European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 6, 1968, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 6 the stars and stripes to rom let Lllan a marketing tuesday August credit card system comes to the Battlefield by Bob dior tonal military writer Washington a . Command has introduced something like a credit card sits newest weapon against Black marketing and Dollar profiteer ing in South Vietnam Pentagon officials  control plates must now be used when a Serviceman converts his military scrip to Cash or when he spends it Uncertain High priced Post Exchange  stationed in Vietnam Are paid in scrip or military payment certificates Macin Stead of  plastic cards Are used to stamp special forms which Are fed through computers to give . Officials in Saigon a con Stant watch on the volume of converted scrip As Well As Onyx buying. For example if a Man con verts More than the authorized amount of scrip into dollars or Money orders the computer kicks out a card identifying him and showing All his recent  plate also is used in re cording All purchases of Good sought by Black marketeers cameras television sets tap recorders stereo systems radios airline tickets and other luxury items. The Pentagon acknowledge that servicemen have been bribed into converting scrip int dollars for Money manipulators in Saigon some have been us ing illegally obtained scrip to buy pm items for Black Marke Teers. Scrip was introduced in Viet Nam in 1965 As a Means of keep ing . Dollars off the Market and easing the Impact of Ameri can spending on the country inflated Economy. New brigade strategic reserves by Mark hurts a Washington Bureau chief Washington is activation of a new 3,290-Man Bri Gade for the 82nd airborne diva it. Bragg n.c., boosts the army s strategic reserves an also highlights the flexibility of today s ground combat  one time the Basic Organiza Tion of All the arms and services to fight on the ground the division had a fixed number of companies battalions regiments and brigades whether the Unitas stationed in Europe the far East or the .in the past half Century How Ever the divisional organization has gone through a series of geometrical changes from Square to triangular then five sided All with the at of coming up wit the perfect shape for command and control with the weapons of the Day. Now they take on any form they need to meet the Situa Tion and like the 82nd airborne can even have three brigade sin the  and a fourth in Viet Nam although army officials admit Thio is an unusual situation. During world War 1 divisions ran As High As 28,000 men but in world War ii the army traded men for mobility and fire Power and divisions had strength of from about 14,650 to 17,460 depending upon whether they were airborne infantry or Armor. World War i divisions we remade up basically of two Bri Gades with each of them having two infantry regiments hence they were called Square. Late the brigade organization was dropped and divisions were Builtin the triangular concept each with three infantry  the army brought nuclear firepower to the Battle Field after the korean War it re organized divisions one More time into a pen Tomic or five sided Structure of Battle groups. Divisions ranged from 11,486 men in airborne outfits to 14,617 for those in Armor units. Just prior to . Involvement in the Vietnam War things were again changed Battle groups went out and brigades returned. Players to present the children s flour we Bruecken Germany special the children Shour a three act drama by Lillian Hellman will be presented by the  players Zap from August 19 to 22 at 8 30  of its sensitive subject matter the children s hour is recommended for adult audiences. Reservations can be made by calling we Bruecken military 8898. Now any number of brigade make up a division depending of course on the. All important Mission and about the Only place in the army one can find an fixed number in a division is in a classroom of the command an general staff College at it. Leavenworth kan., where for school purposes armoured Divi Sions have about 18,000 men in Fantry 17,700 airmobile 16,600 and airborne 13,500. In Point of fact an army spokesman explained infantry divisions in Europe run around 13,000 men while those in Viet Nam have from 15,000 to 16,000  the activation of the new brigade at Bragg to make up for the one which went to Viet Nam in february on Short notice the 82nd now has a total of 17,190 officers and enlisted men13,-900 in the . And another 3,290 in , of course is an unusual situation for an unusual War. Stays up wings can hold up Soldier plus his  . Troops in Vietnam May get water wings Washington is waterings for infantrymen to help in wading across deep streams an canals May become a new item of Issue if evaluation tests no going on in Vietnam prove Suc  army s limited War lab oratory at Aberdeen proving ground md., came up with the new flotation gear As a result of reports of trouble in crossing some of the swollen Waters inthe Mekong Delta with a full Load of equipment weapons an ammunition even for the Best  reusable device an improvement on something that children use in learning to swim weighs Only eight ounces and comes in a Pouch that is carried on Field pack suspenders. When blown up the wings form a u shape around the Soldier s Bod to support him in the water even with full Field equipment. The gear also has grommets on the Corners so several units can be tied together to form draft. The limited War lab earlier came up with two other items designed for fighting in soggy terrain a Bridge that seemingly enables troops to walk on water and a lightweight four Man boat for scouting and recon Naissance. Bui illicit Money manipulation and illegal sales of american goods Are a continuing  . Command has been forced to progressively tighten controls Over american currency in South Vietnam to curb Lack Market activities. One of the latest restrictions Pentagon officials say went into effect last May a $200 Lim it on the amount of scrip a serv iceman can convert  Cash when he is about to return to the United  can exceed this limit Only in the Case of personal emergencies and then Only with special permission. The Pentagon Sass controls Are need a bar Dollar in Vietnam runs great demand and i  a sgt Antior hr�1" " 51and illegal  Gal this is especially True a communist nations lacking Numal Trade relates i h t free world particularly North Vietnam and red Luna " the $200 limit is d sj.,if