European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 8, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 2 . The stars and stripes saturday March 8,1986 by Bob Hoyer staff writer the . Military and support elements spent a record $5.7 billion on the German Economy in 1985. Up from $5.1 billion in 1984, the spurt in spending was reported by the Bundesbank Germany s equivalent of . Federal Reserve. The $5.7 billion spent by the government and individual americans converts into a whopping 16.8 billion Marks at an average 1985 Exchange rate of 2.94 Marks. The Bundesbank reported that All foreign military Agen cies including All nato military units in the country spent 21.1 billion Marks in 1985. The figure includes . Government spending. At the command level the military spent Money on construction goods and services and German payroll Sala Ries and benefits. Service members dependents and civilian employees spent Money on rent and utilities vacations food and drink clothing automobiles furniture and a vast array of consumer goods. The . Military also spent substantial sums on other european economies but the preponderance of troop strength in Germany made it the top spending area. Both Bundesbank and american express military Bank ing statisticians derive spending data from Dollar mar Exchange figures. However the Bundesbank total is $600 million larger because it includes All Money exchanged by american express plus direct Dollar payments made by some Mili tary units to German firms for goods and services. Our figure includes All Money spent by the . Mili tary in Germany a Bundesbank official said. Bundesbank figures Chart the steady Rise in . Mili tary spending beginning in 1981, when $3.7 billion was exchanged into 8.4 billion Marks. From 1982 to 1984, Dollar to Mark conversions were $4.4 billion to 10.7 billion Marks $4.9 billion to 12.4 billion Marks and $5.1 billion to 15.3 billion Marks respectively. In Germany up in 1985 american express Exchange rate data for Britain the Netherlands and Greece cover the bulk of military expenditures in those countries. In 1985, conversion totals for Britain were $245.8 million for the Netherlands $29.5 million and for Greece $50 million. In Italy dollars from official accounts and individuals Are exchanged into italian lire at base banking facilities operated by italian commercial Banks under contract wit local military commands. Of the $5.1 million exchanged at american express in p 4 5 4 3 2-\ 1 . Military spending in Germany 5.71 billion of dollars 4.86 4.41 3.71 1981 1982 1983 1984 new Abrams Fanks i help unit give Christmas gift to Usa eur by Mike Heronemus staff writer Goeppinger Germany the 1st inf div fwd will get Usa eur s first Abrams tanks with the 120mm smooth bore gun beginning in september. Capt. Robert p. Busick Force integration officer said the Abrams a-1 will go to 2nd in 37th Armor in bomb Lingen. The tank is the improved version of them a tank already being used by most Usa eur armoured units. Initial transition and new equipment training should be completed at the combined arms training Center in Vil Seck before the end of the year Busick said. The fully modernized Armor battalion will be our Christmas gift to Usa eur said capt. Wes Weiner Public affairs officer for the 1st inf div fwd. The m-60a3 tanks now in the battalion will be routed through repair organizations for necessary work before being reissued to stateside units Busick said. He did not know whether Active duty or National guard units would get the older tanks. At fort Riley kan., where most of the 1st inf div s soldiers Are stationed transition to the Al will begin about three months after Fielding in Europe Busick said. A cohesion operational readiness and training co Hort armoured company from fort Riley is expected to join 2nd in 37th Armor in the summer of 1987, Busick said. Cohort companies form and train together in the states for 18 months then join predetermined battalion overseas for another 18 months. \ the m-2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle often billed As one half of the army s newest fastest armoured fighting team is not scheduled for Fielding in the 1st inf div fwd at the same time As the new Abrams. Busick said there is usually about a two year lag in Fielding the Bradley in Abrams battalions. The addition of the larger 120mm gun is the most obvious improvement to the Abrams. The earlier mls and the m-60a3s have a 105mm main gun. The increased firepower is coupled with improved fire control and better ability to fire effectively on the move Busick said. Other improvements in the Al include nuclear biological and chemical agent Protection that allows Crews to operate inside the Turret without wearing individual protective clothing. The Bulky hot clothing rubber boots and gloves and protective mask can inhibit movement and per Sonal performance 40 percent to 60 percent according to Brig. Gen. Jerry c. Harrison Deputy director of combat support systems for the army. The Al also has More Armor on the front and improve transmission and drive axles. Duvalier leaves hotel for Riviera Grasse France up deposed haitian president Jean Claude Duvalier left a hotel where he spent a month and arrived Friday in the French Riviera where he will live in a rented Villa while the government tries to find a country that will accept him. He immediately ran into trouble in his new Home when Grasse mayor Herve de font Michel complained that Duvalier s presence was  Duvalier his wife Michele and several family member left the hotel de Habbaye in the French Alps resort Village of Tallo ires in Southeastern France before Dawn Friday where he had stayed since his flight from Haiti feb. 7. After a six hour drive the party arrived in four cars at 9a.m. In Grasse 10 Miles from the Mediterranean coast and moved into a rented 10-room Villa with swimming Pool an Tennis court. It was not known How Long Duvalier would remain in Grasse a town famous for manufacturing perfume. A spokesman for prime minister Laurent Fabius office said thursday that Duvalier was Given permission to leave the hotel with the understanding that he would not be staying a France permanently. Fabius said there was no reason for Duvalier to stay i France. He said the United states behaviour was incorrect in refusing to take him. French officials have said they Only accepted him on the condition the United states take him Back if no Asylum Home could be found. Duvalier arrived in Tallo ires feb. 7 aboard a , military plane from Haiti following weeks of civil unrest against the former  France originally said Duvalier could stay eight Days while permanent exile Home was found for him. France said two weeks ago that Duvalier could be expelled if no country would receive him but did not say where he would be sent. Germany in 1985, finance offices exchanged $2.9 billion into Marks while individuals exchanged $1.6 billion and military organizations converted in excess of $600 million. Individuals exchanged a monthly High of $183.5 million in september due in part to an accounting practice that assigns an extra week to the month. The september figure also was influenced by the Deci Sion of five nations the United states Japan Britain France and Germany to work in concert for a Lowe Dollar. Publicity on a meeting of finance ministers from the five nations hinted at a lower Dollar. Taking this As a Cue thousands of military banking customers exchanged Dol Lars into Marks just in time to avoid a 16-pfennig plunge the largest one Day decline in 12 years. In the United kingdom the busiest month for Exchange by individuals also was september when banking custom ers converted $25.1 million into British pounds. Despite the substantial decline of the Dollar in the Las Quarter of 1985, american express Exchange figures Indi Cate heavy spending at year end. Military banking officials in Germany report that individuals exchanged $131.5 million into Marks in december and finance offices exchanged $345.7 million into Marks the highest monthly figure for the year. In the past much of the . Military spending in Ger Many was covered by Trade surpluses but since 1982 the United states has been running increasingly larger Trade deficits with Germany. In 1985 that deficit reached $7.9 billion or 23.2 billion Marks As German exports to the United states soared to 55.5 billion Marks while . Exports to Germany total adjust 32.3 Billith Marks. The pattern of negative Trade balances began with a1983 deficit of 5.1 billion Marks and continued with a 15.7 billion Mark deficit in 1984 and the 23.2 billion deficit Las year. Figures such As these prompted the United states to seek a lower value for the Dollar to make american manufactured and agriculture products More competitive i world markets. News update Plant reports leak Institute . A a substance Simi Lar to Antifreeze leaked for a Short time from a Loose safety valve in a Section of Union Carbide s Institute Plant a company official said. A Small amount of Dieth Ylene glycol was released spokeswoman Cathy Jones said. She said the sprinkler system came on immediately and washed the sub stance into the waste water treatment area. Dieth Ylene glycol is flammable but not toxic she said. Officials estimate less than five Gallons of the sub stance escaped from the valve. A Cloud that was reported seen Over the Plant was steam caused by water from the sprinkler system on hot pipes Jones said. Senate oks Lyng Washington a with Only two votes cast against him Richard e. Lyng has received Senate approval to become the next Secretary of , 67, was approved 95-2, with Only Sens. William Proxmire d-wis., and Donald Riegle d-mich., voting against him. Lyng a California businessman was nominated by president Reagan to succeed John r. Block who resigned last month after five years on the Job. Sickness forces closing of Idar Oberstein school Baum older Germany Idar Oberstein elementary school closed thursday and Friday As influenza Chicken pox and Strep Throat kept up to 40 percent of the students Home from school. Baum older military officials ordered the school closed. Although Many students and teachers were ill in other Baum older area schools this week the 184-student elementary school was the Only one so hard hit that it  remain open. We be had a terrible time Here with people being out principal Susan Martz said. Substitutes Are sick. Teach ers Are sick. Everyone is  Martz expected the school would be open monday. Or. Col Michael w. Benenson preventive Medicine consultant for the 7th medical come said there is no widespread flu in the american military Community Al though some areas May be experiencing problems Nuernberg medical officials for example reported a Peak in flu complaints a couple of weeks ago but it s quiet now Benenson said