European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - July 24, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 8 the stars and stripes Friday. July 24. 1987 army methanol fuel tests inadequate Gao says by Chuck Vinci Washington Bureau Washington Mcl Hanol fuel the gasoline Al Icmat ivc that a decade ago was touted by some As the elixir that could free the West from dependence on Middle East Oil has largely been forgotten. Despite an army program designed to explore the possibility of using methanol to Power the vast Fleet of sedans owned by the defense department Little is being done. Congress authorized the testing program As part of the 1985 defense authorization act to spark greater interest in developing the technology in the private  a recent general accounting office report said the army program has been something of a disappoint ment mainly because of limited funds and a Lack of methanol vehicles to use in testing. The report said the program suffers from the same problem that hampered development of methane fun in the private sector military officials arc Luck want about devoting enough time and Money to gain significant results. The program s aim is to procure new methanol vehicles test their reliability and durability in various Cli mates and plan for the Safe and efficient storage and use of the fuel. One problem immediately became evident when the army had trouble obtaining enough methanol vehicles from the private sector for testing the report said. The army bought 27 new vehicles that were modified to run on methanol 25 used methanol vehicles built in 1983 and four factory modified methanol vehicles that fwd a slightly different Type of engine technology. That was t enough in the Gao s View. The number of vehicles was too limited the re port said. Budget limitations precluded testing enough vehicles to decisively measure reliability durability and fuel  in addition the few vehicles in the program weren t driven enough the Gao said. Vehicles were supposed to accumulate 12.000 to 15,000 Miles by february 1986. But by october 1986, none had accumulated More than 7,500 Miles and the ivc rage was about 4,400 Miles. Although the army is continuing testing in various climates the final phase in which up to 1,000 Metha nol vehicles were to be sent to various locations for widespread testing will probably never happen the Gao said. Officials indicated Liat the $1.3 million authorized for the testing has already been a Pended the report said. Another si.4 million was obligated to the pro Gram from army research funds to continue testing through fiscal 1987, it said. " Butin Light of other programs More Central to the Dod Mission military officials do not believe this program will be Able to obtain further internal fund ing in said. Further they said Dod is not Likely to request additional funds from Congress because the technology is not military unique. They told us promoting commercial production of methanol fuel is beyond the scope of the Dod mis Sion especially because the technology has no unique military value the Rcpt it said. Rest in peace a Young Volunteer to Tom break in a wheel narrow wednesday while her colleagues continue digging under the Protection of a Israll Border policeman. Ultra orthodox jew s to feared possible desecration of Jenish Graves were Able to Forte the . Learn to Slop the dig it Cic mum Israel wednesday. World Tod Lay crowd seizes 2 vandals at site of palme murder Stockholm Sweden China s official newspaper for Young people on wednesday warned chinese women of the dangers of having sen with foreigners. The China youth daily s lengthy article on aids focused on measures to prevent the fatal disease from spreading in China. It appeared after a stranded Amer ican aids patient was airlifted out of China by an air Force Jet last week. The paper called for greater education Oyoung peo ple in morality and appropriate sexual behaviour to prevent the spread of the disease. In the past few years. Some Young women have had inappropriate sexual relations with foreigners. They arc in danger of being infected and infecting others with acquired immune deficiency syndrome the report said. Christians moslem protest soaring lebanese prices Beirut. Lebanon us in Wpm Liu run the Check win i Linn eve or it pm Ani to cover the difference bal ctn the old and new amount he and. Wesl German in nip pcs ave Saccu Ltd ill the foreign currency allowance  sly Iliad lil cause East Germany did Nul he a enough foreign currency to i lid i Huwig tin1 ring number of rav i Luis i Wen Germany