, Somebody told me that the Com- munists don’t love their country. That's untrue. Just think of it. Can any imperialist send troops to the Soviet Union and seize one inch of its territory? The attack ‘vould be immediately repelled. I am not necessarily in favor of Soviet Cnina. But I do emphasize uncompromis- ing struggle against Japanese Im- perialism and Chiang Kai Shek. How bestial he is! He bombarded the civilian population in Fukien with the bombs and poisonous gas which he bought from foreign coun- tries, and he did not use them against the Japanese invaders. Q. Will you accept any post from Nanking Geyernment after you re- turn to China? A. [Angrily] Never! I am not going to be the running dog of the traitor Chiang Kai Shek. Q. Did you read Madame Sun A WILL "Re ee pt ING WORKER by Burck ie Aided by for Wall Street’s Native Puppets By HARRY HAYWUOD im Will the Liberian-American Plan, fathered by William N. Jones and George Padmore, save Liberia for the Liberian masses? We ended our article yesterday by giving this answer: “The Liberian-American Plan is designed to bolster up a corrupt and tottering native government, whose interests are bound up with the in- terests of the foreign slave-drivers. The Plan plays into the hands of the American imperialists. The Plan would tighten the chains of slavery more cruelly upon the Li- berian toilers. And by creating il- lusions about the possible solution of the Negro question in America through Utopian schemes of eco- nomic advancement on the African continent, the Plan—in this respect @ subtle edition of Garveyism— tends to divert the masses of Amer- ican Negroes from revolutionary struggle against their oppressors.” The Liberian-American Plan calls, not for support of the Li- berian masses in their struggle against the vicious system of colonial plunder, but for support of the corrupt native government of Liberia, which is the local watch- dog of foreign imperialism. In the confidential prospectus of his plan, sent out by Jones, this fact is made very clear. The American Negroes are to raise money “to assist the Liberian government in its present financial difficulties.” The Amer- ican Negroes are also to exert pres- sure on the American government to modify the terms of its loans to Liberia. No question is raised of the right of American imperialism to force these plunderous loans upon Liberia and to demand pay- ment of interest out of the blood and sweat of the native toilers. No question is raised of the right of Harvey Firestone to take for him- self the tribal lands, or to turn into serfs on his rubber plantations the former owners of those lands. The sponsors of the plan never for a moment question the right of American imperialism to be slave- holder-in-chief of the Liberian masses. The Native Government In Jones’ prospectus, Liberia is characterized as the “last strong- hold of Negro freedom,” whose “in- tegrity and freedom is being men- aced by England and France.” The League of Nations Plan of Assist- ance, according to Jones, if carried through, would make Liberia a vir- tual mandate territory of British and French imperialism. What is the present status of Li- beria? What is the role of the native Barclay government, for which Jones seeks support? Upon examination, we find that this so-called “Independent Repub- lic of Liberia,” this “last stronghold of Negro freedom,” is in reality a virtual colony of U. S. imperialism. American imperialism, represented by the Harvey Firestone interests, dominates the main economic and ® Would Rouse Support! \Zinaneial resources of the country. The economic and political grip upon the Liberian people by Amer- ican finance capital was cinched in 1925, through the robber agree- ment concluded between the Li- berian government and the Harvey Firestone corporation. By the terms of this agreement, Liberia was def- initely reduced to the status of vas- sal state of Wall Street. The Harvey Firestone corporation secured a million acres of rubber-producing land. Land which would yield a crop of 250,000 tons of rubber a year, has been stolen from the na- tives and leased for the ridiculous price of six cents an acre. $5,000,000 At 7 Por Cent This outrageous robbery was car- ried through in the name of “de- veloping the economic resources of the country, civilizing the natives” and all the rest of the humanitar- jan claptrap is calculated to serve as moral justification of imperialist plunder. But this is not all. The Harvey Firestone corporation, through its agent, the American Finance Corp. of New York City, wth the help of the native ruling clique, forced a loan of $5,000,000 upon Liberia, at 7 per cent interest! As security for this loan, Harvey Firestone de- manded and received control of the customs and internal revenue of the country. According to the terms of the agreement, half of this sum was to be expended for construction of railways, roads, im- provement of the harbor at Mon- rovia, and public works, These “improvements” are obviously for the purpose of facilitating imperial- ist exploitation of the rubber mo- nopoly by Harvey Firestone. The other half of the loan was to be used to pay off “certain outstanding debts,” which are none other than the international loan forced upon Liberia by American and British Dankers at the instance of Wall Street as early as 1912. | The carrying through of this rob- ber projéct has been necessarily ac- companied by the wholesale expro- priation of native tribal lands, which have been turned over to Harvey Firestone. The natives have been forcibly ejected from their Jands, have been converted into colonial wage-slaves on the planta- tions of Harvey Firestone at wages of a few cents a day. In this imperialist banditry, the Liberian governing classes, repre- sented at present by the Barclay government, have been the main instrument of the Wall Street pi- rates, A number of uprisings on the part of the natives in resist- ance to this naked robbery, have been brutally suppressed by the Li- berian military constabulary. The role of this native governing clique as we stated in our first article— has been that of local policeman, Slave-driver, land-thief and re~ cruiter of forced labor for Amer- ican and other interests in Liberia, It is in this manner that American imperialism, operating through a band of currupt native bourgeois Politicians, was able to secure a Stranglehold over the resources of the country and reduce the vast majority. of its native population to downright colonial slavery. Natives Become Firestone’s Slaves ; U.S. Imperialism’s Slave Rule Jones’ Liberia Plan f | Plan Meant to Tighten Firstone’s Power Over Natives presents as the “last stronghold of Negro freedom.” It is this govern- ment, this band of corrupt politi- cans, these murderers of the Liber- jan people, which Jones presents as @ progressive force. It is these peo- ple whom Jones would have the American Negroes support, with their few hard-earned pennies! Liberia’s Slaves Rebel Jones speaks of a “grave impend- ing emergency” confronting Liberia. We admit the situation is grave— grave for the Wall Street bandits and their native puppets. This “emergency” situation is occasioned by the growing militancy of the masses, rebelling against the impe- rialist robbers and their native hangers-on. The colonial slaves of Liberia are awakening, driven to desperation by the ravages of the crisis, and the increased exactions of the slave-drivers. They are rising in revolt. It is this situation which has pre- cipitated a crisis of the Liberian ruling-class, who are now forced to carry out their part of the robber agreement in face of the growing resistance of the masses, who in this situation find it increasingly diffi- cult to meet the demands of Fire- stone and the bankers, and to carry out its role as overseer for Harvey Firestone. The Barclay government, caught between the upper and nether millstones of rising mass re- volt, and the demands of its shylock masters, Wall Street and Firestone, is attempting to maneuver in order to preserve its corrupt rule. Funds to Crush Resistance In this, the Barclay government has sought to use the conflict of interests between Wall Street impe- rialism on the one hand, and Brit- ish and French imperialism—repre- sented in the League of Nations— on the other. However, the League was unwilling to risk the displeasure of the American government on this matter, Thus the League of Na- tions Plan of Assistance to Liberia, finally worked out by the League's Liberian Commission, supports the claims of American imperialism and Harvey Firestone. Now the Barclay government, de- feated in this maneuver, turns again to Wall Street and Harvey Firestone. The essence of Mr. Jones’ plan is to secure support for the Barclay government of imperialist lackeys, to help it negotiate terms with Wall Street—in other words, to help it bolster up its tottering rule, to help iticrush the rising resistance of the Liberian toilers. It is for this that Mr. Jones and his friends would raise finances among the Negro masses. It is for this that he essays the role of medi- ator between the Barclay govern- ment in its reactionary bargaining with American imperialism and Har- vey Firestone. It is for this ‘that he proposes his “committee of prom- inent Negro citizens” to intercede with President Roosevelt. (Concluded Monday) Yat-sen’s declaration for a national armed struggle against Japanese invasion? Will Take Up Mme. Sun’s Appeal A. I have not heard about it. Would you give me some informa- tion? {After reading the newspaper clippings, which C. M. Yim handed to him, General Tsai said:] I will study carefully the content and probably issue a statement in the Chinese papers. Q. Will you send a circular tele- gram, if you agree with Mme, Sun Yatsen’s proposals? A, Yes. By the way, I just want to tell you that I have just eceived a few telegrams. from other cities urging me to’ endorse Mme. Sun’s proposals. Q. Will you persuade the Chi- nese masses in America who are under your influence to cooperate | with us and to establish a power- ‘ful united front against Japanese imperialism and for the salvation of China. A. I will try my best to do it. Q. Can we publish today’s inter- view in Chinese and American papers? |A. Yes, you can summarize the most important points and do so. nahn Sass) organizations, as well as individuals favoring the liberation of China, are urged to send letters to General Tsaj Ting Kai, Hotel Waldorf As- toria, to sign the declaration proposed by Madame Sun Yat Sen and endorsed by 3,000 prominent Chinese men and women for an armed struggle against Japanese imperialism and to retrieve Manchuria.) Tt is this Liberia, which Jones} (All workers and anti-imperialist ; Fifticth Street and Park} Avenue, New York City, urging him | | On the {World Front By HARRY GANNES. | Anti-War Action in Italy |“A True Communist: Leader” Sove Gramsci! | {ROM Italy, the usual caply |4 talist press cables consist of two varieties. First thera jare the speeches of Mussolinf jwhich give the world just |what fascism wants it te know.’ And then there ard | the putrid social notes of the arise |tocracy. The first, because in thia | period. of war preparations they | hide very little about Mussolini’d idea on war, are usually published | by the capitalist newspapers; Thd |sociak notes of the Italian tocracy are so putrid eve | tabloid gutters won't touch | But what the workers and ants are doing, the growing of resistance to Fascism, are pletely tabu. Mussolini, been in power longer, has less di culty with the foreign correspo. dents. Most of them are subsidize ! |by the Fascist Party, either directs lly or indirectly, as revealed George Seldes, himself a foreigi correspondent, ee tan UST as there is in existence Runa, the revolutionary pres¢ service, with its intricate and | widespread connections throughout Germany, and the Chinese Work |ers Correspondence, with its foroeg jall over China, including Sovief |China, there is “L'Informazio | Italiana, Servizio Stampa,” iss |in Paris by the United Anti-Fascist Front. What appears in this press ser« vice from Fascist Italy nevet reaches the pages of the capitalisy press. We read recently, for ex« ample, of Mussolini’s speech to 5,000 officers on the necessity of preparing for the war of today But the revolutionary activity going on among the rank and file of thd sailors and soldiers of the Fascist army is not reported. . woe IE latest release of “L’Informag zione Italiana” relays to us thd following: “News has been received from the Province of Puglia (where the anti-Fascist actions are the strongest) of serious events which occurred in the military port of Taranto. “A sailor having been surprised in the company of one of the Communist, Voccoli’s sons a gorup |of 0. V. R.A. agents (fascist secret political police) went on board the warships anchored in the port, After an elaborate search, the police arrested several sailors, an officer and a non-commis- sioned officer. It is reported that Communist leafiets and pamph- lets have been found in posses- sion of the sailor who had been seen with Voccoli,... After vain attempts of the uncle of the sailor to get news of his fate, rumors that the young man had been shot were circulated in the town of Turanto. This is the way Fascism usually deals with Com- munist sailors and soldiers.” ae ¢ IN THE southern part of the same province of Puglia, numerous anti-Fascist demonstrations have been held, with the munition work- ers taking the leading part. Over 250 arrests were made following a demonstration against Mussolini’s threats and preparations for war. Among those arrested were arsenal workers, bricklayers, fishermen, & lawyer, a civil engineer and s0 on, All were transferred to the torture chambers of Bari, Some were re- leased but were dogged night and day to try to ferret out their con- nections, BS eR yer as Hitler is trying to tortura Ernst Thaelmann to death, Mus- solini is pursuing the same aim towards A, Gramsci, leader of the Italian proletariat, who has been suffering in Fascist dungeons since November; 1926, and is sentenced to 21 years’ imprisonment. Comrade Gramsci is in a serious physical condition. Professor Arcangell, from his clinic in Rome, after examing Gramsci, writes: “In the present conditions, Gramsci will not live to the end of his term of imprisonment. I con- sider it necessary for him to be removed from prison and placed in a hospital or -be given conditional freedom.” eA Mee te ‘HE reason that the Italian bourgeoisie strives toe murder Comrade Gramsci was openly stated by the General Prosecutor of the Special Fascist Court of Italy when he said: “Gramsci is the leader of the Communist Party ... Gramsci is the soul of the whole movement. It is he who outlines the path of the Party; he was the central fig- ure during the occupation of the factories and works. . . Gramsci’s activity—is the activity of a true Communist Party leader.” tne ea hie Communist Party of Italy is making an appeal to militant workers and anti-fascists every- where to raise their voice against the deliberate murder of Comrade Gramsci, whom his bitterest enemies recognize as a stalwart revolution- ary fighter and leader. “We must snatch Gramsci—the leader of the Italian proletariat— from the clutches of the hangman | Mussolini!” declares another appeal from the International Red Aid. “We must also win freedom for the heroic Swiss revolutionary, Hoff- meier, for the anarchist Luzetti, the the reformist, Pertina, and the | thousands of other militants suffer- ing in the Italian jails. “We must strengthen the inter- national campaign for the liberation of Gramsci. Thaelmann, Rakosi end the many thousands of other pris- oners of capital. “The liberation of Dimitroff has proved to us ‘hat by mass action we can triumph fascism! To work.” Ht iS