European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 25, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The stars and stripes authorized unofficial publication for the . Armed forces vol. 47, no. 129 thursday August 25, 1988 25t daily and sunday d 8693 a Trade deficit Down 14.9% Washington a the . Trade deficit Felly 14.9 percent from april through june the biggest improvement in More than five years the government reported wednesday. The Commerce department said that a record level of . Exports and the first quarterly decline in imports in three years pushed the deficit Down to $29.9billion in the second Quarter. The deficit was Down from an imbalance of $35.2billion in the first three months of the year. Both quarters represented improvements from a record Defi Cit of $41.2 billion in the fourth Quarter of last year. The 14.9 percent narrowing in the deficit rep resented its biggest decline since the fourth Quarter of 1982, when the imbalance fell by 18.9 percent. The new figures confirmed an improvement that had already shown up in the department s monthly merchandise Trade reports. The earlier figures showed 12.8 percent drop in the deficit to $32.6 billion in the second Quarter compared to $37.4 billion in the first Quarter. Wednesday s figures Are smaller because they sub tract factors such As shipping costs and military sales from the monthly numbers. . Exports Rose $4.4 billion to a record $79.7 Bil lion in the second Quarter. Sales of both farm and non farm products Rose Dur ing the Quarter As the decline in the value of the Dollar continued to make american goods competitive once see deficit on Back Page dealing with kidnappers a a special Force policeman with a gun holds Down a kidnapper on a Street in Munich West Germany while a fellow policeman rescues a hostage in a scenario acted out to show bavarian style anti terrorist techniques. The demonstration organized by the state Interior ministry came Only a few Days after a real Kidnap Ping Case in West Germany turned int tragedy and caused an outcry Over alleged mishandling by police and other officials. Story on Page 24. Bentsen assails Quayle for excuse Given vow by the associated press democratic vice presidential candidate Lloyd Bentsen wednesday criticized re publican Dan Quayle Over a recent vote and questioned the Indiana senator s Readi Ness for High office saying americans can risk Youthful indiscretion in someone so close to the presidency. The 41-year-old Quayle touted disown role in drafting jobs legislation As he sought to overcome the controversy that has plagued him in the week since he became George Bush s running mate. Bentsen s comment about Quayle washes harshest to Date and it came in a speech to Southern legislators meeting i Lexington by. He said that Quayle was one of 11senators to vote earlier this year against legislation making the veterans administration a Cabinet level Agency. Then Bentsen said Quayle told the veterans of foreign wars on monday his vote was a Youthful indiscretion and he had changed his mind. Said the 67-year-old Texas senator Youthful indiscretion my friends that vote occurred Only five weeks ago. Idon t think America can risk Youthful indiscretion in someone who could be come our president at any  Quayle was campaigning in Cinci nation a Stop on his first Solo Campaign tour since joining the gop ticket and remade Only a wry comment about the juror surrounding his National guar service during the Vietnam War. Those of you thinking for running for vice president i want you to know that taking out your trash is a photo Opportunity he said in a reference to report ers who greeted him with question tuesday morning As he dragged his trash barrels to the Street. Sen. Lloyd Bentsen the Indiana senator said the Job training and partnership act which he helped draft in the Early 1980s, provide jobs for millions of workers including women minorities and the  program is working. We have trained 3.4 million economically disadvantaged people in America so far and there will be millions More he  s appearance in Cincinnati marked the latest in a string of attempt by the Republican party to shed the controversy plaguing the gop  presidential candidate Michael Dukakis flew to Washington to see Bentsen on Back Page Dod panel checking on military women s problems by Deedee Arrington Dok Kaiserslautern Bureau Ramstein a West Germany members of defense department committee on women s issues began a four nation tour tuesday of . Facilities i Europe to hear concerns about Quality of life from military women. A fair i Fri tossed ads headed by chairman Jacquelyn Davis of the Institute for foreign policy analysis 11 members of the defense advisory committee on women in the serv ices will visit installations in Germany Italy Spain and Turkey. The last visit to Europe which took place in 1986, included stops in the United kingdom. The committee established in 1951, is a bipartisan group of 34 civilian men and women appointed for three year terms by the Secretary of defense to assist and advise on matters relating to women in the Mili tary. In an interview tuesday Davis said she Felt it was premature to discuss issues relating to the current see too on Back Page