European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 18, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Germany edition t authorized unofficial publication for the u a armed Force vol. 49, no. 308 monday february 18, 1991 b 35c d 8693 troops capture 202 g is killed 6 Hurt in skirmish Dinah ran. Saudi Arabia a . Troops skirmishes with iraqi forces on the saudi Border Early sunday capturing 20 soldiers . Military officials said. Meanwhile France s foreign minister indicated an Allied ground attack could come within Days. Two american service members were killed and six wounded probably by Friendly fire from an army lie i copter during one of seven Border engagements overnight Marine Brig. Gen. Richard Neal told a military briefing. He said an investigation was under Way. Neal said an army helicopter herded the 20 iraqi prisoners to Allied lines and the . Forces captured three iraqi tanks and two armoured personnel carriers. He denied the allies had set a Date for a ground offensive a claim made by French foreign minister Roland Dumas earlier sunday. A we Are on the eve or the pre eve of the ground offensive for the liberation of Kuwait a a Dumas said in a radio interview in Paris lie did not elaborate Titan attack Date. A the los Angeles times reported sunday that the United states plans to launch a massive ground and sea assault this week if Iraq does not surrender or agree to a a diplomatic deals in the next three Days. It quoted unidentified . Military officers in Washington. The newspaper quoted a senior officer As saying the allies monthlong air War has Cut the combat  of Saddam Hussein s army virtually by half. . Officials have said 50 percent destruction was their goal before sending ground forces into Kuwait. In Washington a Pentagon spokesman declined comment on the report. A heretofore we have not made these kinds of predictions or disclosed that Type of operational plans a capt. Sig Adams said. In Kennebunkport Maine president Bush expressed Confidence sunday that iraqis takeover of Kuwait will end a a a a very very soon a but lie refused to discuss the timetable for an expected ground War. A the decision on ground forces will be made by me a the vacationing president told reporters after a brisk hour Long walk on Parson s Beach. Bush repeated his invitation for Iraq to overthrow Saddam a i would t weep if the people put him  the president nearing the end of a four Day stay in Kennebunkport began his Day at Church where the service was disrupted by a Man who demanded an end to the bombing of Iraq. Stop this massacre Stop this bombing a implored Massachusetts attorney John Schuchardt. Bush did not respond during the Church service Anil the protestor was. Removed by police. Later the president raised the subject As lie talked with reporters. A i am concerned about the suffering of innocents an continued on Page 10german criticizes his country by Joseph own Middle last Bureau a a a. A a a ready to baldly go Forth Media Pool close shaved marines a looking Les it was from the same pod Portland in the persian Gulf. They Are members of the 4th _ listen intently to a briefing aboard the Dock Landing ship Marine expeditionary brigade from Camp Lejeune . Riyadh saudi Arabia a Germany should have acted sooner to support the coalition trying to drive Iraq from Kuwait a German parliament member said during a weekend visit to Riyadh. Ortwin Lowack who represents the Bayreuth District in the bundestag or lower House of parliament said his country a response Ali ties As a member of Nail and the United nations called Tor it to pro vide help preferably in humanitarian Aid faster than it did. But Lowack favors no change in Germany a Basic Law which generally prohibits German troops from serving outside nato territory. A member of bavarian a Christian so see German on Page 10 Lowack outcome May rest with Warrior generals by John Balzar Tholos Angeles times with  forces in saudi Arabia a if it must be finally a Greaver Morud Battle in the Sand to Settle the persian Gulf War the outcome  to Bear the handwriting of some Lone officer. Up along the front line probably in the pitch dark of night under the rage of open Field warfare this commander Wall sound an order a an order he has prepared his whole life to give. By the Quality of his judgment the Caliper of his leadership the determination uhis troops and,_ln4ced, by the measure of Good Luck he carries the tide of this a Mother of Battles will turn. A la a so will an anxious no Miotk Hope for a ground War with Light casualties and fast Resolution. Quot desert warfare tests not just equipment. Its the stuff that tested world War ii a Froni line generals George Patton Viscount Bernard Law Montgomery Erwin Rommel. These storied Field commanders of a half Century ago All emerged out of the Early and bloody armoured desert fighting. That was the last time the United states found itself on a Battlefield with so much lethal Armor. For All the obvious reasons tanks in the desert raise a ground combat to its most fearsome and perhaps its highest level. Vast open spaces huge Mobile armies computer fast weaponry and lire Povse r of u in m agin a b 1 e f u by. Its no wonder that As eyes drop from the skies to the Sandy horizon at ground level in the persian Gulf War conversations like this can be overhead see generals on Page 10 a