WHO WON THE WAR?
LIVELY WHARF SCENE.
AMERICANS AND AUSTRALIANS IN CONFLICT.
Humorists and would-be humorists have gone to endless trouble to show either that America won or that she did not win the war; the problem has been debated with frequence in all quarters and by all classes; hut the occasions on which the matter has been one for a decision by fisticuffs are seldom. Dunedin, therefore (says the Otago Times) has won a distinction, having been the sc-.e c:> Tuesday of such an incident.
The conflict was located at the wharf. From appearance one would he justified when seek!tie- what historians call “the causes leading up to the rupture'’ in devoting a fair share of attention to the influence of intoxicants. Whether the celebrations of the New Year’s birth was at the bottom of the strife does not matter; the fact remains that a proportion of the contestants were intoxicated. Those concerned were two parties of seamen from boats at present at the Dunedin wharf— Americans on one hand and Australians on the other. Arguments waxed warm, and eventually the incident- found its climax in a free fight engaging about 30 combatants. There, was no lack of willingness on either side, and for a while at least there, will be no lack of “souvenirs.” Black-skinned recruits seemed particularly at home, and one that stripped to the waist and displayed a fine set of muscles was undoubtedly on business bent. The spirit in which the episode began was lasting and in the course of exchanges <>f blows one man was knocked into the harbour and preferred to remain on the disabled list, waiting at the edge of tlie stone wall till the atmosphere was more healthy. But all good things must have an end, and this ease was not the exception to prove the rule. The arrival of the police was regarded as ilie best- time for a truce or a strategic retreat by both sides, and both parties were out of the way before the arm of the law could be extended in the right direction.
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Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2679, 5 January 1924, Page 2
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348WHO WON THE WAR? Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2679, 5 January 1924, Page 2
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