European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 10, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Something in the air gives Hope for release of hostages United nations a Secretary general Javier Perez de Cuellar said Friday he understood that an israeli backed militia could free Arab prisoners in a move that May Speed the release of More Western hostages. A i understand that in Southern Lebanon some lebanese could be released. And that will be helpful. In a sure the israelis will cooperate with us in solving this problem a Perez de Cuellar told reporters. In Israel Uri Lubrani the defense ministry official in charge of hostage issues said he was Quot a Little sceptical Quot about the prospects that John Mccarthy s release thursday would Lead to further hostage releases. A but there is still something in the air that gives us Hope that the release of Mccarthy maybe will be a first step in a series of other Steps a he added in an interview with the associated press. A Perez de Cuellar said the reports he had heard about a possible release of Arab prisoners in South Lebanon were not confirmed he gave no information on the source of his reports. A i have heard something but it has not been confirmed to  he said. The White mouse said Friday it was losing optimism about the chances for release of an american hostage in Lebanon and said anew a we do not make deals w i t h Host age -1 Ake  Ever since Mccarthy of Britain was freed by his kidnappers in Lebanon Early thursday after five years inset Hope on Page 2freed hostage ends first Day Back Home John Mccarthy flanked by his father Patrick and brother Terry Waves thursday after leaving the British embassy in Damascus Syria. From wire reports Raf Lyneham England a former hostage John Mccarthy underwent medical and psycho logical tests Friday at. A British air Force base where he spent his first full Day of Freedom privately with family and friends after five years in Captivity. The 34-year-old television journalist who was reported to be upbeat and fit had a traditional English breakfast of Bacon eggs and sausages alter spending the night at Raf Lyneham 80 Miles West of London. Mccarthy decided to spend his first Day in Britain out of the Public Eye at the air base where he has been Given a suite in the officers mess. Raf group capt. Ian Corbitt said it had not been determined How Long Mccarthy would stay at the base which has been ready to receive freed hostages for More than a year. A the will be undergoing further medical tests this morning by the doctors from the Raf Hospital at Wroughton Quot Corbitt said a and the results of those tests and his own wishes will determine How Long he will stay Here in the officers mess As a Sanctuary for him while he recovers from his  Mccarthy spent about three hours late thursday talking with a Small group of relatives and friends Over a few drinks. I its father and brother spent the night in adjoining rooms. Quot he was very together and he was in command of the conversation. Me was telling jokes and we were laughing and then talking seriously from time to time a said Chris Pearson a close Friend and president of the friends of John Mccarthy organization that campaigned for his release. Mccarthy said thursday that he was Given a letter by his lebanese kidnappers the shiite Muslim group islamic jihad for . Secretary general Javier Perez de Cuellar. He said the letter seeks Perez de Cuellari a intervention to gain Freedom for a fall prisoners and hostages being held in Lebanon   speaking in new York the . Chief said he considered Mccarthy a release Quot he  a process leading to the release of All  . Officials speaking on condition of anonymity said Perez de Cuellar was to leave Friday for London to meet Mccarthy and receive the letter from his captors possibly sunday. The foreign office would not confirm see freed on Page 2gulf War Friendly fire casualty toll increased from staff and wire reports Washington a defense Secretary Dick Cheney has been told that around 15 percent of the americans killed and wounded in the persian Gulf War were the victims of so called a Friendly fire a Pentagon sources said thursday. The report confirmed earlier forecasts by Pentagon officials that the toll of americans accidentally shot by their own forces w Ould Rise from the preliminary count of 11 killed and 15 wounded. The latest count put the number of casualties at around 20 killed and around 60 wounded from Friendly fire the sources said. P defense department officials said the increase should not be surprising and added there was a possibility that not All Friendly fire casualties have been discovered. Quot there might be even More a said  of fire la. Who Snow c of lev on condition of anonymity. Cheney was briefed thursday on the results of intensive studies conducted primarily by the army and the Marine corps to determine As closely As possible the number of casualties resulting from Friendly fire in the drive to push iraqi forces out of Kuwait. In total . Officials have said the 148 . Service personnel died in operation desert storm while 458 were designated As wounded in action. The majority of killed and wounded found to be caused by Friendly fire incidents occurred predominantly among the army and Marine corps the sources said. They said there were no Navy casualties attributed to Friendly fire. The figure of 15 percent casualties from Friendly fire was first reported thursday night by Abc news. The initial see Gulf on Page 2 defense officials Aren t satisfied with Quick fixes to problem by Rosemary Sawyer staff writer the Pentagon said there is still a need for Long term solutions to the problem of so called a Friendly fire incidents despite Quick fix measures that lessened risks in the persian Gulf War. The need for such improved solutions was outlined in a Pentagon report made to Congress in july. During operation desert storm Quot ground target identification and the resulting engagement of Friendly or Allied forces remained a serious problem Quot said the defense department preliminary report to Congress on the persian Gulf conflict. The report noted at least five incidents in which Friendly aircraft fired on ground vehicles and Quot several incidents of Friendly fire Between ground forces. The first of these mishaps prompted an immediate Effort by the army air Force and Marine corps to develop a Quot Quick fix Quot to the problem see officials on Page 2