Evening star., 1961-10-24
Berlin Border Guards Back Down
At American Show of Defiance

sHERLIN. Oct. "a - CAP)-
8srlin border guards backed
ddEn last night when three
Americans defied a new Com
rnSnist restriction on travel
thtpugh the Berlin wall.
After a dispute Sunday be-
tween the border guards and
the deputy chief of the United
States occupation mission in
Berlin, East Germany's Red
regime announced all Allied
personnel in civilian clothes
would have to show identifica-
ton papers to East German
police when passing between
the Soviet and Allied sectors
of Berlin.
Last night three Americans
in civilian dress, identified only
as members Of the United States
occupation mission, drove I'D
to-the only crossing point still
open to Allied personnel.
The driver of the car said
that when an East German po-
liceman stopped him, "I told
him was not going to show
him my papers. There was a
brief argument and then was
allowed to pass"
&. Argument Ensues
The trio returned 3 hours
later and again refused to show
their papers. After another
argument, they were allowed to
pass into West Berlin.
The Western Allies, contend
ing that all of Berlin is still
technically under Western
Soviet occupation, have refused
to accept East German con-
trolls. Western military person.
mel are ordered not to show
Identification papers to the
East German police.
There was no immediate Of
ficial United States comment
on the new East German re-
striction.
The East Germans Sunday
night stopped a car carrying
E. Allan Lightner, jr., deputy
chief Of the United States mis-
sion, when Mr.. Lightner re-
fused to show his papers. He
and his wife were allowed to
pass only after an armed escort
Of eight American troops sur
rounded his car and escorted
him past the border guards.
Soviet Vehicles Checked
Mai. Gen. Albert Watson II,
the United States commandant
in Berlin, protested Immediately
to the Soviet commandant over
the incident, and American
military police began checking
Soviet vehicles for the first
time.
The Russians are expected
to protest the incursion Of
American troops into East Ber-
lin territory to escort Mr.. 1
Lightner. .--...
In other developments, East
and West Berlin police ex-lS !
changed volleys Of tear gas !
grenades last night, and West :
Berlin police were issued subj,
machine guns for, the first I
time.
The grenade throwing took
place on the border between the Q
French and Soviet sectors at Z
Wollankstrasse. The VOpos- q
East German peoples police
tried to silence a West Berlin s
loudSpeaker truck with five 1
grenades and smashed the 4
windshield Of a car. The West q
Berliners responded with gre e
nades of their own, which they I
said had good effect" q
The West Berlin government I
announced that no more ex- S
plosive fireworks could be sold I
in the city. Firecrackers are 9
traditional in Berlin celebrations $
Of New Years day, but authori-
ties felt someone might be I
tempted to annoy the Com I
munists by throwing them over
the wall dividing the city.
West Berlin police reported
% East Berliners fled to the '
West overnight, one Of the /
highest numbers Of escapes |
in recent weeks. Among them 4
was one Vopo policeman who
jumped from the second story
OF a house on a border street, i,
landed in the arms of a 4,
West German policeman and
sprained an ankle.
The Western police also re-
ported II shots were fired by /
Vopos on the border in the
northern districts. Afterward
eyewitnesses saw a man being
led away, presumably a refu-
gee caught while trying to es-
cape.