European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 24, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Conversion rates London up monday s closing rates for the . Dollar to other currencies. Figures Are expressed in dollars to the British Pound and other local currencies to dollars the Parka of Hotd closed at 1327.50 an ounce ill Var at . By Lelih bound German Mark French franc Oulen Ulm or belgian Fri Leallan lir Switt franc. Greek  Flora. Soan Lui Petcuta Porf Guem  Dorar _. Austrian timing norwegian Krone these Are commercial rates and can be related Only to the use of for eign currency by is. Forces for offi Cial business. Sales of German Marks to . Personnel for personal use will be at the rate of 2.70 tuesday based on a Price fixing at midday and allowance Lor Standard handling charges. The stars an stripes authorized unofficial publication of Iki . Ahmed Loucil vol. 44, no. 159 tuesday september 24. 1985 � a Swor d 8693 a Dollar plunges in Europe London up the Dollar plunged monday on All major european Money markets in panic Selling because of plans by the five major Western economic Powers to weaken the . Currency to curb record american Trade deficits. Precious metals climbed steeply. We be seen a headlong Rush to sell Dol Lars a London dealer said. In Milan the Dollar fell to its lowest level in nearly 10 months and in Germany the nation s Central Bank unloaded 18 million a move to accelerate the currency s de Cline. Gold a traditional Haven for capital when the Dollar is weak Rose in Zurich by More than $10 an ounce and in London by $8. A . Treasury spokesman described the Dollar s fall As healthy and said it was in line with president Reagan s Call for a lower Dollar to curb America s record Trade deficits and forestall Calls for Trade barriers. Dealers in Switzerland said Selling was heaviest in the morning but trading slowed in the afternoon although they forecast fur ther Falls of the Dollar in coming weeks. In the morning panic was the right word for the trading said a dealer for see Dollar on Page 28 military Banks report Long lines for Marks by Bob Hoyer suit writer lines lengthened at military banking facilities Mon Day As thousands of customers sought to beat the 16 pfennig plunge of the Dollar against the German Mark. Monday s 2.86-Mark Exchange rate shrivelled to 2.70 Marki for tuesday a drop of 5.6 percent the largest one Day decline of the year. The Dollar also dropped against other european currencies on news that the United states Britain Ger Many France and Japan would act in concert to Force the Dollar Down. Fearful that the action would put the Dollar into a prolonged tailspin customers lined up at Small and Large facilities to buy Marks and other currencies. In keeping with a department of defense policy that went into effect june 1, customers at banking facilities monday were limited to the Exchange of $2,000 into Marks. The $2,000 limit becomes effective any Day the Dollar drops five or More pfennig against the Mark a Rule imposed by the defense department to prevent losses that the department must absorb. Banking customers this week also will to limited to the conversion of just $ 100 Worth of Marks into dollars tuesday through thursday. The provision designed to see lines on Page 28 As the Buck goes Down do prices zoom by the stars and stripes that dinner at a German Mcdonald s is is menu More expensive today because of the Dollar s fall according to a random Price Check. A big Mac 4.50 Marks Fries 1.50 Marks and Coke 1.50 Marks that sold for $2.63 at monday s Exchange rate totalled $2.78 tuesday. If hamburgers Aren t your taste consider this a two piece snack Box at Ken Tucky Fried Chicken that goes for 6.80 Marks was $2.90 yesterday today it s $3.07. Those with heartier appetites and heartier pocketbooks May want to go for a three piece snack Box at 8.80 Marks $3.60 yesterday $3.81 today. A Little More elegance will Cost you a Little More too. A rum Steak dinner for 16.50 Marks and a Glass of wine for 4.50 were $7.34 at the old rate they re $7.78 at the new. A show after dinner two tickets to the dire Straits concert in Frankfurt for 66 Marks set you Back $23.08 if you bought them monday. Today you la be laying out another $ 1.36 for a total of $24.44. Getting there is More expensive too. A 37,000-Mark Audi went from a $12,937 investment monday to an outlay of $13,703 tuesday. A 45,000-Mark Mer cedes went from $15,734 to $16,667. Walking might be More of a bargain than a new car but a pair of 89-Mark women s shoes still traversed a Price Gap of $1.84, from $31.12 to $32.96. Completing the outfit a skirt at 80 Marks and a Blouse at 79 Cost $55.59 monday $57.89 tuesday. A pair of men s Slacks 75 Marks went from $26.22 to $27.78. A sport jacket that costs 159 Marks was $55.56. Is now $58.89. A 50-Mark dress shirt went from $17.48 to$18.52. A haircut and blow dry 50 Marks in creased from $17.48 to $18.52. On the other hand staying at Home might not be a bad idea. Of course 950 see prices on Page 28 big splash in Hamburg escort ships Lead the Way is the 40,000-too is. Ukiu. Assault ship Nassau Arr Tei monday la Hunt org making its first european port of Call the Nassau the largest warship Era to Ristl the German port Drew hundreds of spectators. It stands 20 stories ugh stretches 820 of cry and carries Crew of 800. The Nassau will Itman in Hamburg until saturday. Reagan focuses on new markets Nof prof Effion so Washington a president Reagan declaring that we do not want a Trade War with other nations monday outlined a refurbished Trade policy that focuses on opening foreign markets to american goods rather than protecting Domestic industries battered by imports. The president said he would ask Congress to establish a $300 million War Chest to help provide Low Cost Loans to selected exporters. He also announced the formation of a strike Force to devise strategies for dealing with unfair trading practices against . Products. I will not stand by and watch american businesses fail because of unfair trading practices abroad Reagan said. I will not stand by and watch american workers lose their jobs because other nations do not play by the  Reagan reiterated his frequently expressed commitment to free and fair Trade and his firm opposition to protectionist import restraints. Above All else free Trade is by definition fair Trade Reagan said during his East room speech to the Export Council an Industry group. When Domestic markets Are closed to the exports of others it is no longer free  other than the proposed War Chest however there was Little in the Way of major new legislation a move that seemed Likely to provoke fresh criticism in Congress where support for import restraint legislation has been building steadily. The president said he is willing to work with Congress see Reagan on Page 28 rescued from the ruins a woman who was rescued bite sunday from the rubble of a Exko City apartment building is lifted carefully to safety by a Crane with two Rescue workers holding her Stretcher tightly. She survived More than 57 noun beneath the wreckage of the building which collapsed during thursday room ing s devastating earthquake see Story. Page 8