A DRAMATIC INCIDENT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2724, 20 March 1916, Page 6

A DRAMATIC INCIDENT

GERMAN AND ANTI-GERMAN AT NEWTOWN PARK. At about 4.30 p.m. on Friday, during tlie progress of the St: Patrick's Day sports at iSfewtown Park, Madame Boeufve (vice-president of the Women's Anti-German League), Miss Beatrice Day, and others were engaged in distributing the league's anti-enemy literature, when in. the course of herperigrinations round tho park Madamo Boeufve met o, pleasantspoken man, who with another, was pacing the ground. "I have one of - those papers," said one of the men. "Would you mind giving me a dozen more?" he asked.

Under the impression that it was his intention to assist in the good work, Madame gladly complied. AVith that tne stranger took from her the bundle of papers, and, tearing them into shreds, threw them at her feet, saying passionately:

"You are one of the Irish race I How can you behave soP"

Madame, who is a member of the old Jameson family of Dublin, at once blazed out:

"You I You're a German I Whatever have been Ireland's differences , with England in the past, to-day we are proud to stand side by side with. our English brothers I"

Miss Day also burst in, and the altercation began to draw quite-a crowd. Dr. Cahill was attracted by the trouble, and knowing the ladies, at once seized the man by the collar, asked what he meant by_ insulting tho ladies, and demanded his name, which he declined to give.

Then Inspector O'Donovan intervened, and pacified the crowd, who looked as though thoy were prepared to make it hot for the pro-German.

_ The young fellow who had been walking with the man came up to Madame Boeufve afterwards, apologised for having been with the man. who he said was a German, and a well-known inventor.

Madame Boeufve states that the insult was probably premeditated, as the league had been interesting itself in the man, who was a clever electrician and inventor, and believed that they hair prevented his leaving the Dominion on a recent occasion.

'I am an Irishwoman, and am proud to be one, and I know there are a lot of fine Irish people in Wellington," said Madame, "but I regret to say that German influences have been at work among them, represented by such people as this man, who should have been interned months ago] What is the good nf endeavouring to kill German trade and rouse tip recruits when such men are allowed complete liberty?"