European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - December 22, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The stars and stripes tuesday. December 22,1987paga 28 Nicaragua rebels launch largest offensive Santo Domingo dominican Republic a Nicaragua rebels attacked Gold production centers and military bases sunday in their largest offensive against the leftist nicaraguan government a rebel spokesman said. Nicaragua confirmed Itic attack in the northeastern part of the country but while the rebels claimed a 7,000-Man attack Force the government said Only 1,000 rebels were involved and thai government troops were fighting them off. The attack came the Day before peace talks Between the  Contra rebels and the leftist Sand Mista government were to resume in the dominican capital. A government official said the talks would go on. The rebels began hitting targets before Dawn in the Gold mining area of Claya province said. Hosoma. Amoros a spokesman for the rebel umbrella Organiza Tion called Nicaragua resistance. We began the largest military operation of the War with approximately 7,000 of our men which involves 11 regional commands and 45 task forces Matamo Ros said in an interview. He said the contras. Who have been fighting for six years targeted the towns of Sauna Rosin and Bonanza and Landing strips in inc area. He said they aimed to destroy inc infrastructure that the government uses for Gold processing. Jorge Rosales a Contra spokesman in Miami said there were at least 100 government Soldier casualties i did not say How Many were killed resales quoted Enrique bar Muncz the general com round r of the nicaraguan resistance As saying his Force destroyed the radar facility of Sauna and two weapons depots near the town. The rebels also destroyed the sic Marc Viva Power Plant facilities for the airstrips of la Rosita Sauna and Bonanza and two Bridges Between Rosita and puerto Cabeza. An important Pon on the Allan tic coast Rosa is quoted bar mud. As saying. Resales also quoted Bermudz As saying government bombings against the attackers hit a Hospital a stadium and the Airport of Sauna. Reagan from Page 1 promising a veto if he did t win new subsidies for the rebels. White House and congressional bar gainers agreed to provide �8,1 million Innon military Aid to the contras including s3.6 million in food clothing shelter and Medicine and about $4.5 million for delivering supplies through the end of february. The administration initially had sought j22.8 million for the rebels. Therole of the Cia also became a key Slick ing Point. The Agency s current authorization o make deliveries of weapons to the rebels would expire dec. 31 without congressional action. Under the Compromise the Cia would be allowed to bring weapons Pur chased with previously approved Money to the fighters until Jan. 12, at which Point Reagan would determine if the peace process was succeeding. The presi Dent could resume the arms shipments a week later if he determined that there was no cease fire Between the contras and Nicaragua s leftist sandinista government and that the failure was the sandinista fault. The agreement also would set up a major Vole in Congress on feb. 4 on the Contra Aid Issue. House speaker Jim Wright a Texas continued to insist that the spending Bill include language reinstating the fairness doctrine. The Federal policy requiring broadcasters to give equal time to differ ent political viewpoints was suspended earlier this year. Reagan vetoed an earlier attempt to put the doctrine into Law but democrats were trying to Force his hand by putting it in the big Money Bill. I can t conceive of inc president of the United Stales vetoing and letting the whole government come to a crashing halt because he is against fairness Wright said. The spending Bill covers virtually All government operations As Congress for the second year in a Row failed to approve any of its 13 regular appropriations Bills while larger than any previous Money Bill the measure would restrain growth in Federal military and civilian programs to save $7.6 billion in fiscal 1988. The bulk of inc fiscal 1988 deficit reduction a minimum of $22.6 billion and the bulk of the outstanding issues settled sunday were in the companion budget Bill. Agreement was reached last week on$9 billion in taxes this year and $23 Bil lion Over two years which would braised in that measure but proposed cuts in medicare costs changes in medi Caid health benefits for the poor and sales of government assets still were being negotiated. Hopefuls of both parties dismiss Hart s chances a democratic and Republican  sunday dismissed Gary Hart s chances Kwh lure inc 1988 democratic Nomi nation despite re com to Howing the former senator heading his party s pack.  democratic candidate Pau Illinois who ranked first in an Iowa poll until  the fray last tuesday predicted that the up ing Han s sudden candidacy will subside i was not elated when he got into the race t have to  the Illinois senator said on Abc to s this week with David  Han stunned the political world when he announced the resumption of his Campaign seven months after dropping out amid the juror caused by his relationship with Miami Model Donna Rice. In a poll published sunday Han jumped to the Cha of inc democratic Field in Iowa. The pcs Monics Register Telephone pol crafts who said they were Likely to Paoju Putin the feb. 8 caucuses showed Han  of 29 percent of those surveyed follow jul Inion at 1s percent. The  similar Survey taken just be fore Hartm Lumry showed Simon with 15 percent meanwhile two Magazine polls on Hart s National standing also showed him ahead of the other candidates. Time Magazine showed him the first Choice of 30 is Lirie Mian offensive crush Nech Basra Iraq St  a Tanaid its forces crushed an onh Isicc by Iranus soldiers North of Basra but Ira droid it kill find rods of Iraq sin a hit and run a by  guards. Of the relatively Small indicated this was not the reports by both number of comb Ala Long heralded maj of revive that Iran has been planning. Iran s office islamic re tic news Agency confirmed the lighting in thar Sion but denied thai Trania Jermy forces we e infused. It said iranian moslem combat its a refer ence  guards kill hundreds of Ira troops in a hit and run raid. Attacking forces returned safely leases he latest ground fighting occurred aus in the almost daily raids on ships Iner Sian Gulf where 19 commercial vessels Haw been attacked by Iran or Iraq so far this month. Percent of 390 Likely democratic voters surveyed he was followed by Jesse Jackson with 22 percent Massachusetts gov. Michael Dukakis with 14 percent Simon with 7 percent and the others with 5 percent or less. A Newsweek Survey of 707 american adults showed Hart with 3 1 percent backing from those lean ing democratic. The undecided category was next Al 23 percent and Jackson had 13 percent while the i thurs had 1 0 percent or less. Akis. Who also appeared on the Abc Unimportance of the Babbitt said Hart s re entry will have Little effect on his Campaign but makes the race even More volatile More  Don l think they la be any definitive effects for another month or two he said sunday in new Hamd Shire. Everyone is going to go Home will 10 try to medical can  Poilu Denb i. And the Day after the Iowa caui0pntyre All  he said., oing to be when real inti ican citizens sown to those caucuses in Iowa gmhuoll5 in cd Hampshire and Start voting that w begin to Sec where the people of l Nis country an. Dukakis interviewed during a Campaign Slop in Iowa said he met with 50 interested Iowa citizens sunday morning and Gary Hart was not discussed. Simon asked if he would support Han if he wins the nomination said i will support the nominee of the party but it will not be Gary  pressed further Simon said he would support the party s nominee. Dukakis also said he would support the democratic nominee but intends to beat Gary Hart in  another contender former Arizona gov. Bruce now and Well All have a to break  in the polls Over the other reflects the number of undecided voters. What it really docs mean at this Point is that there arc a number of people who arc yet Uncertain Jack son said in a lbs to face inc nation interview taped  he predicted that he will win he democratic nomination and Casily Mcfeal the Republican  and when i win this nomination if i face vice president George Bush or Senate minority Leader Bob Dole i m going to win he said pole who appeared on Abc to s Meel the the chances of Hart winning the Nomi  a Rhu at hell not be inc democratic Nomi Nee. But hets Sirc big personality he said. He s Back on . He s running no. I everywhere. Whether to Anu hell be the next pre Sidcot i doubt in Dole  Kansas senator said Hart fat Muije ranging sup port. I think sooner or later the  Are going to say despite All these new ideas talks about that he s not their cup of Lea he s i Hart liner from Page 1 when they jumped into the Laming Waters officials said. Samuel Carilton one of the survivors told the associated press he was walking to the ship s canteen after a Chat with the Captain when he fell a Jerk and an explosion. I went in and there were flames All Over and i  another survivor 42-year-old Aquilo Osabel said he was on his Way to Manila with his sister and three nieces to spend Christmas with his family. He said the vessel was so crowded thai up to four people were sharing individual cots and hundreds of others were silting on the floor of the three deck ship. Osabel said he was chatting with his relatives All of whom arc missing when he heard an explosion. I went to a window to Sec what happened and i saw inc sea in flames he said. And 1 shouted to my companions to gel ready 1, Iacre is fire. The fire spread rapidly and there were flames everywhere. People were screaming and jumping. The smoke was terrible. We could t Sec each other and in was dark i could Sec Hamas Bull  Bacsal 18. Said panic broke out on the vessel after the collision and explosion. People were scream ing and running she said. Then All of a sudden there was smoke  her father Salvador was also rescued but her Grandfather and Uncle were missing. I Felt a crash Salvador Bacsal said. I looked out and there were flames All Over. Then i went to look for my daughter who was also shouting for me. Suddenly smoke filled inc  . Navy spokesman Al Subic Bay said a Navy search and Rescue team was standing by but added thai filipino authorities had not requested assistance. Chief Petty officer James o scary said a p-3 Orion reconnaissance plane May be diverted to the scene if help is  worst Marine disaster of the 20ih Century occurred dec. 6, 1917, when inc French ammunition ship Mont Blanc collided with a. Belgian Steamer in Halifax Harbor killing 1,600 people. A total of t.503 died when the British passenger ship titanic struck an iceberg and Sank on april 14-15, 1912,