European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - May 5, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Adventure in the Alps stripes Magazine d base closures to be studied Page 5 d Randy Barnett s car Corner Page 13 g Dukakis takes Ohio Indiana Back Page Autho Hixenb unofficial put Catich Foh the , Armp Forcel vol. 47, no. 18 to thursday May 5, 1988 of turf morning t d8693 a last 3 French captives in Lebanon released Paris a the last three French hostages held in Beirut were freed wednesday after being held captive since 1985, Premier Jacques Chirac announced. Speaking u a Campaign rally in Stras Bourg. Chirac announced the release or diplomats Marcel Fontaine 45 Marcel Carton 62 and journalist Jean Paul Kauffmann 44. I have been informed just now that the three French hostages in Lebanon were freed and have been turned Over to a representative of the Interior min ister he said. I am thinking of the horrible time they be been through which they did t deserve. I am thinking of Lite pain of their families and friends. I aft thinking of the one who Aid was the victim of these kidnappers and has not returned Chirac said. He was referring to Michel Surat 39, who was kidnapped May 22, i9s5. Islamic jihad a pro iranian Shi Ilc moslem group claimed it killed him March 5. See captives on Back Page checks Are in the a. Merchants says  financial writer merchants National Bank officials arc clicking to their plan to get new checks to customers this week despite problems in shipping and mailing the Esli muted 35 Tonsor checks. The Indianapolis based firm which assumed control of military Banks in West Germany Greece and the Netherlands on sunday had hoped to get 75 of the free checks to most re Lomers by monday. Thai plan has slipped by a few Days banking officials said be army will mail separation notes to l,200ncos  Washington Bureau Washington about 1,200 substandard cos will be booted out of the army before oct. 15 to help the service meet a congressional order cutting enlisted strength by 8.�. Those affected More than half of whom arc sergeants and staff sergeants represent the total number of army members now barred from re enlisting under he qualitative management program personnel officials said. Normally such soldiers Are allowed to stay on Active duty until heir current enlistment expires but that could be four to Sis years depending on when they re in listed and for How Long. Commanders arc concerned that Quality soldiers arc being lost through other troop strength reduction pro Grams such As voluntary Early releases and cutbacks on new recruits while substandard cos Are being retained. If we have o make such a big Cut Why should we Force ourselves to slow promotions release Quality people Early and do other things that ultimately Hurt us said one personnel official we should get rid of the people already identified As substandard who have demonstrated performance or discipline problems and kill two Birds with one  under the program approved april to by Delbert Spurlock the army s manpower chief soldiers with ban to re enlist mint will separate within 90 Days of notification. The Only exception is for those who of see cos on Back Page cause of a larger than  number of outdated Apo addresses and other mailing foul . Additionally the ship bringing the checks from the u nil cd states was delayed at sea. There s no grand  said Gary Schendler. A banking Liaison officer Wilh the . European come who is monitoring the transition Between merchants and american express. Customer still have their american express checks. They re Good and will be Good through the month of Muy. As we be said customers who do not receive their checks by Friday should Slop by their local Bank for  sch idler said same of the problems began when merchants ordered the new checks from a claim. He . Check printing company that had handled Ameri can express business before the transition. Apparently a lot of people arriving overseas or dered new checks before they lad n permanent bos number so some of the checks arrived without Correct Box numbers he said faced Wilh trying to figure out Mailbox numbers for see checks on Back Page checking for bombs drills soldiers use Mirror to Check car at the in trance of a British army Bast new Dearnold West fire Many after a homemade bomb As disc Merid earlier inside the base. The Otto Pound bomb which his Clu Nall by f Solo Iii us Perl win i attached i a car in � Cirisan parking lot Lehr military Insun Lullion a. ". Of " a " "