A "North-China Dgily News" re porter, who arrived on the scene a few minutes after the fight had commenced, the Italian marines marched out of the Club by their officers. In the road they were ordered io board the large lorry which was standing outside the establishment, the vehicle being filled to: capacity by the men, who were driven away a lw moments fiter.
Inside the Club there was an utter scene of devastation, chairs, tal and doors having been snfashed ci of recognition, while all round the room were flung broken bottles, smashed glasses, flower pots and glass table covers, broken into hundreds of pieces.
Questioned by the reporter, an eyewitness of the fight stated that it began shortly before midnight when a large party of Italian marines came into the Club, passing by a Seaforth Highlander who was sitting alone a table near the door In passing the Scots soldier one of the Italians accidentally brushed the man and without more ado another of the party struck the Seaforth with an implement, believed to have been a bottle, causing a severe cut over the British soldier's right eye.
Two French sailors sit-ing nearby, seeing this occur came forward to remonstrate with the Italians, being joined by two British sailors and later by two Americans. This was the signal for the fight to start, the Italians being joined by by several other marines who had been sitting in the Club prior to the larger party's arrival.
Picking up chairs, tables, bottles and other articles lying about the place the Italians then commenced to smash up the cabaret while others fought with the British, French and American sailors. Luckily there were several British Petty Officers in the Club, who seeing that their men were heavily outnumbered, shepherded them into the kitchen and out of the establishment.
Meanwhile Russian and Chinese cabaret girls, who were sitting round the dance floor had not been able to escape from the fury of the Italians'
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Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.