Evening star., 1944-10-03

but by this time quite a crowd had
congregated around us and it was
almost impossible to get out.
These men then asked us what
the services felt about the unions
and whether the armed forces
thought the unions were doing their
part. We told them we knew moth
ing about it and we didn't care to
say anything.
Separated From Friend.
During the latter part Of this
conversation my friend became sepa-
rated from me. In glancing around
to find out where he was I per-
ceived that he had been pushed
down into chair and was being
held there while several men ap-
peared to be arguing with him.
This was Immediately followed
by some fellow about 6 feet tall
who shouldered his way through to
my friend and took swing at him
while my friend was still seated.
Seeing that my friend was in a
rather helpless position, attempted
to 90 to his aid. Immediately I
was grasped from behind and while
pinioned one of the group that was
near me hit me in the left eve, thus
preventing me from getting any
nearer to my friend.
"Infuriated at this attack, lifted
my leg in such a manner as to
force the fellow behind me to re-
lease me. 1 then proceeded 10
attack the man who hit me in the
eye. While fighting this man I
was constantly surrounded by other
men of this group who kept swing
ing at me. I knocked this first
man to the deck and was imme-
diately attacked by another man
with whom I proceeded to do the
same.
Fight Stopped Temporarily.
Il finally found myself near my
friend who now was being held
down inside telephone booth. He
was still fighting his attackers from
this sitting position. At this mo-
ment man and several bellboys
shouldered their way into the melee
and brought the fight to a Tempo
rary stop. This man was apparent
ly the manager of the hotel cit.
Dickins later identified him as Will
liam P. Duff, assistant manager).
HE then proceeded to tell my
friend and me that he couldn't ex-
pect much more than this from the
Navy and that this was a typical
gesture of gratitude from the armed
services. He then threatened to call
the shore patrol, during which time
my friend and tried to leave.
1--WE found ourselves unable to do
so because Of the crowd around us.
In q few minutes the shore patrol
arrived and we were escorted out of
the hotel to the shore patrol head
quarters at Thirteenth and G
streets NV.
while leaving the hotel with the
shore patrol one OF the members
of the group endeavored to get our
names from ourselves and the Shore
Patrol oficer.
Bears No Marks of Battle.
upon our refusing to divulge our
Identities, this man told us that I
had beaten personal friend of the
President and that he was going to
take the matter up with the higher
authorities and see that we got
severe punishment.
During the whole fight was not
aware of the identity OF these men
and am still not aware OF It,"
In answer to questions, 1t. Dickins
said he had knocked down four of
f1ve men during the fighting. 1t.
Dickins, however, bore no marks of
battle.
Shown a newspaper picture of Mr..
Tobin, 1t. Dickins said he could not
recognize it as that of one of the
men with whom he fought. He
added: I'm sure didn't hit a man
with glasses"
Asked If he had struck a man
Of 10, he said he was not sure.
They seemed to be all ages, 80,
so up to TO-" he said.
He said he thought the man re-
ferred to as personal friend of
the President was the first man he
had hit.
There was no mention of Mr..
.,.