DANGER RIDES THE TRAIN
From an article published in the New York Times 23 January 1946
US SOLDIER IS HELD FOR KILLING RUSSIAN
Vienna, Jan 22 The headquarters of United States Forces in Austria announced today that T/Sgt. Shirley B. Dixon of the 735th Railway Operating Battalion would be tried for killing a Russian Captain and wounding a Russian Lieutenant, while pulling sentry duty on an American Military train.
Dixon, who lives in Toledo, Ohio, was a guard on a train that limits passengers to those traveling on United States Army orders. At Saint Polten in the Russian zone, the train was boarded by the Soviet Captain and Lieutenant and several soldiers.
Dixon Shot and killed the Captain when he reached for his pistol and then shot the lieutenant, who was not armed, according to the American report. Russian witnesses said the captain was not reaching for the pistol, but for the signal cord to halt the train so he could leave it.
There have been previous clashes between Russians and members of other Allied occupation forces. On several occasions Austrian civilian trains have been halted and looted. United States Army trucks, enroute through the Soviet zone, have been held up by groups of deserters or refugees wearing Soviet uniforms. END