European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - November 15, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 2 the stars and stripes tuesday november 15,198bgao uncovers news tampering at stripes army times reports news updates by Willums. Bartman Washington Burtin Washington congressional investigators have uncovered examples of censorship and news management at the stars and stripes newspapers according to an article based on a draft government report and published in this week s army times. In addition to incidents where local staff written news copy was tampered with the general accounting office found that both the european and Pacific editions of the military newspaper use fewer negative stories about the armed services than they receive from the associated press and United press International the two major wire services. Congressional staff members who arc at work trying to coordinate a hearing on he report s findings said they could not comment on the article until a Oao re Striction is lifted. The full report which will incorporate defense department comments is due to be released by the end of his month. The Cao investigation was launched Early this year at the Behest of sen. Wil Liam Proxmire d-wis., who persuaded Congress to investigate allegations of censorship by military commanders of the stars and stripes in demanding the investigation prox Mirc criticized the Pentagon for sending soldiers overseas to protect Freedom while denying them one of the most important freedoms that we have in this country that is the right to a free press under the first  although often incorrectly referred to As one paper there arc two stars and stripes one published in West Germany and the other in Japan.  serve As the Hometown paper for serv inc members overseas the newspapers Date to publication in France during world War i the Gao s findings were reviewed by a panel of professional journalists whose observations will be included in the final report. The army times reported that censorship problems were much greater at the 39,000-Circulalion Pacific Edi Tion than at the 134.000-circulation european edition. Defense officials already have recommended to Secretary of de sense Frank Carlucci that the military editors in chief of the newspapers be re placed by civilians a recommendation made by the Gao. The Gao also recommends that investigative reporting be permitted in the newspapers the article said. The Gao found that in March 1987, 47 percent of the wire service stories about the military had what the report called a generally negative image of the military. But Only 35 percent of the wire service stories used in the european edition were negative and Only 27 per cent of those in the Pacific edition were considered negative. Concluding that this comparison appears to prove allegations of censorship and news management the article quotes the Gao As recommending thai Content analyses of the papers be done periodically to ensure the . Troops in the two different parts of the world Are exposed to approximately the same news Back Home,1 wire service reporting makes up More than 80 percent of each papers Content the Gao said. But the Pacific edition carried far fewer wire service reports on sensitive topics than the european paper. According to the report in March 1987 the Pacific paper carried about half As Many stories As the european paper about aids half As Many stories about strategic issues such As he strategic de sense initiative and the intermediate Range nuclear forces treaty and 27 per cent fewer stories about the Iran Contra scandal. While the investigators found no Clear evidence of censorship at the european paper they did cite indications of higher commands trying to delay or stifle news stories which is in violation of defense department directives. L for example in 1984 the paper was ordered not to use a wire service Story about a West German general fired from his nato Post for alleged homosexuality. Additionally the european command later barred the paper from running a letter to the. Editor critical of the decision not to use the Story. Among other examples of pressure applied to the european edition in 1987, Neucom obstructed re porting on the planned construction of an ornate portico at the command s Headquarters in Stuttgart West Ger Many by not answering questions per Taining to the purpose and Cost of the portico. In not providing answers the com Mand said the questions constituted investigative reporting which it said is prohibited by military regulations. The command did provide a one sentence statement that the construction was needed for Security reasons and because he face of he building was deteriorating. A planned 1985 Story about an air Force proposal to place 100 flagpoles at each air base in Europe was killed in House the Gao said. In that Case he papers managing editor suggested a photograph of the poles would do sufficient. However neither Story nor photograph Ever appeared in print. Cmdr. Jerry Ryan a Neucom spokes Man said monday he was not aware of he army times article and had not seen a draft of the Gao report. Mert Proctor managing editor of the european edition of the paper said he would have no comment on the Gao s findings until he Agency s final report is issued. Changes in copy or killing of stories in the Pacific edition also have occurred from internal pressures the Gao found. The journalists panel said that the Mili tary editor at the paper. Air Force co Edwin Montgomery has used a Call for balanced reporting As an All purpose weapon for killing a Story or delaying a Story or parrying the thrust of a Story. In april 1987, the Gao said the Pacific editor decided not to publish a wire service Story critical of the air Force s management of the b-1b bomber pro Gram. Instead he ordered that an air Force news service Story praising he b ibb used. The journalists panel said the bib incident was an example of the military using the stars and stripes for Public relations rather than for news. Crime study issued Washington a nearly 2 percent of american adults were being punished for. Crimes last year with record numbers on parole or probation a Justice department study said  report by the department Bureau of Justice statistics said that of he 3.4 million americans under the supervision of Federal stale or local corrections officers a record 2.6 million men and women were either on probation or parole. Santa Monica spill los Angeles a Beach goers were allowed to swim Sun Day in the Chilly Waters along seven Miles of beaches that had been closed or three Days by a sewage spill. Health officials deemed bacteria Levels in Santa Monica Bay Safe for bathing and said the Only things thai could keep people out of the surf were cold water temperature and Cloudy skies. Quake aftermath Beijing a regional officials estimated sunday hat the powerful earthquake in Southern China caused More than i billion Yuan s268 million in damage but said the death toll  Rise much higher. Latest reports from he quake area in Yunnan province near the burmese Border said More than 300,000 houses were destroyed and 56,800 acres of crops were damaged the official Xinhua news Agency quoted Yunnan gov. He Shiqiang As saying. China s worst earthquake since 1976 Shook the southwestern Cor Ner of Yunnan on nov. 6, killing 938 people and injuring More than 4,000 by official count the death loll which the chinese government released privately to . Aid agencies has not been published in the official Media a leading seismologist had said the death toll could exceed t ,000. Hitler s mein Kam by Randy Mcclain staff writer .. Military officials in West Berlin Over the weekend ordered is copies of Adolf Hitler s main kampf off the shelf of a stars and stripes Bookstore after a German television reporter bought a copy of the Book banned from Sale in West Germany and showed it on the air Friday. On monday stripes took some 600 copies of Hitler s autobiography off the shelves of other bookstores it operates throughout West Germany. This action was taken in recognition of Host nation sensitivity said Diane Mcd Armolt circulation manager for the stores. .,.-Allied Law in West Berlin and criminal Law in the rest of West Germany prohibit the Sale and commercial distribution of literature that preaches nazism racial hatred or violence. / however Henn is Geha spokesman. For the West German Justice ministry said that while Sale of main kampf is prohibited by German Law Banning the Book on . Military installations is up o local military commanders. , a spokesman for the . Mission in Berlin said the Book was or Dere removed from the stripes Bookstore at Truman Plaza Afler the Ber Lin to news Magazine Abendschan filmed one of its reporters entering the store and leaving with a copy of the Book. The Truman Plaza store one of five stripes bookstores in West Berlin but the Only one blocking main kampf sometimes has made sales to West German citizens Sariti said. It is not located within a restricted com Pound and Sale clerks there have no always checked whether customers have military ids Sariti said Gen. Raymond Haddock he . Commander in Berlin ordered the Book taken out of the store Friday pending a review of legalities. He said no one in the command knew mein kampf was on Sale until the Abend Schau program. During that segment Heinz Galinski chairman of the jewish Central committee in West Germany was interviewed and expressed dismay that Hitler s words were on Sale at a . Facility.  and col. Jeffrey m. Cook editor in chief of the stars and stripes said they did not know mein kampf was banned from Sale in West Germany. The Book has been on Sale at stripes since at least 1983 at roughly half of the .199 bookstores  the paper. About 70 copies have been sold each month Mcdermott said no one through the years said any thing about it Mcdermott said adding that the Book will remain on Sale Ai stripes stores outside West Germany. A total of 158 of the bookstores Are in West Germany and West Berlin. I. Cook said he ordered the Book taken off the shelves of All remaining West German stores. After learning of had Dock s action and after being informed that he Sale of hitter s work a against German Law of a i would consider he action Tempo Rary pending Legal review but i would doubt we d put the Book Back Cook said. The possibility of allowing Ameri cans with military ids to special order the Book for delivery through the mail is still under review he said. Sari i said that As far As the . Mis Sion in Berlin is concerned us. Military personnel and their families can get de livery of Mem kampf or any other Book through the mails either with or without the assistance of stripes Bookstore personnel. The Law is understood to apply particularly to Selling his kind of material to people other than american citizens he said. We dont want to foreclose . Citizens having Access to written material. But keeping it off the bookshelves is a matter of sensitivity to Thel Cal  Sari i said the Truman Plaza More was lax in checking identification and some times German citizens who generally Are barred from shopping at . Exchanges. Were Able to make purchases. He Laid Haddock has directed that military ids be checked before any Sale of Merchan Dise at the stores. \ Sariti said mein kampf will remain on the shelf at . Libraries in West Ber. Lin under an exemption in the anti nazi propaganda Law that allows scholars and students of history to be Able to study such books.   v Vann pastor manager of the stripes Book store at Truman Plaza said she pulled three other books off the shelf Fri Day after being asked by it col Dan Bunnell Deputy chief of staff for political and military affairs with the . Mis Sion to review other potentially Offen Sive books. Pastor said a biography of Field marshal Erwin Rommel an action mys Tery novel titled the league of the night and fog which had swastikas on its cover and the november Issue world War ii Magazine which featured a Story on nazi defense strategy All were taken from the shelves for the weekend. Pastor said Bunnell reviewed the titles. Monday and said they could go Back on Sale Bunnell declined to be interviewed on the record. J