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7 7 IT 1 i fitter Vol. 306, No. 100 1982, Th Philadelphia Inquirt' Saturday, April 10, 1982 20 CENTS and (m) 1 wiiiiiiwiMMiwammjiMimwwciliii By Jane P. Shoemaker' Inquirer Staff Writer SOUTHAMPTON, England The send-off began well enough, with flags held high, chins pushed out and voices strong for the traditional "Hip, hip, hooray." "It doesn't do them any good to see us here in tears," said Mandy Ash-bridge as the ship carrying her husband of 18 years cast off and prepared to sail. "We're all doing what we have to do, and I'm proud." It was to be just that kind of farewell last night as the ship Canberra carried 2,000 marine commandos and paratroopers off to join the British fleet going to defend the Falkland Islands.

But emotions are not easily held in check when sons and husbands and brothers and fathers are waving from the decks of a ship that is slipping into the darkness and may not return for months. "Wave to Daddy! Wave to Daddy!" one sobbing young woman said to the three tearful young children who clung to her side. Tracy Eisler, 17 and married for just two weeks, and Sharon Harris, 19 and engaged, cried on each other's shoulders as the Canberra headed toward the open sea. Until this week and the mobilization of British forces in response to Argentina's invasion of the Falk-lands, this was a scene that the British had long since pushed back into memory. The pain of recalling the last such send-off was almost too much for May Rickard to bear.

It was 40 years ago that she stood at a dock like this one and waved, to her husband as he left for Burma. "It weren't nothing like this," said Mrs. Rickard, whose eyes searched for her grandson in the lines of olive-drab uniforms that lined the ship's foredeck. "We all carried gas masks, you know. There was all that bomb-ing.

When Mrs. Rickard was a young mother during World War II, the nation was united in its resolve to defeat Germany and to protect its very existence. This time, her grandson was going off to defend a tiny group of islands 8,000 miles away. "These young men are excited because they don't know what they face," she said, ringing her hands. "If (See CANBERRA on 7-A) Vat Mini i ji mm before its conversion for military duty in the Falkland crisis Argentines preparing for battle Haig stresses hope for solution From Inquirer Wire Services BUENOS AIRES, Argentina Argentina poured more reinforcements into the Falkland Islands yesterday, broadcast air-raid instructions in a major coastal city and warned that it would defend itself if Britain attacked.

Dozens of British warships were steaming toward the disputed islands and Royal Wavy submarines were believed already in the area. In an effort to avert hostilities, U.S. Secretary of State Alexander M. Haig Jr. flew here last night from London, where he had held five hours of talks with British leaders.

He is to meet today with Argentine President Leopoldo F. Galtieri and Foreign Minister Nicanor Costa Mendez. On his arrival, Haig said that the "close relationship between the United States and Argentina" should help settle the deepening crisis. Haig and the United States are hemispheric partners with many years of historical cooperation. That relationship, which has become even more cordial in recent months, should serve as a good basis in seeking to avoid conflict." He said President Reagan had asked him to "assist in finding a solution to the crisis in the South Atlantic." The Pentagon announced in Washington that U.S.

merchant ships had been advised to stay away from the 200-mile war zone around the Falk-lands, which Britain said will be effective at 12:01 a.m. Monday, but the Pentagon said the notice "in no way constitutes" U.S. policy in the dispute. Thirty-five Americans were reported on the islands. Earlier in the day, Costa Mendez said, "If Britain persists in its hard-headedness and attacks, we will defend oursejves." Labor thd political leaders, echoing a calf from a Buenos Aires radio station, urged Argentines to gather in the RJaza de Mayo across from Government House this morning in a mass show of support for the seizure of the Falklands after 149 years of British rule.

Although it was Good Friday, hundreds of people waited outside the Defense Ministry to volunteeer for military duty. Officials said thousands had volunteered since the office opened Wednesday. Argentina continued flying troops and muBitions from coastal air bases to the Falkland Islands in preparation for a possible attack by the British armada that is heading for the archipelago 250 miles off Argentina's southern tip. Reinforcement of the troops has been continual since the April 2 occupation, and newspapers quoted (See FALKLANDS on 7-A) The Indians shook off the sheets of rain and resigned themselves to yet another round of bad weather and delay, and yet another night in the Cocoa Beach, Holiday Inn. "For this, we can wait another 24 hours," said J.

P. Singh, one of India's top space officials whp has been here for this launch since Monday. "For this, we have been waiting already 15 years." Indeed, one more day is hardly long to wait to sow the seeds in outer space for a social revolution in rural India. Few in the United States were expected to take note of the launch of this Delta 3910 rocket, which, if the weather improved, was to be sent (See SATELLITE on 2-A) The cruise ship Canberra for rights Douglas A. Fraser Sees end of the 'hemorrhaging' tar mi i i mi ni Wholesale prices drop a 2d month Back-to-back dip is 1st since 76 Associated Press WASHINGTON For the first time since 1976, wholesale prices tumbled two months in a row, falling in March at an annual rate of 1.7 percent, the government reported yesterday.

The White House said the decline was "further evidence we are bringing down the rate of inflation." Private economists cautioned, however, that the report mostly reflected the severe recession and that the decline was not without its costs, to the economy. The slide matching the decline of February was driven by falling food and energy prices, which registered their sharpest monthly drop in more than six years, the Labor Department said. "It is a good sign and one that is bringing benefit to Americans across the board," said deputy White House press secretary Larry Speakes, who was in Barbados with President Reagan on an extended Easter weekend. Later, David Gergen, White House communications director, said that the President was "greatly encouraged" by the new report. "After so many years of prices spi-raling ever upward, it almost seems too good to be true to have them actually falling two months in a row," Gergen said.

"The message is very clear we have broken the back of the severe inflation problem with the recession medicine," said private economist Allen Sinai. Sandra Shaber, senior economist at Chase Econometrics, a consulting firm in Bala Cynwyd, said: "The several years of double-digit inflation rates are behind us for the next several years." The reductions in the inflation rate have not been without costs, Sinai said. "One cannot have this marvelous impact on inflation obtained by a cold-turkey method without a tremendous amount of negative fallout," said Sinai, senior economist at Data Resources Inc. a private consulting firm in Lexington, Mass. He noted the nation's 9 percent unemployment rate and said industries affected by falling prices would have a "tough time" with revenues.

In the report, the Labor Department said its Producer Price Index for finished goods fell a seasonally adjusted 0.1 percent in March, the same as in February. If prices fell for 12 straight months at the March rate, the yearly decline would be 1.7 percent after seasonal adjustment. The last time the measure dropped two consecutive months was in January and February of 1976, when the (See PRICES on I2-A) White House: Deficits would top $100 billion By David Hoffman Inquirer Washington Hureau WASHINGTON The Reagan administration acknowledged yesterday that federal budget deficits for this fiscal year and next would top the $100 billion mark for the first time in the nation's history, but the new administration estimates still fall short of projections by Congress and private economists. With President Reagan vacationing in Barbados, the White House reported in a spring budget update to Congress that federal deficits would increase to $100.5 billion for 1982 and $101.9 billion for 1983. Only two months ago, Reagan had estimated (See BUDGET on 10-A) Crusading Concession pact narrowly voted by GM workers By Ann Job Woolley Associated Press DETROIT In the closest ratification vote ever at General Motors workers narrowly approved a new contract designed to save the company $2.5 billion over the next 30 months, the United Auto Workers union announced yesterday.

The union said that only 52 percent of those who cast ballots favored the pact, which passed by little more than 9,000 votes, 114,468 to 105,090. Ratified amid the most-prolonged auto industry slump in half a century, the accord "should stop the hemorrhaging of our jobs and bring many thousands of our laid-off (See CONTRACT on 10-A) ff I' ft' Philadelphia Inquirer MICHAEL VIOLA As other demonstrators follow, Tim Ahrens, coordinator protest of Latin American governments that practice of American Christians for the Abolition of Torture, torture, was one of several processions and prayer servi-carries a six-foot wooden cross along the Parkway past ces held in the area yesterday in commemoration of the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul. The march, held in Good Friday. Story and another picture on Page 1-B.

1 Delta launch is revolution on a rocket for rural India LONG CONSIDERED the realm of males, jazz is also becoming a woman's form of expression, as the success of Marian McPart-land attests. Page 1-C. Weather Index SUNNY TODAY, high in the 50s. Fair tonight, low in the 30s. Cloudy Easter Sunday, with a chance of rain, Full weather report, Page 6-D.

By Mark Fineman CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. The lightning licked through the blackened sky above the Delta 3910 rocket standing silent on launch pad 17-A just after midnight yesterday. The wind blew so hard it tore palm fronds from their trunks. It even grounded the sea gulls. To the nearly two dozen representatives of the Indian government, scientists and politicians who have waited anxiously here through two full days of delays to witness a $70 milliqn dream become real, the tidings the weather brought were a disappointing ending to a pre-launch victory dinner of filet mignon and Bordeaux wine.

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