The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1942-02-07
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BY JACK GUENTHER


New York, February z. - UP) -
Stillman's gym isn't a place you
associate with international treat
les. The fight mob hangs out there.
In the typical gym tradition. the
rickety old building reeks of smoke
and sweat. The stairways creak.
When the boys pound the bag, paint
falls from the walls.
Yet, 1t was In Stillman's today
that 7 heard story that was as
much tale of international diplo-
macy as it was of boxing. 1t was
Paul Damski's story of how he
settled eight years of World War
antagonism between Germany and
Italy and unwittingly - laid the
foundation of what we call the Axis.
Dabski fled from Germany in
1888 and came to America as man
ager of Walter Neusel, Eric Sellig
and Gunnar Barlund. Before that
he had spent IA years as a boxer.
manager. small-toWn promoter and
finally director of the biggest of the
German fight arenas, the Berlin
sports Palast.
Long Story
1t is in the sports Palast that his
story begins, in 1926:
Max Schmeling was light heavy
weight champion of Europe and he
had beaten everybody In sight ex-
cept boy named Michele Bonaglia
Bonaglia had won % straight fights
and held the title of champion of
Italy. The match was natural,
but nobody could sign it. Germany
and Italy had fought each other
in the war and they still were hos
tile.
"Schmeling wanted to fight but
he was afraid to go to Italy because
he knew that he might be hurt. The
countries hadn't met in sport events
since the war. Bonaglia similarly
was willing TO fight, but he was
afraid to come to Germany. So /
had two willing fighters and an
arena. l went to Milan to talk to
Bonaglia myself.
II had an easier time than I had
expected. The Italians were eager
to have their boy fight Schmeling
but they were skeptical of the treat
ment he would receive. So we held
a banquet and I made a speech. /
talk nine different languages now
but I didn't talk italian then, SO !
gave the speech through an inter-
prefer from the consulate.
II told the people at the ban
quet that the war was all over and
1t was silly for people to be sus-
picious of each other. I said, I'VE
In Germany have come to you and
now~you should come to us. Well
build a bridge of friendship TO you
and you build one towards us.
Sooner or later the bridge will meet
somewhere in the center and We'll
be as on"
"They gave me big hand for
that. Bonaglia came to Berlin and
with him came 400 italian news
papermen, diplomats and officers.
Schmeling knocked out Bonaglia
with one punch before $4,000 peo-
pie. Incidentally, when you read
that Hitler has addressed $4,000
people at the sports Palast, Just
laugh. You can't pack in even
$4,000, and know.
Wire From MuzZy
"The only man who felt bad after
the fight was Bonaglia. In the
dressing room he stood with tele-
gram from Mussolini In his hand,
banging his head against the wall
rs hard as he could and crying like
anything. But the 400 people who
had come with him knew that he
had been whipped in fair fight and
they were satisfied.
"T'hey got together with German
brass hats and had a fine time. The
diplomats became friendly and soon
italian and German athletes were
visiting back and forth. 1t wasn't
long before good relations were
established again. Slowly the bridges
of friendship were built up, just
like I had said. And finally those
bridges met. You know whereP
'"They met at the Bremen Passl'
asked Paul II he would like to
return to Germany.
Jack" he said. II fled for my
life two days after Hitler came into