European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - December 20, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                . To Cut med forces Jane s editor predicts by Dave die in  the United Stales Mill Cut its forces i Europe probably first in nato s Strong and less vulnerable Mediterranean re Gion says the editor of the first edition of Jane s nato handbook. The 209-Page hoc is described by ils publishers Jane s information group As tin overview of the Atlantic Alliance with a detailed look at nato s framework and doctrine. In includes profiles of member coun tries and military commands As Well As biographies of commanders and nato  in the foreword. Editor David fou Quet focuses on the relationship among nato members the future of the Alli Ance and the possibility of . Troop cuts in Europe. Most strategists in Washington arc emphatic in underlining hat this time the Issue is not whether there will be . Troop reductions for nato but when and under what conditions Fouquet writes in the Zmyj Pae essay. The logical target for such cuts is the Mediterranean an area where critical choke Points arc in Friendly hands Anda place where european allies would be left with sufficient numbers. He quotes a Western european Union Survey thai compared inc 316 nato vessel Force with inc 50 soviet vessels normally deployed in the Mediterranean. This situation has traditionally led experts to Call the Region a nato take and the soviet presence a one shot Navy " he writes. Trie politically sensitive american bases in the Region could he a Factor too fou quit says. The search for other possibilities of . Manpower reductions could possibly focus on the substantial presence in the Are which is anyway being Cost into some doubt As a result of the threat of base closures in Spain and  he also says some of the forces in the Region might be More useful in the Crit ical norwegian sea. Like Many of her defense experts. Fou Quet says the . Economy combined with a Congress Likely to become Sling see Jane s on Back Page army test Points out sobering facts Page 3 the St is and stripes authorized unofficial publication pod the