European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - May 23, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Bob Hope and friends in Paris pages 14, 15 the St ars and stripes authorized unofficial publication for the . Armed forces vol. 48. No. 36 tuesday. May 23, 1989 2st daily and sunday d 8693 a Dollar Breaks 2-Mark Barrier . Issues pledge of work to Cool Buck s Rise by Randy  financial writer the Dollar surged More than 4 pfennig in european trading monday Topping the psychologically important 2-Mark harrier i or the first Lime in nearly 2v years. The Only thing that could Slop the Dollar from moving even higher is a statement by a High american official that the United states in t Happy with the Dollar at such a Strong level said one trader in Frank Furt. West Germany. The trader spoke on the Condi Tion that his name not he used. St e conversion rates pane 20. A few hours later in Washington the Bush administration announced that it considers the Dollar s recent Rise a matter of concern and that it intends to Stork with its International trading partners to bring stability to currency markets the associated press reported. A spokesman for president hush read the Brief statement which said in pan if the Dollar s recent Rise against other major currencies is sustained for a prolonged period or extended it could undermine International efforts to reduce global Trade  the spokesman said the United states remains committed to cooperate in Exchange markets As Well Asto reduce the american Trade and budget deficits. The statement threatened to Lake some of the Energy out of the Dollar which has been on a rally since late april. Earlier monday in West Germany though the Dol Lar had one of its strongest Days in recent memory. The military Exchange rate went up 5 pfennig and was set at 1.99 Marks for a Dollar based on a Price fixing Mon Day afternoon. That rate which will remain in effect at least through tuesday is the highest since dec. 22, 1986. The Dollar was also on the move against the British Pound and numerous other european currencies. One Pound was Selling for $1.5775 in late european Trad ing which represents an improvement for americans of More than 4 cents from the closing rate of si.6190 Friday. Against the French franc the Dollar was trading in the neighbourhood of 6.8140 francs up from 6.67 francs Friday. The Dollar also was up in Italy trading see Dollar on Back Page troops lash out As Beijing citizens Block Way Beijing a chinese soldiers clashed with pro democracy demonstrators in the suburbs Early tuesday but apparently failed to break through blockades set up to keep them out of Central Beijing. Witnesses said soldiers hit people with Slicks and belts but did not open fire in a clash that occurred about 15 Miles South West Ostia Nansen Square. The witnesses said some soldiers who were armed with chinese made ak-47 semiautomatic Rilles. Pushed through throngs of residents trying to Block their Way but military vehicles did not Advance. One report said 15 residents were injured in the clash. The witnesses said ear Lier reports that soldiers had reached Chan ran Avenue Beijing s main East West Boulevard leading to Tiana men Square were incorrect. It was not Clear whether this was an Iso lated incident or whether the troops located in the Southwest suburb of Fanglai were trying to Advance on the Square. The Square is occupied by thousands of Stu dents and supporters demanding demo cratic Reform and defying martial Law or Den thai they leave. Witnesses said that the clash ended by i . Tuesday and that the standoff a Ith the Beijing residents continued. Earlier a chinese journalist said about 2,000 sol Diers had participated in the clash. There was no movement at another site in Western Beijing where troops have been Shanitha protestors display a statue of Liberty figure at a Umer Ninnel building. Deployed since Friday night. Hundreds of thousands of Beijing Resi dents have blocked major intersections since saturday when Premier i Peng announced a martial Law crackdown to end the student demonstrations. The reports of clashes involving soldiers came after More than 100 top military offi cers signed a letter monday opposing i s declaration of martial Law in Beijing saying the army will never shoot the  sources said. The letter also said the army will not enter the City or suppress the hundreds of thousands of people who have taken to the streets. Also monday members of the National people s Congress. China s legislature began gathering signatures needed to open a special session on the legality of martial Law. Sources said. The sources said members of the con Gress had collected about 50 of the 80 Signa Tures needed. Tens of thousands of students and their supporters continued to defy martial Law by gathering in the streets and in the Square the heart of the protests. The students began leading the protests on april 15 to demand talks with the government on bringing democratic reforms and ending corruption by officials. But now the students to estered by the wide spread support their movement has won from the populace arc pressing for the resignations of i and senior Leader Deng Xiaoping. Is getting the same old lines from merchants a Randy Mcti. financial writer hurry up and Wail is an expression Long associated with life in the military hut Runy olt duals in i Europe say most soldiers Are waiting too Long in lines at their Community Banks. Waiting limes at All but a few Community Hank outlets Are far longer than those deemed Aue table under the department of the army s Quality of life standards according to a rtt ent Survey of 69 Mer chants National Bank branches in West Germany and the Netherlands. It s a pretty Sale i t that most locations on end of the month paydays Don t meet the  said Carl i Anderson stall Lunking Oil her with the us army Europe s  in Heidelberg. West Cie Manv in fact the my Survey shows Lull Only 196 percent of the branches checked Are providing serv ice to customers within the 15-minute time Frame required by the army s Standard for periods of Peak demand including paydays. During non Peak Peri ods Only 11 percent of the Community Bank outlets Aie serving customers within the five minute Lime Frame expected by the army. According to the Survey the longest wailing time see gis on Back Page