European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 25, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday May 25, 1991 the stars and stripes Page 13crete is marking Battle anniversary Hania Crete Greece up a the Duke of Kent arrived on the Mediterranean Island of Crete Friday to represent Britain in 50th anniversary ceremonies of the Battle of Crete in which nazi invaders seized the Island from the allies. A a a a a a a a the Duke who flew in on a Royal air Force Jet was welcomed on the Island by greek prime minister Constantine i Tsitakis. A a the Duke was in Crete along with hundreds of veterans from Britain Australia new zealand Germany and Greece to Mark the Battle of May and june 1941 when 2,100 Allied and greek troops were killed defending the Island and 11,855 were taken prisoner. The Battle of Crete marked the first time in the history of warfare that an Island was captured in an airborne invasion. Hitler flew in 22/750 paratroopers of the alpinist division or Mountain warfare troops to launch a two week Battle for the Island. The Battle began on May 20, 1941 and ended june 2. The nazi casualties included 1,990 dead and 6,010 wounded. Reginald j. Pye 70, a Veteran who survived the Battle commented a the landscape has changed a Little what with new roads and buildings but the main features Are still  Israel welcomes new bid from shiites on prisoner Jerusalem apr Israel welcomed Friday a prisoner Exchange offer made by Lebanon a Hezbollah movement As a a a positive step that May Lead to negotiations with the Radical shiite group Israel also said it would be ready to launch negotiations on the Swap As soon As it received the names of the israeli soldiers Hezbollah claims to be holding and was shown a signs of life from them. A such an Exchange could also help secure Freedom for the 13 Western hostages held in Lebanon including six americans. A -. Israeli defense ministry spokesman Dan Naveh welcomed the statement by Hezbollah Leader Abbas Muslawi in which he said Hezbollah would be ready to Exchange israeli prisoners for the lebanese held by Israel. A we see it As a positive step contributing to the improvement in the atmosphere a step that May prepare the ground for negotiations that will bring Home the israeli prisoners of War held in Lebanon a Naveh said. Naveh in a prepared statement called on Muslawi to a disperse the Mist and question Marks and clarify what Are the names of the israeli prisoners held by  what is their situation and  in an earlier interview on Israel radio Friday Naveh said that the International committee of the red Cross must be allowed Access to the hostages and prisoners before any talks take place. Cuban soldiers leaving Angola after 16 years. Natch s remarks followed a statement thursday by Muslawi the newly elected Hezbollah Leader saying his group was a ready for an Exchange of the israeli prisoners for shiites held by the South Lebanon army an israeli backed militia. A a a a. Sheik Mohammed Mahdi Shamseddine the highest ranking shiite cleric in Lebanon earlier this month suggested swapping the israelis for about 350 shiites held by the South Lebanon army at the Khiam Deton Tion Center in Southern Lebanon. Hezbollah is also seeking the release of Sheik Abdul Karim Obeid who was kidnapped from his Home by an israeli commando unit in july 1989. A Naveh said that a when Israel gets signs of life and proofs from its prisoners of War it will be ready to negotiate the release of lebanese held by Israel including Sheik Abdul Karim  Israel has earlier included Obeid Only in an offer to negotiate a general Swap of All israeli prisoners and Western hostages in Lebanon. Seven israeli servicemen went missing in Lebanon after the 1982 israeli invasion. It is not known How Many of them Are alive. Also missing Are the 13 westerners believed held hostage. Besides the six americans they include four britons two germans and an italian. The longest held is Terry Anderson chief Middle East correspondent for the associated press who was kidnapped March 16,1985. Luanda Angola apr the last contingent of cuban soldiers was leaving Angola Friday after 16 years of support big the government against  guerrillas and South african invaders in a civil War that became Fidel Castro a biggest african adventure. The final 1,910 cuban troops were set to leave by boat and plane from Luanda Friday angolan and cuban officials said. The departure comes five weeks ahead of a deadline set by 1988 peace accords signed by Angola Cuba and South Africa in new York. They Are also leaving one week before the angolan government and the Unita rebel movement Are scheduled to sign a treaty ending one of africans longest and bloodiest civil wars. Under the 1988 accords the 50,000 cuban soldiers then in Angola were due to Complete a phased withdrawal june 30. A Small United nations Force has monitored the pullout. In return South Africa granted Independence to angolans Southern neighbor Namibia in March 1990 and pledged to halt Aid to Unita. South Africa welcomed the announce ment of fridays pullout. \ a Angola Cuba and South Africa have opened a new Era of cooperation in Southern Africa a said foreign minister Pik Botha. He said the Early cuban withdrawal will facilitate an ongoing peace process the angolan civil War. Unita and government troopers stopped shooting last week when a provisional cease fire came into  two sides Are scheduled to sign a formal treaty at the end of the month. The . Force in Angola will then be expanded to Monitor the truce. Unita the Nati ortal Union for the total Independence of Angola fought the pro soviet government since Angola gained Independence from Portugal in 1975. A at in in Naples Italy up world famous German concert pianist Wilhelm Kempff has died in his Villa Home in the Amalfi coast Village of Positano at the age of 95, friends reported Friday. The friends said Kempff daughter Angelika was at his Side when he died in his sleep thursday. His wife died in Positano five years  achieved world Fame particularly for his performances of Beethoven sonatas in which his natural and Undra Matic style reflected the classic German school. For Many years he toured the world giving piano concerts mainly As a soloist but also with famous orchestras including the Berlin philharmonic. Kempff was born in Jii Terborg some 40 Miles Southwest of Berlin nov. 25, 1895, into a family of musicians. He studied piano and composition in Berlin and performed for the first time in Public in the Berlin suburb of Potsdam in 1907, when he was 12 years old. In 1917 he won the Mendelssohn prize for piano and composition. That launched him on the International scene As a concert pianist. While touring Italy before world War ii Kempff fell in love with Positano at that time an isolated fishing Village built on the Steep coastal Cliff on the. Amalfi coast South of Naples. After world War ii Kempff established his second Home in an idyllic Villa overlooking the Mediterranean on the upper part of Positano. He alternated his time Between Positano and a Village in Bavaria. In 1957, he instituted his a morpheus foundation in Positano where he held specialized piano courses twice a year for promising Young pianists from conservatories All Over the world. Kempff body was to be flown Back to Germany for burial. Risky Bee Ness a London policeman radios for suggestions on How to handle a swarm of bees settled on a bicycle in the knights Ridge area of London