European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - December 30, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 2 the stars and stripes saturday december 30,1989 East German splinter group to form party Berlin a one Branch of East Germany s biggest opposition movement defied the coalition s Leaden Friday and said it would form a political party to Challenge the communists in parliamentary , the military announced it was replacing its top ranking officers and said it had abolished the Section in which the communist party ensured Obedi ence from the  in Washington sen. Carl Levin d-mich., said Friday that he was told that East Germany i considering reducing its defense spending by 20 percent next year. The main body of new forum which claims membership of 200.000, decided earlier in the week to remain a citizens group rather than found a formal Politi Cal  forum activists from five East German cities however met in Karl Marx Stadt and said they set up a committee to form the German forum party the official news Agency adn said. The new party will hold its founding convention on Jan. 27 and run Candi dates in the May elections adn  has been friction Between new forum founders who Are mainly based in East Berlin and the More Radical members of the group in the  forum was formed As a Loose group of opposition activists just Over two months ago when the pro democracy movement began challenging the hard line communist leadership. The protests grew into massive Street demonstrations that forced the ouster of hard line communist Leader Erich Honecker democratic reforms and the resignation of the entire communist leadership dec. In less than two months East Germany opened the Berlin Wall and other Borders and embarked on the path of democratic reforms that will culminate in the free elec  thursday new forum s National Council issued a platform for the elections but said it still considered itself Only a nationwide citizens movement. The group said it was ready to assume political responsibility strive for a mixed Economy and support a special relationship with West  forum said it will offer an alternative for citizens who did not Trust other established parties and their willingness to carry out deep reforms. It said it supported a confederation with West Ger  East German offer to trim 20 percent of its defense budget could be very significant if it turns out to be True said Levin. He said the figure came out during a meeting with defense minister Theodor Hoffmann. It adds evidence that there is a very significant reduction in the threat from the East said the sen Ator who added that lower . Defense spending could be justified by the reforms being introduced in Eastern  German officials had previously said the 1990 defense Bud get would be at least 10 percent lower than the $13 billion reported for this year. Merchants hails court ruling backing its filling strikers jobs by Ron Jensen suit writer Frankfurt West Germany a merchants National Bank official says a ruling last week by a regional West Ger Man labor court vindicates the Bank s recent hiring of 13 employees to replace some striking workers. The court ruled that during a strike the Bank must inform its workers Council of each new hire. But it did t give the Union dominated Council veto Power to Block additional employees from the payroll. Aloysius Wohlfahrt chairman of the workers Council at merchants Frankfurt Headquarters said the court ruling in t As Good As the Bank would like workers to believe. He said it amounts to an injunction against the Bank that prevents secret hiring for the duration of labor negotiations on a new contract for 1990. Wohlfahrt said strik ing workers also must get their old jobs Back when the labor disagreement ends. The workers Council a creation of West German labor Law is elected by employees to oversee certain business practices by management. In a strike the labor court ruled the Council must be told each new employee s name his or her family status and the title of the Posi Tion. If the Bank does t inform the Council a Fine up to 20,000 Marks can be levied by the court for each violation. Bob Schindler merchants general manager declined to say if workers still on strike can have their old jobs Back if they later want to return. But Wohlfahrt said the Bank is legally obligated to put workers Back on the payroll no matter How Many other employees have been hired in the interim. Merchants and the West German Commerce banking and insurance Union have been negotiating off and on since Early december on a new contract for 1990. The two sides Are far apart on wages and working conditions. Union members at Headquarters and some branches have periodically walked off their jobs during the talk. Picket wearing buttons calling for a a better contract were outside merchant head quarters in Frankfurt on Friday morning. Non striking employee had to walk through their ranks to enter the building but there were no incidents. Contract talks broke off last week and no Date has been set for another meeting. The Bank will continue to accept applications and hire people As Long a Union members Are off the Job Schindler said. He said the Bank would comply with the court ruling. Among major sticking Point in contract talks is the Bank s desire to have employees Volunteer to work on sundays to refill and service automatic Teller machines. Conditions mediocre to poor at ski areas throughout Europe. A. I. R j or i tin font Furt Svi full by Norm Zeigler travel outdoor writer ski conditions throughout Europe have shown Little improvement since the Start of the Christmas vacation. The German automobile club adar re ports mediocre to poor conditions through out most of the Alpine Region. Only Glacier areas continue to have Good skiing. The exception is Austria s Tyrol and Salzburger land regions which got up Toa foot of Snow on Christmas eve. But even with the new accumulations the Snow cover at lower elevations is still quite thin adar said. A new Snow making system went into operation thursday at the armed forces recreation Center in  West Ger Many. The Southern bavarian resort area had two slopes open Friday and expected to Pattonville resident Marta Newville Dies Stuttgart West Germany is a 38-year-old resident of the Patton Ville housing area died Christmas Day of an apparent heart attack. Marta j. Mitzi Newville is survived by her husband sgt. 1st class Bruce Newville and an adult child who lives in the United Stales. Newville was born in Virginia Beach va., and was raised in mount Washington by. Her body was to be returned to mount Washington a Community spokeswoman said Friday. No memorial service is scheduled in West Germany. Newville was quoted in recent articles in the stars and stripes concerning a problem with rats in the housing area. Open four More Over the next few Days. Officials there said they guarantee slopes will remain open through the end of March because of the Snow making operation. Rooms Are also available with occupancy rates at 50 percent for january and 85 percent for february said Garrett Smith recreation director. Because of the Overall Lack of Snow individuals Tours and ski clubs have cancelled some trips. The largest american ski club in Europe cancelled new year s weekend trips to Verbier and Marting France. Herb Seaton president of the Heidelberg International ski club said that in some cases members will lose Money when a trip is cancelled because the hotel and bus company charge the club a Penally. The Heidelberg club s usual Cancella Tion fee if an individual bows out and his space is filled is 25 Marks. If the opening is not filled the club charges Only what we get charged for Seaton said. That can Range from about 50 Marks to 150 Marks depending on whether the club has to pay for Only the bus scat or also the Hole room. Or. Capt Bernard John Larson president of the Frankfurt ski club said his group has a similar policy on individual cancellations. In most cases the Only portion of the Cost not refunded is the initial Deposit fee 50 Mark. According to Arlene Kane of the scheduled airline travel offices Over seas Branch in Darmstadt West Ger Many Sato refund policy varies with the tour company. Usually there is a charge of Between $10 and $20 if the customer cancels at least a week before departure. After that the charge is Gener ally 50 percent of the Cost of the tour. Kane said some tour companies have cancelled ski trip this year. In those cases the customers got All their Money Back. Connie Hinds travel agent at the air Force information ticket and Tours of fice at Ramstein a West Germany said the itt cancellation policy also de pends on the tour company. One company enjoy Tours has a $20fee for cancellations two week before departure. The fee jumps to $30 for cancellations one week before departure. Cancellations after that Are subject to a 50 percent penalty. No shows forfeit the entire Cost of the tour. 1 held in Sailor s death Naples Italy is French police apprehended one person and arc seeking a second in connection with the dec. 22 shooting death of an american Sailor in Marseilles France a Navy spokesman said Friday. Killed in the shooting was Petty offi cer 3rd class Archibald , 33, of Philadelphia. The Sailor was on Liberty from the aircraft Carrier Forrestal when he apparently became the accidental victim of a drug related shoot ing involving several other men. Lassie whose name was misspelled in an article yesterday was an aviation machinist s mate assigned to air anti sub Marine so 28. The Squadron is Home ported in Jacksonville Fla. Army officer w. German trucker killed  a tit. Taij army inc nit Mannheim West Germany a 3rd corps support come officer and a West German truck Driver were killed in an autobahn Accident thursday. Two soldiers were injured in the crash on autobahn 6 Between Ansbach and trails Heim a command spokesman said Fri Day. The three soldiers from the 181st trans in in Mannheim were in a Mili tary  on the emergency Lane when the Accident occurred. They had pulled Overto assist a disabled army tractor trailer from Skull Gan s 2nd corps support come. The Driver of a West German com Mercial tractor trailer lost control of his vehicle saw the military truck and hit the  which went into a ditch and turned Over several times. Capt. Norman i. Mcfadden com Mander of the 590th trans co was pro n. Nin Ainuu -"-."? ="t-.,-nounced dead at the scene by a West . Friday at the Benjamin Franklin German doctor. He was 36. Village Chapel in Mannheim. Capt Stan Wolosz and Shaft sgt. Rich " -1 " Uard s. Woolsey were injured in the Accident and transported to the army Hospital in Nurnberg. Wolosz was treated for Abra Sions an Woolsey received broken lbs. Mcfadden is survived by his wife. Nancy and two sons Patnock 4, and Jame 8 months. The Newport news va., native assumed i command in no vember 1988. A memorial service will be held at 4 the Accident is under investigation by West German and military police