Five thousand soldiers and sailors many risking everything by disobeying their reactionary commanders wrote a new page in the history of the Portuguese revolution last Thursday. Heading a demonstration of" 50,000, they succeeded in freeing two of their comrades who had been jailed for distributing the manifesto of the revolutionary soldiers movement, 'Soldiers United Will Win' (SUV).
Things had been moving over the previous few days. A thousand automatic weapons disappeared from a barracks, and a fugitive army captain later announced that he had handed them over to revolutionary workers and peasants'. In the regihood conmissions they first took over the Tagus toll-bridge - allowing motorists to go through tree and then took over the State radio station to broadcast their demands.
IMPRISONED
Meanwhile two soldiers at the infantry training school at Mafra, near Lisbon, had been imprisoned on 20 September for distributing the SUV manifesto. Their comrades had refused to parade when they heard the news, heading instead for the barracks to free them. But they had already been transferred to the Trafaria military camp.
The demonstration called by SUV missions, supporters of the parties Front. Half an hour later the first soldiers and sailors started to arrive in large, disciplined groups to enthusiastic shouts of Portugal will not be the Chile of Europe ting soldiers and workers, and we eventually move off. The demonices of Republica and then Radio Renascenca, and each time the crowd voices its deatening support for the occupying workers against back to their owners. same time the march is incredibly disciplined: each time we approach stration is routed to go past the offGovernment attempts to hand them But at the a hospital the shouts die down, until all that can be heard is the tramp of APPLAUSE Eventually the march arrives at DolICy.
surrounding banks and lawns. Huge message of support from 40 barracks Then an officer Das/s The response from the crowd is Minutes later, we are on our sion); 1. 'Soldiers United Will Win' (SUV) is a united anti-capitalist and ant imperialist front which appears at a time when fascist reaction is once more organising, using the hesitations and divisions introduced among the workers, as well as the policy of governments which have been unable or unwilling to deteno une just demano. of the workers and peasants - of whom we, the soldiers, form a part.
2. On several occasions already we have made concessions to the bourgeoisie, particulariv in subordinating our struggle to the alliance with the MFA, an officers movement which as a result of its cont radictions and vacillations in the past is today following a counter-revolutionary This has led not only to the apathy and hostility or important layers or the population (notably our peasant brothers), but also to the demoralisation of numerous fighters in our ranks and a general sluggisnness in tne race of the reactionary offensive inside and outside the barracks.
The SUV has as its aim the unleashing of an independent offensive on a class soldiers from the RALOQ Regiment volunteering to man the first one because "we know the commandos well and will talk to them before they get near. (As for the fusiliers, we later learn that they refused to leave their barracks on such a mis everyone waits. But meanwhile the walkie-talkies are buzzing. Carvalho, is contacted. Suddenly over the megaphones comes the announcement everyone has been waiting for: "The commandos have turned back; Carvalho has ordered the release of our comrades! Not that he had much choice in the matter.
Two huge ribbons of linked arms extend a quarter of a mile up the
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NO PANIC When we get to Trafaria, however,
MEGAPHONE There is an astonishing calm as