Page 6 — Saturday, December 16, 1944 An American officer, right, seems to be shouting orders to these Yank fighters battling the Nazis, while U.S. gunners fire their mortar in a smoke-filled street in Hoven. Latvian Marathon Champion Rescues Riga Jewish Prisoners A BtTSUR MOTMILLER, Latvian champion marat Jews during the German occupation of Riga. By M. DOLGOPLOV hon runner, saved the lives of seven He hid his friend Emanuel Yeruch- manov in a secret passage, keeping it secret even from his wife. With thousands of other Jews, Yeruchmanoy was thrown into a concentration camp. But Motmil- ler to whom Hitlerite propaganda of racial hatred and Judophobia is as alien as it is to the majority cf the Latvian population, was determined at all cost to save his friend. When rumors began to be cur- rent in the town that the Ger- mans were preparing a new mass execution of the Jews, Motmiller lost no time to get to the camp, this time not to bring fod to Yeruchmanoy but to rescue him from the camp. The guards knew him well. Indeed he had come so often “to give off things to be repaired by Jewish artisans in the camp” as he had always told the guards. Once again he suc- ceded in outwittinge them and rescuing his friend. : He brought Yeruchmanov to a cellar on Christianbaron Street, which he had rented as a shop for the repairing of kitchen uten- sils and bicycles. In a wall of the cellar he had built a secret pasage, camouflaging it well, and here jin a dark narrow passage Yeruchmanoyv spent 14 months. When at the end of October I was in Riga and Motmiller showed me around his “shop” If tried in vain to find the secret passage. Yeruchmanoy himself stepped over to a shelf laden With old broken utensils and re- moving three boards pushed open a narrow door holding up a HAst. 0340 766 E. Hastings Hastings Steam Baths Vancouver, B.C. Always Open. Expert Mas- seurs in Attendance 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.—40c and 50¢ searchlight for me. With great difficulty I pushed through the door and found myself in a secret passage. On the floor I saw a narrow mattress and right above it on a small shelf a radio. On the opposite wall was a map all marked up. e BOUT a month before the Red Army took Riga, Mot- miller brought to the shop six more Jews who had no longer anywhere to hide. “We made place for them all,” said Yeruchmanoyv. “We would take our sleep in turns and at the least sound would rush to the hideout and stand there huddled together waiting and listening. The five Ritov brothers and the technician Hitzen were here with me. “Soon we learned that Hitler- ites were holding up people on the streets and shipping them off be shipped to Germany. “Now you'll be fighting for your cham- Pionship in Germany,’ the police said to him sarcastically. But Motmiller outwitted the guards and fled from the port. “Several days before the Red Army entered Riga we heard dis- tant sounds of artillery fire. But on the thirteenth of October when the rumbling of tanks came over our heads we could no longer remain in our hideout. We rushed to the streets to greet our liber- ators. Soon Motmiller came run- ning to us. We embraced and kissed, crying with joy and hap- piness.” Yeruchmanoy broke off “and then added sadly: “I went home only to learn what I had feared to admit to myself, that my en- tire family had been murdered by the German fascists.” ‘Underground Active In Nazi Wehrmacht By ANNE KELLY By Wireless te Allied Labor News LONDON.— (ALN) — A German underground ment, organized among anti-Hitler forces in the Nazi © of occupation in France, Holland, Belgium and Lusen is nOW Operating on German soil and is working actively | in the Wehrmacht, -Allied Labor News learned recently. News of this movement, called the Free Germany Committee . for the West, arrived in London from France, and today this corre- spondent saw written proof of its strength and achievements in a remarkable exhibition of illegal soldiers’ newspapers, surrender- ed passports, leaflets and poc- ket-size handbills. : The story of this underground movement, which supports a pol- icy of unconditional surrender, started in 1940. Funds for illegal propaganda inside~barracks, can- teens and other army buildings were raised by “requisitions” from the Wehrmacht’s funds by sympathetic soldiers. German opponents of Hitler living underground in France, Holland, Belgium and Tuxem- bourg made contact with each other, with’ members of the Wehrmacht and later with Ger- man underground forces within the Reich. They also contacted the French resistance movement which initiated a section known as the T.A. (Travail Allemand) composed of Germans and others who had access to the German military apparatus. UNDERGROUND PAPERS In 1941, the TA. had 400 workers outside the Wehrmacht, With underground papers called passes Sasi eeUee sts retiscisitestiecsccetceretterceteertiter titty iti PATRONIZE GREEN GOLD GRILL For Delicious STEAKS and SPAGHETTI Our speciality . . . prepared by Famous Chefs. Large booths for private parties. 242 E. Hastings, Tel. PA. 3935 PeSSSETETIITCAESTIST Eire ttieereceteccreretetetrireititititiitiirs -able increase in the pace « Soldier in the West, circ’ in northern France, Trui: culating in the low countri: Soldier in the Mediterrar southern France. In No. 1943, the Free Germany | tee for the West held a= meeting of adherents both and outside the German 4a France, which led to a ec Nazi propaganda within #]\, man army. Barly this year, the ¢ ; was distributing 200,000 of leaflets, newspapers an — phiets monthly. The fir: Germany sgsuerrilla detac —composed mainly of 1 soldiers who deserted and the Maquis—-was forn southern France. (Sever tachments of these gv took part in the libera — Paris. When the Germa ™ withdrew, the Free G committee sent all its n within the Wéhrmacht 7° Germany to continue thei ties. 4 _ VANCOUVER Lowest Priv Army and Navy will knowingly be undersol will meet any compe. } price at any time, no ceiling prices but floor and we will gladly refur difference. Army and prices are guaranteed the lowest in Vancou | all times. Army & Ni DEPARTMENT STC | Vancouver and Ne Westminster WEST END BRANCH LABOR-PROGRESSIVE PAT VESASUATASRASUGUSUESUAESIARNATIALILATEF LATEST SAT ESLER TAEREREEIUTAAASLAELETIESERUILIATIIAIITIL peeettivestinisterreriitn j CHRISTMAS BASKET SOCIAL - 1232 Davie Street _ December 23rd, 1944; 9 p.m PRIZES ADMISSION 25 CED G ~¥ to Germany by force. And one Greetings .. . day when Motmiller failed to ap- from pear as usual we realized that ss P. TOSI & GO. &é a 5 = 79 something dreadful must have Importers of : Convention Highlights happened to him. We were not re Nite rouve Oi : : mistaken. Motmiller was ar- am ancy Groceries e rested and taken to the port to \Loebao2e Main St. PA. Bie®)) G =) Chinese School of Language New classes to start January 8. Enroll now. Class limited to 15 only. Simplified method under the tutorship of Mor Cheolin, native teacher. No worry about pronunciation, you can learn as easily as other students. See or write us today for fur- ther details, 207 West Hastings St., Vancouver, B.C.; MA. 7632. LET A UNION MAN HELP YOU With Your Insurance Needs Nothing too large or too small Phone PA. 6526 or Write e@ MARSHALL A. JOHNSON 791 Dunsmuir Street Vancouver, B.C. ‘(An active members of the United Office and Profes- sional Workers of America, C.1.0.) aS eZ, 22 FIBA... —-Ferous MeKei Provincial Party Leader CJOR 6:45 p.m. MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1944