Salt Lake Telegram | 1941-02-24 | Page 1 | Sofia German Puts Punch in Earle's Song

Sofia German Puts Punch In Earles Earle's Song SOFIA Bulgaria Feb 24 UP Ul IF- United States Slates Minister George E HEarle H H. Earle related Monday his version of a restaurant argument early Sunday over the British World war marching song Tipperary in which he suffered an arm bruise and said he struck back at a a man manh h he identified as a German Supplementing an earlier press conference account of the incident Earle Earl gave the Associated Press v o following signed statement n nt While I was was was in in In a Sofia restaurant restaurant res res- res with two American newspaper newspaper newspaper news news- paper men I asked the orchestra to play Tipperary a song 1 I always have liked very much The Orchestra orchestra orches tra did so Many people joined in singing the song A German at a table not far from Crom mine protested very furiously and in a a very animated way to the restaurant proprietor As I passed this Germans German's table he suddenly growled at me What do you mean by ordering ordering ordering order order- ing the orchestra to pla play that tune Dont Don't t you realize it is against Germany Germany Germany Ger Ger- many I replied as courteously as I I could that I liked the tune that Bulgaria was a neutral country I that I intended to do and say what i I pleased Then he reached for an empty I wine bottle on his table I quickly I stepped back and threw up my hands to protect myself I was not afraid of being hit but I 1 have al always always al- al ways in polo accidents and plane crackups had a fe Ier tr of losing my I eyesight The bottle which the German I threw at close range struck me on I Ithe the forearm I also faced the necessity of vicious attacks so I smashed him ContInued on Pa Pare Pace Two 5 Column n Two Earle Clashes With German Continued from Page One In the face knocking him down and causing his face to bleed My friends at this point suddenly sud aud- denly grabbed me and pushed me Into a small adjoining room All Bulgarians pres present nt also rallied to tomy tomy tomy my side side- and helped protect me The German was joined by a great many other Germans German in civilian clothes who rushed to his side from various parts of the restaurant restaurant res res They made many attempts attempts at at- tempts to charge through the wall of Bulgarians standing in front of me but each tinge time without success It was one hour lat later r that I order finally was reestablished I enough so we could l leave ave the res- res