E. Germans Hoard Gas for Trips West
So many people are filling up their tanks in preparation for shopping trips to West Germany that the Gera district near the inter-German border is running out of gas.
Taxis have disappeared for lack of gasoline. The local newspaper Volkswacht complained that some people had bought up to 42 gallons, filling up cars as well as extra containers for refills on the road.
The newspaper said it was proving impossible to keep up with demand. As an emergency measure, authorities mobilized tankers belonging to the army and police to carry gas to local stations.
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