taken from the book "TheAvengers ofTragic Patagonia" ofOsvaldo Bayer.
For narrative reasons' some ofthe facts' names and ranks han been altered.
Buenos Aires' January 1923
REBELLION IN PATAGONIA
Son of a bitch!
Río Gallegos' 3 years before
Things have to be said without mincing words' comrades.
Hotel owners are all a bunch of exploiters.
Yes! Despicable exploiters!
The waiters and kitchen staff of Hotel Argentino...
work from 6 in the morning through to midnight.
And for that they pay us a miserable 80 pesos!
And anyone who dares to look askance at it' is fired...
and isn't able to get work in any other hotel.
There are two alternatives' comrades:
Either die of hunger or kowtow to them.
We have to fuel the fire' comrades!
There's no chance ofwinning here: I demand that the Federation...
calls a strike in the hotels.
Because otherwise' we'll do justice with our own hands...
and not an exploiter will be left with a head in all of Río Gallegos.
Starting with my boss' the bloodsucker Carballeira.
One moment' comrades! Wait a moment.
Permission to speak. Go on.
You're right" but we must be disciplined.
If hotels have to be burnt' we'll burn them'
but it must be by a majority resolution.
Because there are two fundamental words that shouldn't be forgotten...
in union anarchy: Discipline and Organization.
Comrade Graña.
Comrades' the time has come for plain speaking.
The issues about...
organization and discipline you've been listening to'
leave out human values.
Speak plainly' then.
OK' but say once and for all.
Do you agree with the hotel strike? Yes or no?
Comrade Secretary General'
you're restricting me in my turn to speak.
You're right' comrade. But be concrete' please.
I'm being asked for definitions here'
but I'm replying that before a strike...
it's preferable to know where the individual's going.
Whatthe revolution is for.
Well said Kropotkin that revolutions...
Comrade Graña' we'll discuss that in the ideology lessons.
Right now we're dealing with the hotel staff strike.
Begging your pardon.
Comrade Danielewski reports now.
Comrades' I have to denounce the Hotel España...
which pays Chilean workers halfwages...
justfor being Chilean.
We cab drivers...
inform the Federation of our solidarity...
with the strike' by not driving a single passenger...
to the hotels! Not one!
- Strike! - Yes' Strike!
I want to tell you' that I've come from Puerto Santa Cruz...
to bring you the solidarity ofthe stevedores'
- ... waiters and wagoners. - Well done' comrade!
And to inform you that if you declare a strike'
we will also stop work in the hotels of Puerto Santa Cruz.
Long live the comrades of Santa Cruz! Hurrah!
- Long live anarchy! - Hurrah!
Comrades... Comrades...
Comrades'
Patagonian exploiters...
value men less than mules or packhorses'
since today one worker is replaced by another...
without any cost.
- Well said. - Very well said.
We're workers from all parts ofthe world.
Isn'tthat so' German?
Eh' Poles?
And you' Chilean comrades.
And we are here' united by solidarity.
Today that solidarity is called:
Support forthe comrades hotel workers.
I ask' then...
for us to vote for the strike for an indeterminate time'
until we win.
I would say' my friend' what we need now...
is a bit of organization.
Nearly all the landowners are with us.
That's good. I'm glad.. For ifthe workers unite...
No' no' no. Athrust is needed.
Someone directing.
Who directs and knows how to defend our interests.
What do you think' my friend?
We need a manager for our organization.
Finding one in Río Gallegos will be hard.
No' no. We've already found him.
And he's very near.
Here' atthis table.
You' Méndez Garzón.
But' sirs' are you forgetting that I'm the Governor ofthe territory?
Whatwould they say in BuenosAires? Imagine'
Governor of Santa Cruz and Manager ofthe Rural Society.
Don't you think there's an incompatibility?
Do you think so?
From both jobs you will have a better perspective.
What's more' think of yourfuture.
Public office is very unstable.
You're a Conservative' the National Government is Radical.
Gentlemen' I would like to thank you for your presence in my house.
Thank you' Carballeira' we are in solidarity with the only hotel...
- ... which managed to scorn the strike. - Thank you.
And how did you achieve it?
Well' quite simply' with people of goodwill'
with responsible workers.
Out! Out! Scabs! Blacklegs!
I'll kick your arse!
Look what you've done! Look!
- Look at that pan! - Get out!
- Out! - Let me be' comrade.
- I have seven kids. - That's nonsense.
Leave everything' we'll help you.
Come on! Be off! Out!
See' German'
that's what I'm lacking.
Awoman.
A companion.
Of bourgeois upbringing' as Graña would say.
But you won't deny that a good pair...
Awoman!
To love. To love her well.
Damn it' how nice!
One thing' orthe other.
Come on' old man'
Because I had one' I know what I'm saying.
First itwas ideas...
and love.
Then when the kids came...
and jail.
Lookwhat I gave her, poor thing.
My times in jail...
and the kids going hungry.
- Did you leave them in Germany? - Yes.
With the promise to bring them over soon to enjoy the freedom'
ofjustice!
You certainly chose well.
Even in the uttermost corner there's egoism' exploitation.
You thought you were coming to paradise?
Look' I'll join you in the fight until we win'
and then' go to live with my own ones in earthly paradise'
far away from men.
And where's that?
Listen' I'm only telling itto you.
Among forests and mountains'
by Lago Argentino.
- Blood sucker! - Criminal!
- Bastard! - Exploiter!
Comrades' make way!
- Bloodsucker' slave-driver. - Exploiter.
Gentlemen... Gentlemen' I'm here on the advice ofthe Judge...
to settle this dispute.
A legitimate weapon ofthe workers.
- Yes' yes' apologize. - Notto us.
The ones you should apologize to are the workers...
you fired.
The comrades.
What's more' they must be paid the wages owing up to today.
And deposit in the Workers' Society 1'500 pesos as a fine' sir.
1'500?
As a fine?
Yes. For legal damages.
For the cost of organizing the boycott against you'
printing offlyers and moral damages.
The staffwages.
- Good! - Well done' comrade!
- 1'500 pesos! - Bravo!
- Good! - Bravo!
chlldren ofthe people chaln oppress you
and that Injustlce cannotcontlnue.
Ifyourexlstence Is a world oftroubles,
I'd soonerdle than slavery.
Those bourgeols, so selflsh,
who thus desplse Humanlty.
They shallbe sweptaway by anarchlsts
to the strldentshout offreedom.
Red flag, sufferno more,
exploitatlon mustsuccumb.
Rlse up, loyalpeople,
to the shout ofsoclalrevolutlon.
Dlgnlty, Is not to be asked,
only unity can demand It.
Ourshlelds you shallnot smash.
clumsy bourgeols, get back! Get back!
Comrades. Comrades
Comrades' with this money...
we'll be able to buy one ofthe most-prized weapons...
of unionist anarchy.
- A printing press! - Very good!
A printing press to clarify things for our rural comrades...
and so thatthe ignominy of exploitation is ended.
Comrades.
don't think that ranch owners will be convinced by words.
We know it' comrade.
We know that the landowners are very strong and powerful.
But we also know thatwe have the fundamental weapon...
to overcome them. The strike!
- Long live the strike! - Hurrah!
Silence' comrades.
Comrades'
to carry to the final victory...
the black banner of anarchy...
and the red of unionism'
we must start from the bottom.
Comrades' we must affiliate al the rural workers...
to our federation.
Here.
Look' Mr. Soto'
I don't understand anything of politics' but I do try to...
help the rural workers' you can count on me.
I expected no less.
You know that I earn my pesos with my fleet ofwagons.
But I've always been on the side ofthe underlings.
More than once I've been thrashed for demanding fair wages.
That isn'tforgotten.
And when one has to fight' I fight'
that's why I'm called "Facón Grande".
You are a very well-respected man'
that's why we're asking you to go affiliating the rural workers for us.
Certainly. Leave it to me.
Lookfriends' do you know whatthis is?
Here the abuses ofthe bad bosses are denounced.
And you know what you have to do'
join the federation...
and supportthe workers' society which defends you.
Yes' man' which defends you.
From the bosses and from the police too.
And from that bastard of a governor we have.
Come on' we mustn't be afraid.
In this city we have a nest of rats.
Rats who wantto destroy nationality'
nationhood' ownership.
But my friend' don't be scared by those crazy anarchists.
They're nothing more than a bunch of mouthy simpleton Spanish immigrants.
Simpletons? The Russian Revolution was made by simpletons like them.
Remember Lenin himself has to get rid of 20 thousand anarchists.
Go on.
Imagine' sir, if Lenin had killed them all'
whatwould we have to do?
Read. Read the terms carefully.
They don't acknowledge nationhood' frontiers' or anything.
Now they're preparing a tribute to a man who was executed in Spain.
Now that's a provocation. I will not permit excess.
Take care' Governor' I'm warning you that I'll report...
any breach ofthe Law.
Your Honor'
don'tthink you'll intimidate me with your relationship with Yrigoyen.
I too have my friends'
and in more powerful places than the Presidential Palace.
Sir, excuse me but you may not go in.
Do you know what you're doing?
You are lacking respect for my position as Judge!
But' sir' it's an order from the governor.
What governor! Bullshit!
Tell that gentleman to go and govern the Rural Society.
Gentlemen' I'm here in person to advise you of the court's ruling:
The ceremony is permitted'
because it does not break any constitutional...
or legal regulations of the Republic.
Inspector' arrest them all.
And confiscate the Unionist leaflets' newspapers and books.
Come on! Get a move on!
The party's over!
Those of us who were not caught have decided to go to a general strike.
Clearly' we have to paralyze the ports.
And the countryside.
Hello.
Comrade Soto has told us we should turn to you.
That's right.
You three' go to Clark's descent.
You two to' make for La Esperanza.
And us?
Over by El Cifre.
For the strike.
- Good afternoon. - Good afternoon.
Please' gentlemen.
Gentlemen' it is essential that urgent measures are taken.
Nearly all the estancias in the territory...
are paralyzed by the strike.
It can't be that for the sake of those foreign anarchists...
we are all in danger of ruin.
Excuse me' gentlemen. Atelegram from BuenosAires' Mr. Governor.
Excuse me' gentlemen. - Yes.
Traders sort outtheir problems and then sell more'
whereas for us the shearing is held up'
- and the price of wool drops. - Precisely.
Gentlemen'
PresidentYrigoyen orders the immediate release of the detained
and the opening ofthe Workers' Society.
These Radicals don't know whatthey're doing.
They thinkthat by being lenient they'll stop them.
They're dreamers!
We've been setfree thanks to the rural worker comrades.
Now we must fight for them.
We must achieve the first rural workers' agreement.
So they don't carry on living like animals!
...and itwill be presented to the owners.
I'll read it to you.
"List of conditions:
First. Bunks are abolished.
Second. In each house for workers...
there shall be a washbasin to... to...
...to wash themselves.
Third. Lighting shall be provided by the owner.
One packet of candles per month for each worker.
Fourth. Each estancia shall have a first aid kit...
with instructions in Spanish and not in English.
Fifth. Minimum wage for sheep hands' horse hands and herdsmen'
100 pesos. It's fair, notwhat's paid at present.
Sixth. To encourage the increase ofthe population...
preference will be given to workers with families and with children.
Not as at presentwhere only single men are contracted.
Seventh. Landowners must recognize...
as the only organization representing the workers...
the General Workers' Federation of Río Gallegos'
a member ofthe FORA."
That's all.
Mr. Manager, sir, we'd like you to reply to the gentlemen.
The Rural Society will not enter into dealings with an organization...
led by foreigners. On no account.
Neitherwill we discuss the running of our estancias.
That is our business and ours alone.
So'
the rural strike will continue as far as its ultimate consequences.
Let's go.
Firstly' gentlemen' we wantto put your minds at rest.
Although we are far away' our interests are here.
And in Chile' of course.
We are in full agreementwith you.
In BuenosAires we have undertaken extremely important dealings.
And I say extremely important because there is' as intermediary...
the President ofthe Republic.
On the other hand there are the Armour and Swift meat exporters.
Putting pressure on through North American Embassy?
Exactly.
Waiter, please.
But' gentlemen' the most urgent problem is that we have to start...
with the shearing and the workers are still on strike.
My dear friend' don'tforget that we have a few little sheep.
In BuenosAires theAssociation of Free Workers has been constituted'
and they're sending us the first batch of a hundred collaborators.
Strike-breakers!
- Scabs! Blacklegs! - Let's go!
No. Don't shoot to kill' man.
Self defense.
We gotthem scared!
InspectorMlchelll' you are to take 10 gendarmes out there...
and brlng me those crlmlnals underarrest.
The gendarmes!
They'll shitthemselves!
Shoot damn you!
So you're one of those who beats rural workers' are you?
Forwhich land owner do you work?
They've killed Gracián! Michelli' the son of a bitch!
And he fled.
You're not going to escape so easily.
That's how to give it to all these dogs.
Not like that' comrade' he was injured.
Go and heal him' if you can.
This is going from bad to worse' five gendarmes dead.
You have to go and see what's happening.
While the judge tells us one thing' the governor says another.
Santa Cruz is a bag full of cats!
The problem is serious. There are many interests at stake.
There's even pressure from abroad.
I understand' Minister, but'
I'd like to have more precise orders.
You spoke with the President.
Yes' but he limited himself to saying:
"Go' Lieutenant Colonel and do your duty. "
Not a word more' my friend'
go and do your duty.
Mlnlster, slr, I must tell YourExcellency
thatI've found here that those responslble...
for the chaotlc sltuatlon In the terrltoryofSanta cruz...
are the authorities themselves.
And thatthe police can be classified...
as appalling.
The rural worker is exploited in the most primitive manner.
He is paid with checks or vouchers' which he has to exchange...
in the shops or stores ofthe same companies that employ them.
Without exaggerating' I must say...
that after having worked for a year'
he leaves as poor as when he started.
This' Minister, is one of the origins of the strikes...
of a revolutionary nature'
and the cause of hatred towards society.
- Does it seem reasonable' Soto? - Yes' sir,
butwe can't make any decision...
until Facón Grande returns from El Deseado.
Tomorrow' no?
Whatwe cannot accept' sir, is handing over our weapons.
Butwhy not' Schultz? Tell me why.
How can we be expected to hand in our weapons? It's preposterous!
But most of them have been stolen from the estancias.
Confiscated' Your Honor. Confiscated.
I think it's enough that we hand over the hostages...
and call off the strike.
Appreciate the importance' gentlemen.
Itwould be the first agreement for rural workers in Patagonia.
Sir, we will abide by our comrades' decision.
The assembly Is soverelgn.
45 days of strike' we've won'
and now they want to exchange our weapons for a piece of paper.
Florentino Cuello.
You're not going to tell me' sir, that these are all the weapons?
Don't you worry' Lieutenant Colonel
Sixty-eight and El Toscano' they'll go shooting guanaco in the mountains.
They're not good honest working folk.
Alright' friends' the party's over.
Now you have the agreement you wanted'
now' getto work.
- Traitors! - Madam!
Colonel...
I beg you' Lieutenant Colonel' sirs' accept our apologies and...
forgive the lady.
The thing is we're all very hurt...
by the outcome of your negotiations.
You've handed over the triumph to the bandits.
You don't know what you're saying' Mr. Novas.
You must understand' those of us who work' who live here'
- ... we have the authority to speak. - That's not disputed!
Maybe not yourself' but the others'
those from Buenos Aires' who don't know the provinces'
why don'tthey come and struggle here' in June' with 30 degrees below zero...
and 2 meters of snow?
I beg you to calm down' remember there are also landowners...
who live in London and don't know Patagonia even on the map.
Understand this' Lieutenant Colonel' they've killed gendarmes'
they've setfire to estancias and you reward them giving them an agreement.
- You leave and this will explode. - No.
Ifthe landowners fulfill their part of the agreement'
peace will be definite.
In any case' gentlemen' I've done no more than
carry outthe orders ofthe President.
Good night.
No' comrade' no alcohol in here.
- It's justto counteract the fat. - I beg you.
Alcohol only serves to turn people brutish.
It's a weapon ofthe bourgeoisie.
Have a cup oftea.
You must be kidding' friend. To hell with gringo habits.
Eating mutton with a cup of tea?!
Comrades' the bourgeois reaction has begun.
That bloodsucker Fernández has thrown me out ofthe store'
for being an agitator.
And they've left these comrade waiters of the café "LaArmonía" withoutjobs.
I assume responsibility
for declaring as from now the boycott of Fernández...
and "La Armonía":
- Ready to go? - Yes' sir.
Look.
- Friend. Old Felix' that's all we needed.
I've been replaced as Governor.
But that's absurd!
And' Commander Zavala's reports.
There you have it' that's the peacemaking he's left us.
This will never be sorted out.
Yes it will'
in BuenosAires.
Look here' Felix' as soon as the new Governor arrives'
I'm going to the capital.
Where are you golng wlth parcels and llsts?
ThatI see you In such a hurry.
To the congress ofthe anarchlsts...
to speak and be understood.
Explaln, one moment' ifyou wlll,
anarchlst' whatdoes Itmean?
The Immense common front ofworkers,
who clalm the rlght to llve.
The worker who tolls and sweats,
tellme, how come he can be badly off?
Because the mule whlch eats straw'
carrles the graln foranotheranlmal.
It's strange, butI don't understand,
whatdoesyou new alluslon mean?
That the same thlng Is happenlng...
to the worker with hls output.
That the same thlng Is happenlng...
to the worker with hls output.
That the same thlng Is happenlng...
to the worker with hls output.
And' Mr. Méndez' when will you be traveling?
Nextweek' on the "Asturiano".
Bring the food.
Bring the food!
Serve the table!
Gentlemen' the food is ready'
but not one of us is going to lift a finger.
There is someone seated here who has been boycotted for exploiting'
and you will not be served until that bloodsucker Fernández...
- ... leaves. - But' what are you saying?
- Butthis is outrageous. - There was more!
- Sit down. - You' take a hand in the matter.
This is an insult to the nation...
and to the ladies present here.
Nothing. Nothing! You can stamp with rage' we aren't lifting a finger.
Either the bloodsucker goes or we don't serve!
Gentlemen! Gentlemen' calm down!
What's the problem? We'll serve ourselves.
- How's it going' comrade? - Good to see you.
Well' and how are things going at Paso Ibañez?
Very bad' Mr. Font' sir. Very bad.
They're forcing us to get nasty.
It's the same in Las Heras.
They're saying the same everywhere: "Forgive us' Mr. Font'
but we can't pay the raise. "
It's the order from BuenosAires' from Gallegos' from La Mercantil.
- I don't know what. - Damn it'
they've tricked us with the piece of paper.
That's how it is.
For the moment' in Puerto Santa Cruz...
it's been decided to stop the shearing of the eyes.
Comrades'
I'm deeply grateful to you...
for the post of General Secretary of the Federation'
with which you have just honored me.
With the roads now passable' the news is beginning to arrive.
The landowners are not fulfilling the agreement.
Comrades have to go round the countryside...
and warn the ruralworkers...
so thatnext summer they flnd us ready and wllllng...
to face a flght that cannot be putoffany longer.
- And' German? - Everything's ready.
- Let's go. - Let's go.
Afew minutes of your patience.
There is some news.
The Chilean Embassy is very concerned aboutthis matter.
Anotherfavorable fact. The English representative...
warned the Chancery that another strike...
would damage British interests.
Very good' we're not alone.
What's more' he hinted that in the Falklands'
there are two warships ready for any emergency.
These Radicals are beginning to have problems. Port stoppages'
strikes in La Forestal' internal conflicts in the party'
and as an added extra' the coming presidential elections.
I don'tthink the government wants to complicate things with a new conflict.
Gentlemen' you may go in.
Stop!
Comrades' in Gallegos they've unmasked.
Politicians and exploiters all mixed up in it.
They've started stirring it up.
- Any arrested? - Arrested?
All ofthem!
Comrades' take as delegated the order for a general strike...
to each of the estancias where you work.
We'll respond to the owners' provocation...
with the orders of the organized workers.
Strike!
And form one single great column of protest.
All the columns of strikers must meet at Lago Argentino.
OK' mister' you're facing the Red Council which will make...
the Socialist Revolution in Patagonia.
El Toscano' yours truly' my comrade' No. 68' from Ushuaia'
Frank Cross' cowboy from Arizona'
José Barría' Chilean' but not Chilote [as an insult]'
and Zacarías Caro' Patagonian by adoption.
OK' mister, go handing over all the weapons you have'
money' jewels...
The Red Council greets the striking comrades.
Go on!
You're nothing but bandits!
Scantfavor you're doing to the workers' cause.
The strike has been called to free the detained comrades.
And for the landowners to comply with the agreement.
And that's all!
Alright. But stirring things.
Any gendarme that's found...
And all the cash to buy weapons.
Join us!
Not one of you lot has anything to do with the strike.
This is a genuine workers' movement!
When the strike ends the Workers' Federation...
will pay you for the damages and the provisions.
Now you have to come with us as a hostage.
They'll wipe out the lot of you Let's go.
The situation' Lieutenant Colonel' is much more serious...
than you realized.
The territory is overrun by bandits.
They kill land owners' rape their women.
They say they're going to raise the red flag in the Plaza de Mayo.
The President has decided that you...
shall command the troops once again.
Zavala' you well know the high esteem in which PresidentYrigoyen holds you.
Your responsibility now is greater.
We run the risk of losing the Patagonia.
Think of Chile.
Lieutenant Colonel' we have to finish once and for all...
with these anarchists.
Take them to the room.
Lieutenant Colonel' sir' I'm going to settle the troops.
Go on then.
You arrive and I leave. I've been called to Buenos Aires.
- Indeed! - No problem.
- You'll get it all sorted. - Yes' definitively.
See here' the workers trust you.
The workers have let me down.
Farewell' sir, have a good trip.
The Spaniard Outerello is at Puerto Santa Cruz and Paso Ibáñez.
In the north' José Font' alias Facón Grande'
in control of the Puerto Deseado to Las Heras railway line.
In the foothills of the Andes' the leader Soto.
And somewhere about'
the famous Red Council.
LieutenantArrieta' take a truck' fifteen soldiers'
go out in search ofthe Red Council and on a mission to harass...
the Spaniard Soto.
CaptainArzeno' the big group will begin operations...
clearing up the center and north of the area.
Excuse me' Lieutenant Colonel' sir?
According to the information gathered' each column of strikers...
is four or five times bigger than our troops.
Captain Arzeno' we can't make an academic war here.
The orders we have are perfectly clear,
to utterly destroy the uprising.
Death sentence"
Anyone who resists will be executed.
Without batting an eyelid!
We have to stain the Patagonia with blood.
May no one feel weak...
and may everyone fulfil his duty.
Any questions?
Good.
Lieutenant Colonel' sir'
The gentlemen Matthews and Saunders have asked to accompany us.
They could act as guides.
That's fine.
Very good sir.
Only this way can this land continue being Argentina.
Thank you. Good afternoon.
Lieutenant Colonel' sir.
Avery hard campaign awaits us.
May I give the troops some time off?
Only until 10 p. m.
Tomorrow we rise at 5 a. m.
Excuse me' Lieutenant Colonel' sir.
Mayer' take time off.
I'm told there are very pretty girls here.
Thank you' Lieutenant Colonel' sir.
- Mayer. - Sir.
Are you of German descent or...?
German' Lieutenant Colonel' sir.
A good race' Mayer. Good race.
- Viel Vergnugen. - Danke schön' Herr Obertsleutnant.
Kneel down.
Kneel down!
Order fire.
- Aim! - Aim!
- Fire! - Fire!
The army! Soldiers!
Don't shoot! Don't shoot' it's Zavala!
Bring a sheet.
Flag to discuss peace terms.
Order a cease fire.
We want to tell you...
Take your hat off when you speak to me' eh?
We don'twantto have a confrontation with the army.
All we are asking is that our detained comrades are freed...
and the rural agreement obeyed.
I am here in person so thatthere can be no doubt...
regarding my position'
unconditional surrender...
or the death penalty for all who resist.
We were hoping you had come to see thatthe agreementwas obeyed...
- ... which you yourself signed. - and you lot didn't obey.
- The landowners... - The owners and all of you lot.
All! Look' don'ttalk to me about agreements.
This is all that matters.
Good. With regard to your demand'
we must consult with the ranch delegates.
Wait a moment.
Sirs' we are atwar.
We must act swiftly.
We have to rescue the hostages and save the blood of our soldiers.
And ifwhen these criminals come we receive them with gunfire?
The leaders dead' the Chilean scum will surrender immediately.
If you give the order, Lieutenant Colonel' sir...
But Colonel... What are you doing?
They'll kill us all.
There are many strikers out there.
And I...
I have a family'
three children.
I have six children.
Do you realize' Captain?
Civilians can't be brought in to deal with these things.
It has been decided...
It has been decided to call an assembly.
As from now' we will free the hostages...
to show them that we have nothing against you lot...
and the only thing we ask is justice.
I said unconditional surrender.
You have 2 hours to decide.
And remember, my hand will not tremble.
They won't surrender,
all the worse for them.
And so?
The surrender will be accepted only when freedom is given...
to the strikers and you assure us of fulfillment...
ofthe rural agreement.
Who is he?
The owner of La Barrancosa.
Why did you kill him?
- Itwas the soldiers. - You are the murderers'
because you provoked this situation. Captain' four shots.
What' Lieutenant Colonel' sir?
Fire him four shots!
- Come on... - Sergeant!
Come on' Commander' don'tjoke.
You four' seize him.
You lot' seize the rest.
No! No' no! Let me go!
Zavala! Zavala! No! Please!
Zavala' no' please! Let me go! Let me go! Zavala!
Zavala' please!
- Zavala' please! - Aim!
- Fire! - Zavala' please! No!
"Lieutenant Colonel Zavala disembarked at Gallegos on his way to Deseado. "
Just as well.
The Commander is a guarantee.
- Hurrah for the strike' damn it! - Hurrah!
Down with the exploiters!
Stop this all of you!
I didn't know there were so many thieves amongst you!
Drop everything and get out!
Come on' friend...
Get out' I said!
Alcohol is our worst enemy.
Damn them' they're like priests.
Here you have him Facón' quite tame.
Do you remember when he put you in the stocks?
Goddamn son of a bitch!
I can still feel the lashes you gave me.
No' leave him! He's alone and unarmed.
Remove his badges' he doesn't deserve them' for bad police.
And now let him go.
It's notthe done thing to kick a man when he's down.
Look out! They're gendarmes.
Ready!
It's not the police' it's the army.
Lower your weapons!
Take aim.
Fire!
Withdraw!
All back to the camp!
Mr. friend Martense' how's business?
So-so. With passengers?
No' I'm with my comrade' on Federation business.
Get out of here! Right now!
They're shooting all the Federates!
- Butwho's shooting? - Well who do you think?
Your beloved Zavala.
Butwhere? Who?
Who? Well Ramón's already taken care of.
- Outerello? - The same. As you hear it.
And in Cañadón León' he's left them scattered.
About a hundred are left dead.
Indeed' they make you dig your grave' they can't be bothered even with that.
And when the ground Is hard they make a plle ofyou,
they sprlnkle itwith petrol and then setllght to It.
Dead when attempting to flee: 13.
Excuse me' Lieutenant Colonel' sir?
I need to tell you something.
Isn't it too much punishment for what these men have done?
Do you think I enjoy shooting?
There's not other remedy here.
There are too few of us to dominate them.
In this empty wilderness' the only way is being hard handed.
Last night we took 400 prisoners.
Do you thinkwe're able to keep watch day and night over so many rebels?
We're running the risk now of losing Patagonia.
Think of Chile' Captain. Think of Chile.
They must be scabs' blacklegs. We'll stop them.
Come on!
It's Facón Grande' that's all.
Get ready.
Ready!
- Get ready. - Ready!
Ready!
Quickly!
Aim!
- Aim! - Aim!
Stop!
- Fire! - Fire!
Attack!
Attack. Come on.
Come on! Come on' forward!
Stand up to them!
- To the ground. - To the ground!
Fire!
Attack!
Keep firing' damn it!
Cover him! Cover him!
Stop! Stop firing!
Damn it. Itwas Zavala.
We made him back down.
We made a heck of a mistake.
You're going to worry now?
Let's celebrate!
You're already drunk again' friend.
Don't do thatto me.
Come' Mr. Font' sir' the telegraph.
Facón Grande is receiving.
Put this.
Friend José Font'
Edward Matthews offers himself as a mediator.
Please travel to Jaramillo.
Guarantee offered.
Commander Zavala...
...open to positive solutions.
OK' tell him that I've already set off for there and...
thank the gringo Matthews.
Facón' give yourself up!
I'm here to discuss peace terms with Commander Zavala.
Who wantto talk to me?
Arrest him' for murdering Argentine soldiers.
That's treason!
If you're a man I'll fight you with my hands tied!
Take him away!
I'm Facón Grande's second in command. I'm here to make a pact.
Get down. Come on! Get down!
Wait a minute'
I'm the Gaucho Cuello'
delegate of the Fede...
...ofthe Workers' Federation.
You take care ofthe other one.
Take them away.
Come on. Walk!
Come on!
Get up. Get him up.
Come on' walk.
Walk! Come on!
Come on' look sharp. Justthere. Justthere.
Get ready.
Aim!
You don't kill a gaucho like that!
Fire!
Load.
Come on.
Lieutenant Colonel' sir' we good men have organized ourselves
as a white guard and we're here to offer you our support
That's fine.
You may join the column.
We wantto tell you thatthe Rural Society is to put your name...
forward as military governor of Santa Cruz.
Gentlemen' I'm not guided by any personal ambition.
I'm doing my duty' as I understand I must.
Excuse me' Lieutenant Colonel' sir.
The Red Council.
So you lot wanted to implant socialism in Patagonia.
A good catch' Chief.
A photo for the BuenosAires newspapers.
So the readers find out what these strikers are like.
Letthem see the armbands clearly.
That's it.
I think' friend Zavala' that it would be best to leave these alive'
so that public opinion finds out what the Patagonian reds are like.
Very good' friend Méndez Garzón.
We'll place them at the disposal of the Judge.
Ready' now!
As I feared. When they attacked us as a mob I understood it all.
Antonio' all that's left to us is to fight' confrontthem.
Fight? With these men?
Most ofthem don't even know how to use a weapon.
They must be taught!
Listen' German'
the comrades are already looking at us askance' you know?
They have to be spoken to' prepared.
For two and a half months now we've been out in the countryside.
Sleeping out in the open most ofthe time.
Eating whatever there is. We don't even have tobacco left
Antonio' that's struggling. You have to be organized.
You Spaniards' you talk a lot...
but you're not organized' no discipline. How many weapons are there?
Some fifty rifles and about a hundred revolvers.
Ammunition?
There'd be ten shots per gun.
Enough to hold out.
And when they're all gone?
We'll fight them with knives.
Take aim.
Lower your weapons!
Unload!
Load. Unload.
Good' comrade' and? What are we waiting for?
Tonight's assembly.
No' my people want the assembly right now.
That's no problem.
They're more aroused.
Also' ifthere's no shearing' we'll be spending a hard winter.
We'll do whatthe majority decides.
Because' what this is about here' comrades'
is making humanity understand'
that everything can be achieved through reason and freedom.
Anarchist ideas are the only ones...
Shut up' big mouth!
No' comrade. That's against our principles offreedom.
To interrupt a speech is to cut freedom.
These big mouths talk and talk but we have the troops on top of us.
For they mustbe made to understand, thatweapons are products...
of stupidity and irrationality.
Alright' but cut it out' comrade. We're wasting time.
Everyone here knows thatZavala is camped at Río Perro.
Right here!
So' we have to decide right now whatwe're going to do.
Like what are we going to do' comrade? Resist! Resistwith the weapons!
Or maybe you don't know that the murderer Zavala has killed Ramón Outerello...
and dozens of comrades at Cañadón León?
But where do you get that from? What' did you see it yourself perhaps?
I didn't see it. Butthe person who told me deserves to be believed.
Ah! You didn't see it' you were told' then!
He wouldn't have seen them' but we did see...
how they attacked us without warning and we lost nine comrades there.
I think we mustn't expect mercy'
neither am I prepared to ask it.
Comrade' you've limited me here with my turn to speak.
No' comrade' stop him.
Now it's up to us to talk to the Chilean rural workers.
We don't want any kind of problems...
with the authorities.
The only thing we do want is to be allowed to work in peace.
That we're treated properly and paid as we deserve.
That's why we think...
thatwe ought to go and talk with the military to lift this strike.
Comrades. Comrades!
The only way to win is to fight.
Fightto the last man!
Only one possibility is leftfor us' to resist!
To defend this estancia with trenches...
and turn back those who attack us!
I propose we carry on with out tactics'
occupy ranches and take hostages.
And when the army arrives' disappear.
Hide ourselves in the woods' in the mountain region'
until they have to come to terms with us.
Because withoutthe workers the estancias can't function!
No' comrade' if we split up they'll go catching us one by one.
We must resist all together, here.
But comrade'
ifthe army can't beat us with 100 armed men...
they'll send 200' or 1 '000.
And us? What are we going to fight againstZavala with? Ah?
With our bare hands? No' we have to agree terms' arrive at an arrangement.
Is itthat perhaps we didn't do it in the last strike?
Comrades' we can't throw out ofthe window...
all the sacrifices we've made.
You want us to talk to the army? So be it!
We'll electtwo comrades to have an interview with Zavala...
and ask for conditions.
Excuse me' Lieutenant Colonel' sir,
two strikers askto be received.
Show them in.
Go in.
Excuse us. Apologies for interrupting your meal.
What do you want?
We represent the Workers' Federation.
We've come to talk as equals'
about the conditions for an agreement.
As equals.
- What nationality are you? - Spanish.
- And the other? - Polish.
And you two rebelling foreigners' want to impose conditions on me?
But' conditions forwhat? Sons of bitches!
Conditions for what?
Sergeant!
Come out. Come on' come on!
Captain'
go up to the column. A sargeant and a white flag.
Go and askthem for unconditional surrender.
Yes' sir' Lieutenant Colonel.
You've all seen how insolently they behave.
I'm not going to letthem raise their heads.
Especially Soto.
ThatAntonio Soto' who's filled them with those ideas.
And we'll have done with all this for good and all.
Ready. Aim.
Brothers' throw down those guns' embrace the cause...
- ... ofthe libertarian ideal. - Fire!
Aren't you the leaders of the Workers' Federation?
Yes' sir.
Orderfrom Lieutenant Colonel Zavala. Unconditional surrender.
Hand over of hostages' horses and weapons.
Otherwise we shall not hesitate to proceed.
Didn't Lieutenant Colonel Zavala receive our delegation?
No delegation will be received.
That is the last offer.
We won't decide without consulting the Assembly.
As you like. You have 2 hours.
Don't accept. They'll shoot you all' not a single one will be left alive.
Comrades' don't trust Zavala' don't surrender.
You're laborers' you're workers!
Comrades' carry on with the strike!
To triumph definitively so as to form a new society...
where there are no poor or rich' where there are no weapons'
where there is happiness and respect for human beings!
Let's get going.
...tire ourselves out like beasts.
We must make the trenches now.
Let's return to the camp.
And I'm saying it plainly and clearly so there's no doubt left:
The only way to win is with weapons!
Comrades' I move that we surrender ourselves unconditionally.
I didn't expectthis end.
I didn't expect it.
Come on' German'
there's nothing leftto do here.
NoAntonio' I'm staying.
I respect the decision ofthe majority.
But it's suicide!
They'll shoot you first!
I've always complied with the decision of my comrades'
even ifthey were mistaken.
Today they've chosen death.
I too respect it'
but I'm not meat to be thrown to the dogs.
If it's to fight' I'll stay'
butthe comrades don'twantto fight.
I do.
I'll carry on fighting.
Come on' German'
very near here is that paradise you were seeking so much.
Where'sAntonio Soto?
Damn it!
Draw out your gun.
Where'sAntonio Soto?
Stop' you bastards'
it's me' Soto!
Lieutenant Colonel' sir'
that's the Chilean who proposed the surrender.
Good.
This is the German' Shultz.
So you're the great revolutionary.
Put him to one side.
Let's see' the ranch delegates' on step forward!
One step forward the ranch delegates!
It seems there are no delegates' eh?
Did they all die?
It's OK' they'll appear soon enough.
Find out about Soto.
Lieutenant Colonel' sir, maybe notthat one. He's the only mechanic in the area'
we might need him.
Leave him.
So you've got new clothes.
Can you tell me where you gotthem?
Captain' undress them and tie them to the fence.
Letthem spend the night naked!
I now have the report' Lleutenant colonel, slr.
Soto and three others are fleelng by horse to chlle.
Send outLleutenantArrleta wlth ten men,
and bring him back alive or dead.
- What's your name? - Esperidión González' sir.
Now you go straight to your boss's place...
And from now on' if he orders you to be a dog'
you get down on all fours and you bark.
- Is that understood? - Alright' sir.
And whoever lets the candle go out I'll blow the lid off his brains!
OK?
Yes?
Aren't you sleeping' Lt. Col. sir?
The condemned are already in the shearing shed.
Each with a candle to make it easier to guard them.
Very good.
For tomorrow'
Does the order stands or...?
Yes' Captain' yes! The order stands!
Or do you want me to let them all go free?
It's not about pardoning or punishing here'
it's about putting an end to these rebels.
You prefer to kill a hundred leaders rather than some day...
a thousand innocents dying.
They may say I was a bloodthirsty military'
butthey'll never say I was a disobedient one.
- Not in the European war... - Come on.
Ready.
Aim.
Fire!
Aim.
Fire!
Aim.
Fire!
Aim.
Fire!
Laborers, reduced from 120 to 80 pesos a month.
Wagon drlvers, from 130 to 90 pesos
Sheep hands, from 140 to 100 pesos.
Ranch cooks' from 160 to 120 pesos.
Herders' per day' from 25 to 12 pesos.
These wages replace those from the previous agreement...
which is definitively annulled.
The memory of your action in Patagonia...
will remain in the memory of its inhabitants'
as a lesson on what inspired men are capable of...
in the fulfillment of their duty and in the greatness ofthe nation.
Very good!
Friends.
Forhe's ajolly good fellow!
And so say all ofus!
Forhe's ajolly good fellow!
And so say all ofus!
Hip-hip! Hurrah!