Long Voyage Home

One hundred and thirty Russians, onetime members of Loyalist Spain's International Brigade, were freed last week from an internment camp just outside Algiers. After four years of political prisons, they were headed for home and service in the Red Army.

When Loyalist Spain collapsed, the Russians, with scores of comrades in arms, escaped to France and were interned by the Blum Government. When France collapsed too, the Brigadists were shipped off to North Africa and a prison camp at Delfa, on the edge of the Sahara 150 miles south of Algiers. There, on a few crusts of bread a day, smuggled-in newspapers and secret political classes, the Brigadists kept body and ideology together. When they heard of the Allied landing on Nov. 8, they expected immediate release. Instead, an Inter-Allied Commission was set up to investigate political refugees.

The commission moved slowly. Spaniards, the largest group, were first on its list. The commission offered the Spaniards a choice of: 1) going to Mexico; 2) joining British pioneer outfits; 3) working on labor projects. The Poles came next. According to the story told by the interned Russians, a Polish government representative visited the Poles and offered to take them into the Polish Army if they weren't Jews and if they agreed to fight "against Stalin, if necessary."

The Russians Waited. Later in the winter a member of the Inter-Allied Commission visited the camp at Delfa, was shocked by the filth, the coverless straw pallets, the crusts of bread. He promptly got supplies from U.S. quartermasters. British soldiers pitched in and built a new internment camp for the Russians just outside Algiers.

While the Russians were fattening up again and holding new political classes, two government agents from Moscow arrived in Algiers to check their records. That was about May 1. At the same time, another group of Russians, miles to the east in Tunisia, was trying to escape from the German Army. When German morale began to collapse, the Russians, in small groups, seized the rifles of their guards, changed their rags for German uniforms, escaped to the American lines.

At the refugee camp, a wild meeting followed. Professional Army men embraced the amateur fighters from Spain. The Red Army men brought songs that were new to the Brigadists. Soon all were singing My Moscow.

Farewell Party. The Russians gave a farewell party at their camp last week. TIME Correspondent Jack Belden, who attended, cabled this report:

"I asked one of the Russians who spoke English what he thought of the political situation in Algiers. 'We used to think it was very bad,' he said. 'Americans had come here mainly to do business. It is better now, but it could be improved a lot, especially the attitude of the Americans.'

"A minute later he said: 'You surprised me by asking that question.'

"I asked him why.

" 'Americans generally do not show any political interest at all,' he explained. 'When we came here we met American soldiers and were astounded by their ignorance. We have been shut up from the outside world for four years, but we knew more of what is going on in Europe than they did. Even the lowliest peasant knows more of what this war is about than the American soldiers we have met. The people in Europe seem to know what they are fighting for, and they are at least partially politically educated. The British soldiers we have met are not so far advanced in their thinking as the people on the Continent, but they have much greater understanding of the issues at stake than your soldiers.' He shrugged. 'Perhaps it is because you have always been such a rich country.'

"I went into the tent that was used as a clubroom. Posted on a bulletin board was a slogan which an American consular official interpreted for me: WHEN ON LEAVE IN ALGIERS BEHAVE AS A SOVIET CITIZEN. There were also pictures of Soviet industries and Red Army tanks. The captain of the Brigade and the head of the camp explained: 'We got them from LIFE Magazine. They were the first pictures of Russia we had seen in many years.' Farther down on the board was a soldier's essay on his experiences while on leave in Algiers. His story ended with a plea: 'I don't want to see any more Josephine Bakers. Let's go home.'

"I asked the captain: 'What is the first thing you'll do when you get home?' His answer was prompt: 'Apply to join the Red Army and drink vodka with my friends.'

"I stayed around for a few Russian farewell songs, then started back by car to Algiers. In the car with me was a U.S. Air Forces colonel. Said he: I can't understand how a motley crew like that would go and get themselves mixed up in a crazy civil war in Spain.' "

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