Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-29
Accepts Dutch Apology After
Gatekeeper Strikes Team
Official.
ATMOSPHERE CLEARS
ON EVE OF GAMES
Ray, Hahn and Wyokoff Hold
Americas Hopes in Con.
tests Tomorrow.
BY ALAN j. GOULD.

AMSTERDAM, July 28.--All because
one obscure Dutch gstekeeper punched
| one French secretary in the eye and
barred French athletes from practic-
| ing in the Olympic Stadium, the
shadow of international controversy
hung for hours today over the whole
pageantry of the ceremonial opening
of the Ninth Olympiad.
The worlds greatest athletic con-
vention. surrounded by the most I'M
pressive gestures of peace and good
will. was thrown into sudden uproar
when the French, after what they con-
sidered successive insults yesterday and
today at the hands Of the gatekeeper,
withdrew their entire delegation from
the opening parade. At the same time
French authorities delivered an ulti-
matum threatening to withdraw from
the actual games unless satisfactory
reparations and apologies" were forth
coming.
Threatened to Quit.
They we're forthcoming this evening.
were accepted and the French win send
their stars into the athletic battle to-
morrow, but it required a conference
Of the highest athletic as we'll as dip
lonlatic officials of the two nations be-
fore harmony was restored. The in
cident was declared closed and the
good will thereof toasted in champagne
after the Dutch Olympic committee
submitted formal apologies and sum-
marily removed the offending gate.
keeper.
The whole incident was based on a
comparatively trivial dispute and mis-
understanding as well as perhaps some
official Dutch laxness
The affair had its birth Friday when
the French atletes, accompanied by Paul
Mertcamp, secretary OF the French
Athletic Federation, went to the sta
dium where they had been promised the
use Of the Olympic track They were
barred by gatekeeper who aggravated
the argument by hitting Mericamp with
his fist and key.
This. according to Franz ReicheI, sec
retary of the French Olympic committee.
was followed by formal appeal to the
Dutch authorities who apologized and
agreed to remove the gatekeeper.
3eichel asserted this not only failed to be
done but that when the French team
this morning reappeared and again
early this afternoon dressed for the
parade, the same warden barred the
way. whereupon the athletes decided
not TO participate in the ceremonies or
to take the Olympic oath.
Special Oath Needed.
AS result uher harn,ouv fnalIu
was restored tonight 1t was necessary
that special oath be- administered.
This was taken by Pierre Lewdeu,
veteran high jumper, on behalf of the
entire team with Count Clary, president
of the French Olympic committee, and
the French minister 10 Holland, as
witnesses.
The French themselves in spite of
their indignation would have been re-
iuctant to withdraw and thus spoil good
prospects OF Olympic achievement by
such star runners as Sera Martin, 300
meter record holder, and Jules La
Doumegue, 1,500-metcr ace, as well as
fencers, cyclists and other strong title
coDtenders Consequently they lost no
time In accepting apologies of the
somewhat bewildered Dutch officials
The decks were cleared meanwhile
for the opening Of competition tomor-
row in which Joie Ray In the 10000
meters. Lloyd Hahn in the 800-meter
preliminaries, q sprint quartet led by
Frank Wykoff In the l0O-meter trials,
400-meter hurdling stars and high
jumpers and shot putterg carry Ameri-
can hopes against the strongest of rivals
from Finland, Germany, Britain and
! France.