European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 9, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 10 a the stars and stripes Friday August 9, 1991 thousands crowd onto the freighter Vlora before it departed Albania on  mobilizes its navies to halt refugee Laden ships Rome apr Italy mobilized its Navy and coast guard along the Adriatic thursday to Block thousands of albanian refugees from reaching italian ports. But despite warnings issued wednesday that All refugees from the impoverished country would be sent Home albanian freighters and fishing boats defied coast guard blockades and sought to reach the italian coast. The Milan newspaper corriere Della Sera said that one albanian drowned wednesday when he jumped overboard and tried to swim to Shore. Authorities said they could not immediately confirm the report. One ship with an estimated 1,000 albanians aboard headed to the port of Otranto around Midnight wednesday but authorities refused it permission to enter the Harbor. Port officials were especially alarmed by reports from Albania that another freighter the Vlora was carrying As Many As 10,000 people and sailing toward Italy. Port officials were mobilized along the coast and the Navy and coast guard sent out patrol boats and helicopters. Two other ships were reported off the Mediterranean Island of Malta but authorities were also refusing entry. Reports from Albania said thousands of people have gathered at the port of Durrs hoping to escape to Prosperity in the West. Security forces opened fire on some refugees As they tried to Board ships. At least 12 were reported to have died As they tried to Board ferries. Albanian television said Many of them drowned. Italy is trying to absorb More than 20,000 albanians who have arrived since March. The government began sending Home newer arrivals in june. Reformer exercise to include 6,700 from . Locations by Chuck Vinch Washington Bureau Washington even As its overseas draw Down picks up steam the United states is set to show its continued commitment to defend Europe by sending 6,700 .-based troops to Germany for reformer �?T91 this month Pentagon officials said wednesday. About 2,000 soldiers from the 8th inf div Mech and 2nd army Cav regt will join them Tor the follow on tactical ground exercise code named certain shield.  units to deploy include elements of Iii corps and the 13th corps support come from fort Hood Texas Iii corps arty from fort Sill okla. The 4th inf div Mech from fort Carson Colo. And the 10th Mountain div Light from fort drum . In addition numerous smaller combat support and combat service support in to will participate. This will be the 22nd training exercise in the reformer return of forces to Germany series which is designed to showcase . Ability to quickly move military muscle from the United states to Europe in a crisis. The deployment phase together with certain shield will be hosted by natos Northern army group and is scheduled to run from late August through late october in Northern Germany and the Netherlands. Reflecting the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe and the soviet withdrawal from the Region this years exercise will be far smaller than the traditional full scale tactical Maneu vers that stretched across Large chunks of the German Countryside. In fact no tanks and few tracked vehicles will be deployed As participating units will instead make extensive use of the kinds of computer Battle simulations that were tested and refined during the 1990 exercise. While belgian German dutch and British forces will take part in certain shield along with . Troops officials acknowledge that the Maneu vers will have a different look than in past years. A a it a been especially tailored to reduce Over 50 percent of its historic costs and to stay in touch with the changing face of Europe a one official said. A the Field training exercise will happen but most of the units will train at reduced strength in a command Post exercise. A obviously All this stems from the fact that the soviet threat to Europe is greatly diminished. But As Long As we have any of our troops Over there its critical that we continue training to reinforce  the 6,700 .-based troops will move through Schipholt Airport near Amsterdam while More than 500 vehicles will be shipped through the dutch port of Vlis Singen. Those troops will draw equipment from focus repositioning of Materiel configured in unit sets Sites and move to staging areas to pick up additional equipment from their Home stations and prepare for the tactical exercise. A second smaller us exercise will involve three battalions a one each of Armor infantry and Field artillery a from the 4th inf div which will each draw a Complete set of equipment. That equipment will be taken out for a unit Road March and then serviced and returned to storage. The three battalions involved in that Effort will then immediately return to fort Carson. When certain shield ends units will move to a redeployment Assembly area run by the 21st theatre area come at the Bergen training Center in North Central Germany. Units will perform equipment maintenance cleaning and packaging in preparation for returning their gear either to the United states or to their designated us Sites. At least 11 die in bus Accident Vienna Austria apr a bus carrying More than 40 hungarian workers on a company Outing plunged off a Mountain Road wednesday into a wooded Ravine killing at least 11, police said. The bus Slid off the Road As it descended a Steep Hill near Rieben in Sty Ria province 110 Miles Southwest of Vienna. It overturned while plunging 300 feet Down a Rocky wooded Hillside said Graz police official maj. Karl Klug. Klug said there were indications that Brake failure caused the Accident. The bus was carrying at least 43 hungarians from the tavern Alps in Central Austria to Rieben at least 11 people were confirmed dead and ambulances and helicopters had already ferried Many of the injured to hospitals after the Accident at around 7 p.m., Klug said. Several More injured passengers were thought to be trapped under the bus wreckage Klug said. A Crane was brought in but was having difficulty hoisting the bus because of the terrain he said. Belknap to make Goodwill tour of East ports by King Cruger Mediterranean Bureau the guided missile Cruiser Belknap flagship of the Navy a 6th Fleet will make Goodwill visits to the Black sea ports of Constanta Romania and Varna Bulgaria next week the visit to Varna bulgarians major seaport is believed to be the first visit by an american warship to Varna in More than 75 years. A we had it researched by the Navy historical Center in Washington and the records show that the last visit to Varna look place before world War i a cmdr. Craig Quigley the 6th Fleet spokesman said wednesday. A we have had Navy ships going into Constanta several times in the past few a fears but this will be the first visit into there by the Fleet flagship and its commander a Quigley said. The Belknap with its complement of nearly 600 officers and Crew will arrive in Constanta on monday and will remain at the Busy seaport and resort Center until Early aug. 16, when it will depart for the morning Long trip to Varna Quigley said. A the visits to both ports Are an expression of the United states encouragement and support of these nations moves toward democracy a Quigley said. The visit to Varna will conclude aug. 20. In both Romania and Bulgaria vice adm William a. Owens 6th Fleet commander will meet with commanders of the respective navies and with leading political figures. Also nine Seabee assigned to the Public works department at Naples support activity will carry out two Public assistance projects in each City. In Romania they will construct a playground at a Hospital for handicapped children and renovate a Hospital emergency room. In Varna they will build a playground for an orphanage and help build a bulgarian military Supply depot. They will be joined by teams of volunteers from the Belknap. Sailors from the two nations have been invited to join. The 6th Fleet band will give a number of Public concerts in both countries and the Belknap will be open for visits by the Public. We anticipate pretty Good sized crowds in both places a Quigley said