European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 22, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday april 22, 1992 the stars and stripes b Page 9new War coverage policy proposed Pentagon agrees to give greater Access to Media Washington a the Pentagon and major . News organizations Are near agreement on new guidelines for War coverage according to a Pentagon spokesman who is suggesting the Media take Steps to ensure that journalists a not overwhelm the Battlefield a Pentagon spokesman Pete Williams said the defense department is drafting a new Public affairs doctrine that will describe for combat commanders How to assist reporters accredited to cover american forces in combat. He said work is nearly Complete on a set. Of principles that has been negotiated with editors since the end of the persian Gulf War. Expressed concerns the Williams editors had about restricted coverage of the conflict. The draft guidelines provide Broad Access for War correspondents covering american forces and Are designed in part to eliminate roadblocks that caused some news material from the Gulf War to be delayed for Many Days. Quot its not enough to get people in to see it you be got to get the Story out a Williams said last week in a military Media seminar sponsored by the Freedom forum. The news Media and the military remain at Odds on the Issue of submitting news reports from combat zones for Security review. And Williams said military officers continue to worry that Large numbers of reporters could overwhelm commanders whose principal duty is to prevail in combat. A there has to be somewhere where the news Media come together and say a let us not overwhelm the Battlefield a a a he said. George Watson Washington Bureau chief for Abc news said the Pentagon should accommodate As Many journalists As practical. And Clark Hoyt Washington Bureau chief of Knight Ridder said that of the More than 1,000 journalists who covered the Gulf War there probably were no More than 300 to 500 who sought assignments in the Battle zone. A that hardly seems to be an overwhelming number a he said. Williams said the right number will depend on the circumstances. Williams was asked by defense Secretary Dick Cheney to discuss ways to improve combat coverage following a meeting Between Cheney and top executives of Media organizations. The discussions resulted in draft guidelines that begin with a Tenet stipulating that a open and Independent reporting will be the principal Means of coverage of . Military  the defense department would Issue credentials to journalists assigned to cover combat. News organizations have agreed to abide by a set of ground rules designed to preserve the Security of military operations. The guidelines would limit the use of pooled coverage organized by military press officers the principal Means of Gulf War coverage. The guidelines would bar escort officers from interfering in the reporting process which occurred on some occasions during the Gulf War. Louis d. Boccardi president of the associated press who organized the group that met with Cheney last september said of the tentative guidelines a the Media executives believe that the draft principles provide a reasonable War coverage guidelines Here is a list of nine guidelines drafted by Maior . Nows organizations and the Pentagon As principles to be followed in the coverage of any War involving  troops 1. Open and Independent reporting will be the principal Means of coverage of  military operations 2. Pools composed of reporters who report to the entire press corps Are not to serve As the Standard Means of covering  military operations but pools May sometimes provide the Only feasible Means of Early Access pools should he As Large As possible and disbanded at the earliest Opportunity within 24 to 36 hours when possible. The arrival of Early Access pools will not cancel the principle of Independent coverage for journalists already in the area 3. Even under conditions of open coverage pools May be appropriate Lor specific events such As those at extremely Remote locations or where space is limited 4. Journalists in a combat zone will be credentialed by the  military and will to required to abide by a Clear set of military Security ground rules that protect . Forces and their operations violation of the ground rules can result in the suspension of the credentials and expulsion from the combat zone news organizations will make their Bost efforts to assign experienced journalists to combat operations and to make them familiar with . Military operations 5. Journalists will be provided Access to Allma or military units special operations restrictions May limit Access in some cases 6. Military Public affairs officers should act As liaisons but should not interfere Witti the reporting process 7. Under conditions of open. Over Aai Field commanders will permit  to ride on military vehicles and aircraft whenever feasible the military will be responsible Tor the transportation of pools 8. Consistent Witti its capabilities the military will Supply pass Public attain officers with facilities to enable timely secure compatible transmission of Pool material and will make these facilities available whenever possible Tor filing Independent coverage in cases when government facilities Are unavailable journalists will As always file by any other Means available the military win not ban communications systems operated by news organizations but electromagnetic operational Security n Battlefield situations May require Mitt a restrictions on the use of such system. 9. These principles will apply As Well to the operations of the standing department of defense National Media Pool system basis for coverage of the next conflict. They provide a significant move toward open coverage while recognizing the need for military  during the Gulf War the Pentagon forced news organizations to submit material for Security review. News organizations contended during the negotiations that journalists would heed Security guidelines and that prior Security review of their copy photographs and videos was a unwarranted and  Williams said a military people done to want to say there is never going to be a need for Security  a if in some future operation the military decided it needed Security review. Reporters would have to agree to that or stay out of the Battlefield a Williams said. Watson said Abc news might Challenge such a decision. A at some Point we would have a Choice of covering the War under these ground rules or not a he  fire injures son of Lakenheath Captain Bury St. Edmunds England a amps the 2-year-old son of a Raf Lakenheath Captain is in intensive care after being pulled from a fire at his family a House in the Village of Ched Burgh about 5 20 . Monday according to a spokesman for the Suffolk constabulary. James of Reilly received Burns to his face and legs and suffered from smoke inhalation said police Constable Ron Stanford. He was treated at West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St. Edmunds and then transferred to a special unit at Norfolk and Norwich Hospital. Hospital officials would give no information on his condition other than to say he was in intensive care. Air Force maj. David Cannon a Lakenheath spokesman said James was in guarded condition in the intensive care unit with Burns covering 15 to 20 percent of his upper body. James parents capt. Thomas and Teresa of Reilly received slight Burns to their faces but were treated and released Stanford said. According to the police report James was playing in an open garage when there was a loud bang. His parents noticed smoke and flames crawled into the garage and pulled James out. A the Only thing in operation at the time was an electric Tumble clothes dryer a Stanford said. The incident is under investigation by the Suffolk fire service. No information was available on the extent of damage to the garage or Home. Of Reilly is assigned to the 492nd fighter s j. The Village where he lived is located approximately seven Miles Southwest of Bury St. Edmunds and nearly 15 Miles Southeast of Lakenheath. Trial begins for Hanau officer accused of murdering wife by Randy Pruitt staff writer Hanau Germany a a five Man court martial panel was seated tuesday in the trial of an army officer who is accused of slaying his wife in their Neuberg apartment last year. First it. Christopher l. Strain 28, is charged with premeditated murder in the shooting death of Cathlyn m. Brewer Strain on aug. 26. The 26-year-old woman was killed by a single blast from a 12-gauge pump Shotgun. The Case being heard before judge it. Col Buris c. Dale jr., is expected to last two weeks and involve dozens of witnesses and a trip to los Angeles to hear testimony from an expert on suicide. In his opening statement Dan Hyatt a civilian attorney from Portland ore., who is representing Strain said he would prove that Brewer Strain had suicidal tendencies. Also representing Strain is capt. Carl pro til. Prosecuting attorney capt. Allen e. Chandlerjr. Told the panel that the strains who had been married about four years were having marital problems and had discussed separation and divorce Only hours before the shooting. Chandler said he would present evidence to show that following the argument Brewer Strain went to a nearby pizzeria where she was Well known. She stayed late he said to help with the dishes. She left for Home but returned a few minutes later telling the owner she had too much to drink. She asked that a cab be summoned to take her Back to the couples apartment. Chandler said he would introduce evidence that would indicate that Strain beat her after she returned Home and Cut her five times with a knife. Chandler told the court that Strain later retrieved a Shotgun from the bedroom took her into a bathroom near the living room and shot her near her left Collarbone. Strain woke up a neighbor and told him his Wile Hail shot herself Chandler told the court. In his opening statement Hyatt said Brewer Strain had made several suicide attempts. On the night she died he said Strain had awakened to find her in the bathroom Shower stall cutting her neck and Abdomen with a knife. His Shotgun was sitting nearby Hyatt said. He said that when Strain attempted to move the Shotgun she grabbed the barrel with her left hand and pulled it toward her. The gun discharged. Hyatt challenged the prosecution to prove that Strain beat his wife. No witnesses he said Ever saw Strain strike his wife although bruises noted in an autopsy of the 160-Pound woman could not be accounted for he said. Hyatt termed the cuts on Brewer strains body us a hesitation Marks a and said a doctor would testify that such Marks Are often inflicted by suicide prone people. A Why would he Strain shoot his wife intentionally when she was trying to commit suicide a Hyatt asked during his opening remarks. Strain participated in operation desert storm and is trained As an atomic demolition and munitions officer. He is assigned to the 1st in 32nd Field arty in Hanau. He was formerly with he Btry 3rd in 20th Field arty. Prosecutors told the court tuesday that the Case would be based on circumstantial evidence from investigators and forensic experts. The morning session tuesday was devoted primarily to jury selection. In the afternoon prosecutors made their opening remarks followed by statements for the defense which continued into the evening