European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 02, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 2 the stars and stripes saturday september 2,1989 . Refuses comment on rewriting sofa Bonn West germ any is . Diplomats say they have no comment on attempts by a West German opposition party to rewrite the nato status of forces agreement. The social democratic initiative which was put to the present ruling coalition led by Chancellor Hel Mut Kohl in the form of a Long and detailed query is solely a matter Tor the West German government to comment upon not the . Embassy press spokes Man Cornelius Walsh said thursday. But an observer said there were no differences of opinion Between the embassy and nato Headquarters on the Validity of the sofa agreement which defines the Legal status of the . Armed forces stationed in nato countries. In its questions to the government the social democratic party has asked among other things whether West Germany has the Power to curtail Low level Fly ing what has been done to prevent . Military courts from passing death sentences on West German soil where such sentences arc prohibited and whether nato countries Monitor West German mail and Tele communications. On aug. 23, the spa held a hearing on the agreement in Advance of an expected parliamentary debate in september. Hearing members questioned among other things the Validity of what they called special rights held by the allies stationed in West Germany. These rights allow the allies to act As lords no guests said defense expert Egon Bahr a member of the opposition party. News updates race intensifies Houston a the race to fill the the late . Rep. Mickey Cland s scat intensified with a Houston City councilman adding his name to the list of candidates. Councilman Anthony Hall will be vying for the scat against state sen. Craig Washington and stat rep. Al Edwards who announced their candidacies for the 18th con Gressional District last week. Hall who announced his candidacy thursday lost to Leland for the same scat in 1978. Gov. Bill Clements set the Spe Cial election for nov. 7, the someday As Houston s City elections. Hall will have to resign his Posi Tion As councilman at Large to run for Congress. Earlier this past week Leland s widow Alison citing her family Asher primary concern said she would not seek her late husband s Job. Leland said she would support Houston City councilman Rodney Ellis who has yet to announce his election plans Leland and is others were killed aug. 7 in a plane crash i Ethiopia while on a hunger Relief Mission to a refugee Camp. Extradition of d la Plata Argentina a a court has ruled that Josef Schwammberge May be extradited to West Germany to fac charges that As a nazi Camp com Mander he personally killed Doz ens of people at forced labor Camps in world War ii. However the 77-year-old Schwammberge May Appeal the ruling of the Federal appeals court to the supreme court and thu stave off immediate extradition to Stuttgart West Germany. Schwammberge was discovered living in Argentina in november 1987 and has been held in jail Ever since in la Plata 30 Miles South of Buenos Aires. He is being kept in a Hospital at the penal Center because of his age and ill health the government news Agency Clam reported. Spanish elections Madrid Spain a socialist Premier Felipe Gonzalez Friday called Early elections for oct. 29 to seek an unprecedented third term i office for his socialist party that swept into office seven years ago with a landslide Victory. 3 . Soldiers in Wurzburg help get 22 people to safety during fire by John Milla Wurzburg Bureau a 3rd inf div Soldier working his Way through a smoke filled apartment build ing showed 10 people the Way to safety Early wednesday while two other scr  helped 12 people leave a hotel threatened by flames that had engulfed a Bam. A Schaffenburg Community spokesman Karen Ault identified the soldiers As staff set. James Reynolds and sgt. Rus sell Delano of co a 4th in 66th Armor and spec. Monet White of the 212th my co. Reynolds who was in charge of the military Community s walking Courtesy patrols that night said he and Delano were parked on a Schaffenburg s of Liz Burger Strassl by Chance. We heard what we thought were Beer bottles breaking he said. The two got out of their vehicle and crossed the Street when they noticed flames coming from the barn. Reynolds called his unit at 12 35 . To notify the fire department Auli said. After calling. Reynolds and Delano flagged Down White who happened to be driving Down the Street she said. Reynolds told Delano and White to evacuate people in the hotel next to the fire. Reynolds headed to the ground floor apartment which was attached tothe Bam and notified its occupants of the tire. After getting a response he said he went to the second floor apartment and got no answer. He forced the door open and got hit with a big thick Cloud of smoke he said. Finding that the lights did t work Reynolds said he used a Small flashlight to search for occupants while holding a handkerchief Over his face. He found eight residents West German police re ports said. Reynolds said some of the people were sleeping and some were standing around As u puzzled. It was kind of hard 19 control people because they d run outside and then run Back in to get something he said. With the upstairs evacuated Reynolds said he returned to the ground floor an asked an elderly woman whether every one was out of her apartment the woman told him that her husband remained inside. Reynolds entered the apartment to find the Back door caved in with flames and two rooms already on  he said the elderly Man was in room trying to get dressed. I just grabbed m s  and took him outside he said. Meanwhile Delano and White had evacuated about 12 people from the hotel located about 16 feet from the burning barn Ault said. The West German fire department responding with four engines and 14 men and the . Army with two engines an four firefighters put out the Blaze at 2 54 ., Ault said. She said the West germans deter mined that faulty wiring in the barn started the firs which caused about $100,000 in damage. It has not been determined whether the three soldiers will be honoured for their actions Ault said. I really did t think anything of it until it was All Over Reynolds said. We Brucken go sentenced to 24 years in prison for attempted rape sodomy by Daryle. Green Kalser Lautem Bureau Kaiserslautern West Germany a  Soldier was sentenced to 24 years in prison after pleading guilty to charges of attempted rape and forcible sodomy. However under a pre trial agreement pvt. 2 Brian s. Underwood will serve no More than seven years of that sentence. Underwood a Cook at Kreuzberg Ca sern also was reduced to the lowest enlisted Grade ordered to forfeit All pay and allowances and Given a Dis Honora ble discharge. The Soldier during his aug. 24 court martial also pleaded guilty to robbery resisting arrest assault and Battery breaking restriction unlawful entry and communicating a threat. Charges of rape aggravated assault and adultery were dropped As part of the agreement. On May 25, Underwood brandishing a Kitchen knife with a 6-Inch Blade stoles Marks about $24 from a West Ger Man prostitute who worked in Kaiserslautern. During the robbery the Soldier who was wearing a cold weather mask. Forced the woman to undress him and perform Oral sex. The victim reported the incident to military police. Underwood was apprehended May 27 and placed in pre trial confinement. He was released from confinement three Days later and restricted to Kreuzberg Cavern. On the night of july 5, while still under restriction and awaiting a court martial on the rape robbery and sodomy charges Underwood went to a game Hall in we Brocken where he saw his wife Ramona with another Man. Underwood and his wife scuffled Over a knife in his car and he was Cut on the right hand. He then threatened to kill her before driving away. Military police summoned by Ramona Underwood arrived at the scene about 11 . While the maps still were investigating Underwood returned to the scene on foot. During a summer heat wave the Soldier then led police on a 13 hour Chase that involved the use of air Force tracking dogs. Underwood finally was found sem conscious in a ground floor apartment next door to a building occupied by his wife s parents. Ramona Underwood had been staying with her parents. The Soldier was taken to Lan Stuhl  regional medical Center suffering from  his trial Underwood implicated a civilian Friend in the attack on the prostitute. The Man who has not been charged would have to be tried by West German authorities. Good and bad news on japanese surplus Tokyo up Japan s current account surplus in july increased 28.9 per cent Over the previous month to ss.308 billion but shrank 8.5 percent from a year ago for the fifth consecutive year on year fall the finance ministry reported  yen terms the ministry said the surplus was 746.9 billion yen up from s9i.8 billion yen in june but Down from 864.7 billion yen a year ago. The current account covers Trade in goods and services. Limits imposed on americans shopping in e. Berlin Berlin the . Military is Tell ing Servic members who visit the soviet sector of the divided City to restrict their purchases of such Short Supply items a Feather comforters baby clothes and shoes. The restrictions which went into effect Friday also apply to binoculars air rifles toys and liquor according to a statement from the . Come in Berlin. The command limited the Purchase of such items to one per adult per visit. The restrictions follow a review of the briefings Given to american service members travelling to East Berlin and what the command said was a threefold increase in the number of . Visitors to Berlin in the last 11 years. East German officials reportedly have been angered by visits from americans who buy Large quantities of goods wit cheap East German Marks purchased in the currency markets of West Berlin. The command continues to encourage americans to visit Berlin while reinforcing to visitors the fundamental differences Between the consumer oriented Economy of the Western sectors and the centrally controlled Economy of the soviet sector the statement said. The command also said it will reinforce policies that ban the Purchase of food Antiques firearms explosives am munition and animals. Items that Are approved for Purchase must be for personal use. The command said service members will be required to sign a statement verifying that they understand and will com ply with the shopping policy