Abstract: An in-line, two-cycle, crankcase compression, internal combustion engine having a plurality of scavenge ports and an exhaust port for each cylinder in which an exhaust control valve is positioned. To permit a compact assembly, the ports are rotated about the cylinder bore axis in a transverse plane so that the exhaust ports extend at an acute angle to a common plane containing the cylinder bore axes and the control shafts for the exhaust control valves extends perpendicularly to this plane. A wide variety of actuators are disclosed for operating the exhaust control valves simultaneously including flexible transmitters and a linkage system.