March 1, 1991

While the exact figure will never be known, military experts said today that 25,000 to 50,000 Iraqi soldiers probably died during the six-week war in the Persian Gulf. Some estimates put the number of Iraqi deaths higher and some lower as the allies marked a military victory with casualties that commanders called extraordinarily low, including 79 Americans killed in combat. Bush Said to Order Estimate Although the Pentagon steadfastly refused to say how many Iraqis were being killed as the war progressed, a senior White House official said that President Bush today ordered Gen. Colin L. Powell, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to make an estimate.

New Approach on Hepatitis Frustrated by the reluctance of adults to be vaccinated against hepatitis B, an adult disease, a panel urged the vaccination of children. Page A16. Prosecutors and Ethics A memo from the Attorney General is seen by many defense lawyers as encouragement for prosecutors to ignore ethics rules. Law, page B4. Noriega Witness Dies A crucial Government witness in the drug conspiracy case against Gen. Manuel Antonio Noriega was killed in a car crash in Miami. Page A16. Before the Condom Vote The woman who cast the pivotal vote to distribute condoms in New York City schools made her decision after hours of prayer and fasting. Page B1.

The New York area's housing slump may have finally hit bottom, or come close to it. Lenders say that in the last two months, during what is normally a winter lull, demand increased for mortgage loans. Brokers report a sudden surge in sales contracts and say that more people have been attending open houses in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

Alfred R. Ruesch is a veteran teacher at South High School here. He is an effective chairman of the English department. He is very popular. He is also controversial. Alfred Ruesch is a plagiarist. Last year a New York University researcher noticed widespread similarities between research papers and Mr. Ruesch's 1975 doctoral dissertation, "The Language of Suffering," about an Irish novelist named Francis Stuart. The university revoked Mr. Ruesch's doctorate and informed school officials in this affluent corner of Long Island, where ivy grows on everything that doesn't move for a few minutes.

Wal-Mart Stores, the nation's fastest-growing retailer, yesterday reported record profits and sales for the fourth quarter and the year ended Jan. 31. But two other leading chains, the J. C. Penney Company and the May Department Stores Company, said their fourth-quarter nets fell below those of the previous year. But despite Wal-Mart's higher earnings and the other companies' disappointing fourth-quarter earnings, investors showed a mixed reaction. Wal-Mart's shares closed lower yesterday, while Penney and May's stocks advanced.