1.
SV PAN FROM SIGN 'YOU ARE LEAVING THE AMERICAN SECTOR' TO TANK WITH AMERICAN SOLDIER
0.06

2.
CU TANK GUN BARREL PAN TO TURREY WITH CREW
0.14

3.
GV TANK PAST CAMERA
0.25

4.
SV TROOP CARRIERS
0.29

5.
SV PAN AMERICAN SOLDIERS IN TROOP CARRIER
0.34

6.
GV PAN FROM TROOP CARRIERS TO TANK
0.38

7.
SV PAN FROM TROOP CARRIERS TO EAST GERMAN TROOPS LOOKING ACROSS BORDER
0.49



Initials KJ/S/MT/FW



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THREE UNITED STATES TANKS AND FOUR ARMOURED, TROOP CARRIERS WERE LINED UP AT THE FRIEDRICHSTRASSE CHECKPOINT ON THE EAST-WEST BERLIN BORDER, AUG. 30, READY TO GO TO THE RESCUE OF AN AMERICAN ARMY VEHICLE DETAINED BY THE EAST BERLIN PEOPLE'S POLICE.

THE ARMY VEHICLE THAT STARTED THE EMERGENCY ACTION - CARRYING AN AMERICAN CAPTAIN AND THREE SERGEANTS ON A ROUTINE TOUR OF EAST BERLIN - WAS STOPPED BY AN EAST BERLIN POLICE PATROL WHO SHATTERED ONE OF THE CAR'S WINDOWS WITH A TRUNCHEON. THE AMERICAN OFFICER IN CHARGE OF THE VEHICLE REFUSED TO DEAL WITH THE EAST GERMAN POLICE AND DEMANDED THAT A RUSSIAN OFFICER BE SUMMONED TO THE SCENE.

AMERICAN REINFORCEMENTS WERE BROUGHT TO THE BORDER AFTER THE CAR'S OCCUPANTS CONTACTED THEIR HEADQUARTERS IN WEST BERLIN OVER THE RADIO-TELEPHONE EQUIPMENT INSTALLED IN ALL AMERICAN VEHICLES THAT ENTER EAST BERLIN.

AFTER MORE THAN AN HOUR'S DELAY - DURING WHICH POLICE ON THE EASTERN SIDE OF THE BORDER WERE REINFORCED BY A RECONNAISSANCE VEHICLE - THE DETAINED AMERICAN CAR WAS RELEASED ON RUSSIAN ORDERS AND THE ARMOURED GROUP WAS WITHDRAWN.