ALL CHILDREN DESERVE SPECIAL CHRISTMAS

Who doesn't remember the excitement of waking up Christmas morning and finding their first two-wheeler under the Christmas tree.

Every child should have a chance to find the toy they've always wanted some Christmas morning. But sometimes parents don't have the means to make those wishes come true.

Donors to Toy Box, which is sponsored by the Cape Girardeau Jaycees and the Southeast Missourian, have a chance to make this Christmas special for children throughout Cape Girardeau.

One woman's sole request on her 1995 Toy Box application is a bicycle for her 10-year-old son. His bike, she adds on the application, was stolen.

Another woman says her 3-year-old son would like cars, trucks, blocks and books, and, "if anything, please, one red wagon."The mother of a 3-year-old girl said her daughter would like a Barbie doll, Play-Do "to make things, or some kind of toy that will teach her ABCs or numbers."Learning toys, books, baby dolls, Barbies, Power Rangers, X-Men, Gargoyles, bicycles, little red wagons, skates and toy cars and trucks -- they are all special requests for children hoping for a visit from Santa Claus.

Children ages 12 and under who live within the city limits of Cape Girardeau are eligible to receive toys through Toy Box.

Applications are due Friday and may be filled out at the Salvation Army, 701 Good Hope. No late applications will be accepted. Childrens Social Security numbers must be included on all applications.

Santas and elves from the Cape Girardeau Jaycees will deliver toys to children' homes Dec. 21.

That's a happy coincidence, said the mother of a 3-year-old girl, whose birthday is Dec. 21. "So she'll be very happy," said the mother.

New, unwrapped toys may be dropped off at Boatmen's Bank, Capital Bank, Coldwell Banker, Gulliver's Travels, Commerce Bank, Mercantile Bank, First National Bank, Chuck E. Cheese's, West Park Mall or the Southeast Missourian.

Donations may be sent to the Toy Box Trust, P.O. Box 4, Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63702-0004.

By Terrence HuntThe Associated PressBAUMHOLDER, Germany President Clinton gave anxious American troops reassuring orders Saturday, telling them to strike immediately and with decisive force if threatened with attack in Bosnia. Thousands of soldiers roared back their thanks.

On a cold, foggy afternoon, 4,000 troops of 1st Armored Division stood in formation in camouflage fatigues for a send-off from the commander-in-chief.

Many of them were combat-tested in the Persian Gulf War, and Clinton said, America summons you to service again. This time, not with a call to war but a call to peace.

Facing a threatening mix of snipers, ethnic hatreds and millions of mines planted under snow-covered fields, the troops are about to embark on Americas riskiest military mission since the Gulf War. Their job is to police a peace agreement after Europes bloodiest war in a half century.

German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, accompanying Clinton, said Bonn would send 4,000 troops to Bosnia, the first deployment of German troops outside their homeland since World War II. He said Americas participation was an absolute necessity and it is wise.

About 700 U.S. soldiers trained in communications and logistics will head for Bosnia in days, as soon as Clinton signs an authorizing order requested by Gen. George Joulwan, NATOs senior military commander. Officials said Joulwan would act soon, perhaps as early as Sunday.

The main body of American troops will start moving out from bases in Germany after the Bosnian peace treaty is signed in Paris Dec. 14. By February, 20,000 U.S. soldiers are to be in Bosnia, headquartered in the northeast town of Tuzla, and 5,000 others will be deployed in Croatia and Hungary in support roles. Those in Bosnia will be joined by 40,000 troops from about 25 other countries.

During the visit, White House press secretary Mike McCurry said, Clinton and Kohl were briefed by U.S. military commanders and Clinton grilled them with questions concerning risks, training, resources and troop morale.

The officers feel like it is going to be a very stable environment for the U.S. forces, he said.

Clinton said the troops are superbly trained and heavily armed, making any adversary think twice about attacking. And yet, Clinton said there will be risks. There could be incidents with people who have still not given up their hatred, he said.

But you will also have very clear rules of engagement that spell out the most important rule of all in big, bold letters: If you are threatened with attack, you may respond immediately and with decisive force.

The soldiers shouted hooah, their traditional cheer.

Despite Clintons assurances, soldiers admitted they were apprehensive but said they were ready to follow orders.

I believe its going to be very difficult, said Spc. Dustin Sanford of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. His assignment is to clear land mines. One step at a time, Sanford said.

Anybody who says theyre not worried a lot is probably lying to you, said Sgt. 1st Class Ralph Granite of Clarence, Pa. Its in the back of everybodys mind.

Tank crewman Spc. James Lenzner, from Antigo, Wis., stood with his wife Marina and their 8-month-old daughter Courtney to hear Clinton.

Well, I volunteered for this job, (but) I dont want to leave my wife, and my baby doesnt want me to go, he said.

Clinton said their mission would be clear, realistic and achievable in about a year. Some soldiers wondered whether he was hedging on Pentagon assurances that the mission would end in a year. But military planners expressed hope it might end sooner.

The soldiers concerns are shared back home, where a skeptical Congress will vote soon on whether to support Clintons deployment.

Nearing the end of a five-day European trip, Clinton detoured here to give the troops a personal sendoff. Hillary Rodham Clinton accompanied her husband, pulling a wool army blanket over her lap during the presidents speech. She also joined him at a mess hall lunch of turkey and stuffing with about 100 soldiers and family members.

Mindful of the hesitation of NATO military operations when they were controlled by the United Nation, Clinton said U.S. troops will take their orders from Joulwan.

In his weekly radio address, Clinton noted that the leaders of Bosnia, Croatia and Serbia have pledged in letters to take all possible measures to insure the safety of the peacekeeping force.

They have made a serious commitment to peace but they cant do it alone, Clinton said. They need our help, to help reestablish the conditions under which people can live in decency and peace.

In Belgrade, Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic promised a U.S. congressional delegation that American troops would be safe.

We asked him point-blank: Do you assure us youre going to implement your guarantee as to the conduct of the Bosnian Serbs? said Rep. Sander Levin, a Michigan Democrat. He gave us the answer, Yes.

Giving the Republican response to Clintons radio address, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said Republicans oppose sending U.S. ground forces to Bosnia but would not try to stop it. To do so, he said, would discourage Americans serving in Bosnia and would have very serious negative consequences.

From Germany, Clinton flew to Madrid, Spain, his last stop before his return to Washington on Sunday. The Clintons joined King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia for a late dinner at the Royal Palace.

Today, Clinton will meet with Prime Minister Felipe Gonzales and Jacques Santer, president of the 15-nation European Commission. Clinton wants European countries to pay at least one-third of the cost of the Bosnia peacekeeping mission, McCurry said. The United States share is expected to be about $2 billion. about 20 percent of the total.