prise attack on the Fascist artillery. Their reckless daring proved suc- 
cessful. The Fascists, taken unaware, fled in panic, abandoning their 
three field guns, much ammunition and the machine guns protecting 
their position. 
At Belchite they were outstanding again, blasting their way in record 
time from one stronghold to another. In their last campaign with the 
XV Brigade the Dimitrov Battalion fought with characteristic cou- 
rage and skill. In their ranks are men of outstanding accompl- 
ishment, men like Fonda Kobilak, Slava Tichy, Knessel, Battalion Com- 
missar Kagan, Capt. Smorcka, Lieut. Prohaska. Their commander 
throughout the greater part of their association with the XV Brigade 
was Chapaiev, affectionately nicknamed thus after the great guerilla 
leader of one of the first Red Army forces in the Russian Revolution. 
The Dimitrovs’ Chapaiev was born in Hungary in 1899. His 
parents. were Socialists. In 1919 and 1920, he took part in the rising 
against foreign intervention in his country. He saw fighting on the 
Czech front, and later, after the Armistice on the Rumanian front. He 
was section leader and subsequently liaison officer. 
After the fall of the Hungarian Commune, he was arrested and 
condemned to fifteen years imprisonment. He escaped after 10 months 
imprisonment to Czechoslovakia. The Horthy reaction demanded his 
extradition. He was in prison for three years in constant danger of 
death. 
He arrived in Spain with the first batch of Volunteers, in Septem- 
ber 1936. In a week he was on the Talavera front in charge of machine 
guns. In November he was at University City, and three days later 
he was appointed Commander of the Third Company of the Racozy 
Battalion. He has a scar on his left arm as a souvenir of those days. 
In January he was again at the front as Commander of the Edgar 
Andre Battalion. From February onwards he was with the Dimitrovs 
in the XV Brigade. 
Before their departure the Dimitrovs were addressed by Lieut.-Colo- 
nel Copic, many of whose countrymen and close comrades served in their 
ranks, and who himself had always a close association with their Battal- 
ion. In words charged with emotion, he recalled their achievements, 
thanked them for their services in the Brigade, and bade them good luck 
in the battles of the future. 
It was a touching yet proud ceremony which concluded with cheers 
for Spain and for the anti-Fascist cause, and personal farewells between 
the men who were leaving and their comrades of a year’s battles. 

M. A. 

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