European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 17, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 2 a a a the stars and stripes thursday january 17,1991crisis in the null tension rises in Europe As 15th passes by David Tarrant Brussels Bureau. The panic and worry facing residents of the Middle East carried into Europe on wednesday As the . Deadline for Iraq to leave Kuwait passed shortly before Dawn. A. A a a. A. A a a shoppers in Italy and Belgium reacted to the threat of War by assaulting supermarket shelves. Diplomats in Brussels Belgium spoke grimly of the need for the nato Alliance to pull together. And . Servic Mem Bers tried to go about their business As Security height end under the threat of terrorism. Few held out any Hope that the crisis would pass peacefully. V in Italy the shopping fever began monday and soared tuesday especially in Southern regions. Sugar Salt cooking Oil bottled water Tomato sauce and pasta were snatched up in rapid order. Customers  get into besieged supermarkets and police were called to control panicked shoppers fighting Over scarce items. Italian television showed supermarket shelves stripped Bare. The hoarding caused prices to soar 15 percent on Many items. Governments in both Belgium and Italy appealed for Calm reminding shoppers that most of the hoarded items were either produced domestically or Well stockpiled. Nevertheless the supermarket Stampede continued unabated into wednesday. A a in a worried about the prices of everything going up. And in a worried about All the soldiers a a All those american soldiers Down there a said Lillian a belgian who declined to give her last name. She said in Brussels on wednesday that she also feared there could be a backlash against Arab immigrants in a country where racial tensions already run High. A at shape natos military Headquarters in Cas Tau Belgium there was a lot of a corridor management a said an american official referring to intense conversations about the Gulf Over Coffee Breaks and Brief moments snatched in hallways. Another nato military official said a was a Soldier you almost feel you should be there. You feel very much a part of it. But i also feel very disappointed that the deadline passed and that it War has to  v at Frankfurt International Airport in Germany Joachim Schma z manned a social services information Booth and spoke cooly about the possibility of terrorism. A most employees in the Airport Arentt worried about terrorist attacks  but the Gray haired Schmalz who said he had spent More than two years fighting in the North african de sort during world War ii  hold Back emotions when he spoke about the americans in the Gulf Region. A excuse me Quot he said wiping away his tears with a handkerchief. A my thoughts Are now with the gis. Several friends who Are stationed at Rhein main a Are now Down  v v a. Mary Blanton returned to Europe on wednesday from her parents Home in the United states. A my parents wanted me to stay because they Felt it was less hazardous there a said Blanton whose husband sgt. Glen Blanton is deployed to saudi arabia.-�?obut3rd  Cav tank Soldier found dead by crewmen Eastern saudi Arabia a Soldier assigned to e troop 2nd so 3rd  Cav regt was found dead monday. The my at tank Crew member from fort Bliss Texas was thought to be asleep on the rear of his tank but he did not respond when other Crew members attempted to awaken him. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was not successful. An investigation to determine the cause of death is under Way. The soldiers name is being withheld pending notification of his family. Correction an associated press article yesterday stated that . Forces in the persian Gulf had an estimated 4,200 tanks 2,800 armoured personnel carriers and 3,100 artillery pieces. The numbers actually reflect equipment held by Iraq. A amps Ken Georgs spec. Glynn Landry Gate guard at Cambrai Fritsch Cavern in Darmstadt Germany checks a Drivers identification. People in the states Are kind of glorifying All this. I feel better being Here with gis who Are closer to the reality of the problem. 1 wanted to come  Many soldiers based in Europe reacted calmly to the passing of the deadline. A a a today is no different from any other Day a said  master sgt. Redo Nolletti shortly after 6 . At Munich a Mcgraw Cavern. A we stay ready and do our Job like any other Day.�?�. Others watched the clock. A i Hope Saddam Hussein knows what time it is because we re about to clean his clock a said another master sergeant in Munich. For Many military police in Europe wednesday meant anything but business As usual. A we can expect to go on Alert any time. Tensions Are pretty High a said sgt. Mclisa Young of the 284th my co in Frankfurt. A -.&Quot. A a a a a Quot a a Calls to military police about suspicious people and activities have increased dramatically during the past three Days Young said. But no matter How Many Calls come in her unit treats each one As the real thing she. Said. A a v a a a we have to. Frankfurt is just too much of a hot  Quot. A a a. A v /. A a Quot  heightened at Many . Military installations throughout Europe including Leighton Barracks in Wurzburg Germany where military police intensified identification checks. Those driving into the installation negotiated a meandering course of Large con Crete blocks placed in the Road. All the major International organizations located around Brussels including shape nato and the european Community also tightened Security As did Many private american arid British businesses. Guards wearing bulletproof vests stood watch outside the . Embassy and belgian police stepped up patrols around the embassies of the United states Iraq Iran Israel and the soviet Union. Meanwhile the threat of War has wreaked havoc with travel agencies. Quot a we curtailed our last Egypt tour and brought Back 226 tourists on Jan. 15, just to be on the Safe Side a said Wolfgang Siniski Public relations manager of Ltd travel one of the largest travel agencies in Germany. A your passengers and i really did no to think it was necessary but the company thinks its better to be Safe than a sorry a. A v Quot Quot a some soldiers said they held out Hope that War could still be averted. A even after this deadline passes i cannot give up Hope a spec. Lisa Mckinney of he co special troops in said Early wednesday morning in Frankfurt. A no one can. But if its time to go in then that a what will happen.�?�. Mckinney does no to think the United states should be involved in a Gulf War. A to me its for us to move out of there. If god wants them to have Kuwait then let them have it. If he does no to then hell work it out his Way. But i think the . Should get out of it. We really done to need the Oil that bad a not enough to give up a lot of  but most seemed resigned that War would come soon. A a he a had time to get out so i think we should move in. I think its inevitable that we will go to War a said senior airman Todd Ballard an aircraft fuel systems Mechanic from Mcconnell fab kan., who is on temporary duty at Raf Mildenhall England. Perhaps summing up the feelings of Many in operation desert shield was Charlene Gardner a cashier at the Galaxy club at Mildenhall. A i think they should just go in there and get it Over with.�?�. Contributing to this report were staff writers Steve Taylor in Munich Germany John Millar in Wurzburg Germany j. King Cruger in Naples Italy Luke Britt Gary Pomeroy and de Beavis in Darmstadt Germany end Amy Geszler Jonea in England protesters Block entrances at 2 bases from staff1 and wire reports a Berlin a anti War demonstrators blocked entrances to two . Military bases in Germany on wednesday the fifth Day of protests. At the main Entrance to Rhein main a protesters Spray painted the words a Why not invade Israel a in Orange paint on a sign just outside the main Gate. About 300 protesters blocked the base Entrance from Midnight until about 7 ., an hour after the . Deadline for Iraq to leave Kuwait expired on local time. No incidents were reported said a base Public affairs spokeswoman. The base is a focal Point for operation desert shield As Well As demonstrators. Big transport planes routinely leave the base carrying troops and supplies to the persian Gulf Region. Thousands of demonstrators also gathered at the main Gate sunday. Near Stuttgart about 400 people blockaded the Road in front of the . European come. Several demonstrators had to be dragged from the area police said but no serious incidents were reported. Military officials at the command could not be reached to confirm police reports. At ,  Headquarters in Western Berlin about 90 protesters gathered outside the Gate at 6 . Wednesday said sgt. 1st classed Mccarthy about 25 protesters holding candles remained outside the Gate wednesday evening Mccarthy said. A the National Adf television network estimated that several Hundred thousand people joined demonstrations around the country. Pupils As Young As 10 were let out of class in Munich and Berlin to join demonstrations some in schoolyards and others along main shopping streets such As the Kurfirst Endami in Western Berlin. Thousands of youngsters in arched up and Down the Boulevard for hours carrying banners with such slogans As a we want to live and a War in the Gulf threatens the entire