508TH HONOR GUARD FACES 500 TO 1 ODDS

Soldier Trades Blows With Officer; 50
Guards' Leveled Rifles End Demonstration

FRANKFURT, Jan 9 (UP) --- Five thousand U.S. soldiers who marched on Army headquarters tonight in a "we want to go home" demonstration were dispersed by 50 armed paratroopers after a fist fight between a soldier and a lieutenant of the guard.
   The fight was between a soldier demonstrator and a guard officer who pushed him away from the entrance to the headquarters of Gen. Joseph T. McNarney, American commander in Germany.  No shots were fired, but there was a tense moment when it seemed that the yelling, shouting soldiers might charge the leveled rifles of the guard.
   The soldier was quickly overpowered by the paratroopers. who were lined up in front of the entrance and on the first floor inside balcony overlooking the hallway.  Tension faded at the sight of the leveled rifles and the soldiers dispersed quietly after milling around for several minutes.
Guards Hurried In
   The demonstration took place in front of the massive I. G. Farben Bldg. were McNarney makes his headquarters. There were only 109 guards at the headquarters when the soldiers began the march from their meeting place a quarter of a mile away, but a hurry-up call brought 40 more armed parachute infantry guards.

   About 20 soldiers were arrested for disorderliness before and during the march on headquarters.  Lt. Col. A. E. [sic] Holmes, acting commander  of the 508th parachute infantry, refused to comment on the disposition of the arrested solders saying, "I don't know anything about it."
   The soldier mass meeting, one of the first in the European theater protesting a slowdown in redeployment began at 7:30 p.m. (1:30 p.m. EST) in an area of the U.S. army compound known as "WAC Circle."  Some WACs were among the demonstrators.
   Speakers Voice Demands
   Among demands voiced by speakers were the transfer of low point men from the United States, including soldiers with 30 to 35 points, toi the European Theater to permit the quick return home of veterans.
   One lone air corps soldier perched precariously atop a lamp post shouting a denunciation of the war department's demobilization policies while other soldiers illuminated him with flashlights.
   "is it not true that the recent policy on redeployment is merely a squeeze play to force favorable action on the pending peacetime draft bill?" the soldier demanded.  His statement was greeted with wild cheers.
   A suggestion for a daily demonstration, made by T/4 Morris J. Cohen, Boston, was hooted down.  The circle where  the meeting began normally is brightly lighted, but Wednesday night the lights were out and kit as pitch black.

[The Salt Lake Tribune, Salt Lake City, UT, Thursday, January 10, 1946, Page 1]