Sofia, Feb. 24.
An unidentified German yesterday struck Mr. George Fane, United States Minister to Bulgaria, with a wine bottle in a Sofia restaurant when the band, at Mr. Earles request, played the British World War marching song, "It's a Long Way to Tipperary."
The bottle was thrown from a nearby table and struck the American Minister on the left arm, which he lifed to shield his face. Then Mz Earle picked up an object from his own table and threw it at the German, wounding the latter's face.
Waiters expelled the German.
When he departed from the restaurant, Mr. Earle was told by a hire car driver that Germans were awaiting him. However, hire car drivers grouped around him to protect him, if necessary.
Mr. Earle had entered the rose staurant with two friends. Shortly after being seated, Mr. Earle requested the band to play the British song. The band complied and many Germans hooted and catcalled at the Minister. The bottle-throwing German wes said only recently to have arrived from Germany.
The Minister, in a statement on the incident, said. "I was at a restaurant tonight. Resenting the playing of Tipperary, a German threw a bottle at me. I warded it off and retaliated by injuring his features. The incident was regrettable, but I saw no other course."—United Press.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.