European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 23, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Germany edition a to. 49, no. 313 saturday february 23,1991 b authorized unofficial publication for the . Armed forces 35c d 8693 High noon for Iraq Oil Wells set ablaze in Kuwait by Ron Jensen Middle East Bureau Riyadh saudi Arabia a More than 140 Oil Wells Are now burning in Kuwait covering 25 percent of the country in Black smoke the yes. Military said Friday. A a a a a a a. A. A a a a it looks like a commencement of a scorched Earth policy a said Marine Brig. Gen. Richard Neal. The general was a echoing the words used by president Bush earlier Friday As he set a deadline of noon saturday for Iraq to be Girt withdrawing from Kuwait. Neal said during a daily news briefing that the deadline of noon est will affect Progress of the War Only if the . Central come receives orders from the president. Otherwise the coalitions 37-Day-old Aerial bombardment will continue. Neal also reported that a uh-60 Heli see Kuwait on Page 10 of Wjk t Felt 4 x it it \ is s. Bush sets withdrawal deadline president Bush accompanied by National Security adviser Brent scowcroft chief of staff John Sununu at the White House Friday tells Saddam Hussein of Kuwait by noon saturday or face a ground attack by coalition forces. A left and to get out Bush sets Deac line for Saddam Washington a president Bush on Friday delivered a Point Blank ultimatum to Iraq giving Saddam Hussein until noon saturday to a begin his immediate and unconditional withdrawal from Kuwait or face a decisive ground assault. A 1�?The White House said the withdrawal must be completed within one week and that All prisoners of War must be released within 48 hours lie also pledged not to attack withdrawing iraqi forces. Speaking on behalf of the desert storm coalition. Bush said diplomatic initiatives still being discussed in Moscow must come with no strings attached lie added that the White House would release a list of coalition demands that must accompany any cease fire. Saddam must signal a publicly and authoritatively his acceptance of the withdrawal terms Bush said. In Baghdad iraqis government denounced us a a shameful Bush a demand that iraqi forces withdraw from Kuwait in 24 hours. The ruling revolutionary command Council also said Iraq is for peace and working a to support the soviet initiative continued on Page 10b-52s refuelling at French base by Chuck v1nch Washington Bureau Washington a France is allowing the United states to use one of its military air bases to refuel the b-52 bombers pounding targets in Iraq and Kuwait a French official said Friday. An official with the French embassy in Washington confirmed that the arrangement is part of an agreement reached feb. 1. It permits . Bombers to Fly Over French territory on missions originating in England. It is believed to be the first time in a Quarter Cen Tury that France has allowed the . Military to oper ate in the country except As part of nato Maneu vers. The United states recently moved an. Unspecified number of b-52g bombers to Raf Fairford in England to beef up the bomber Force participating in operation desert storm. The air Force has been Given Access to the French base at Mont de Marsan about 60 Miles South of Bordeaux in the southwestern part of the country the embassy official said. Me could not provide details on the number or Type of . Aircraft at the base. Defense department officials directed questions to the state department where an. Official declined to confirm or deny the information from the French embassy. A a a a a. A a a Quot a a that san operational Issue and it s our policy not to comment on those issues a the state department official said. A if the foreign governments involved want to speak out on something like this we leave that up to  the air Force has about 60 Kc-10 and More than 640 Kc-135 refuelling aircraft in its inventory. Strategic air come officials at Offutt fab neb., said both aircraft Are taking part in operation desert storm Al a see b-52s on Page 10apache unit co who fired Ori gis relieved Northern saudi Arabia apr the commander of a battalion of Apache helicopters has been relieved of his Post after he mistakenly fired on two . Armoured vehicles killing two american soldiers officials said thursday. Officers in the division said army it. Col. Ralph Hayles had violated division guidelines that commanding officers were not to personally engage enemy forces. A Hayles had Beer flying the Apache with the same crewmen for 15 months. He had been involved in army aviation modernization for 12 years. A the two american soldiers were killed sunday while a division task Force was conducting screening operations just inside the iraqi Border and was. Attacked by an armoured column. . Troops returned fire with antitank missiles and artillery then called in the apaches for close support. Two iraqi tanks were reported destroyed. There were no american casualties at the hands of the iraqis. Six soldiers were wounded1 the division said in a statement released at the time that the Apache Crew a is a Well disciplined and trained  in an interview last month Hayles said aggressive use of the Apache would ultimately reduce american casualties �?o1 think opportunities exist to use the Apache right from the Start a he said. A i think we have a big License to go out there and maximize our technological advantages to minimize  Hayles said in the interview that the .-led coalition was employing a Vari qty of methods to prevent mistaken fire. A we Quot Haven to methods of tire con Irol a he said. A if we Fly beyond where Friendly forces Are the vehicles Are in Nerny territory a free fire zone and we see vehicles and kill them. Slut in close Contact fighting with tanks we must have a positive  one method he said was for one helicopter to Fly Forward and make an identification while another remained farther Back ultimately to fire if a target proved to be the enemy. Asked if it was easy for helicopters to get confused in the heat of Battle he said a the Apache always knows where 7t is and where the Edge of the american forces Are. Those Are precise measurements. 1 have a High Confidence we wont shoot coalition