European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 2, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                New kids coming to Europe a Page 12 the us ipes authorized unofficial publication for the . Armed forces vol. 48, no. 319 Friday March 2, 1990 a a Good morning 25 Dally and sunday d 8693 . Troops end regular patrols of East German czech Borders by Effie Bathen and John Millar a a staff writers Nornberg West Germany a . Soldiers ceased regular patrols along the East German and czechoslovak Borders thursday for the first time since the end of world War ii. A what you see Here is that we recognize the reality of the political situation in Europe a v corps spokesman maj. Samuel Taylor said. Although patrols will continue along the Borders they will be less frequent and fewer soldiers will be assigned to temporary duty there said Mai. William Belcher of the 2nd army Cav regt. In addition the 11th army Cav regt has pulled All of its tracked vehicles away from the East West Border in its sector which includes the Fulda Gap Taylor said. The regiment no longer has any tracked vehicles within two Kilometres of the Border. However the one Kilometre zone restricting department 9f defense personnel from approaching the Border without authorization remains in effect Belcher said. Border patrols had been the Job of the 11th and 2nd regiments although other units in West Germany had occasionally assumed the duty while the armoured cavalry troops exercised elsewhere. Of the 2nd army Cav regt a 4,300 soldiers about 300 were routinely stationed along a 450-mile sector of the East German and czechoslovak Borders. The 11th army Cav regt patrolled a 180-mile sector of the East German Border. The change does not mean a reduction in troops assigned to the two regiments an army spokeswoman said. Gen. Crosbie e. Saint commander of the . Army in Europe directed that the two regiments a focus More of their efforts on the training aspects of their Mission a staff sgt. Elayne Venema said. A the most visible change is that observation posts will now Only be occupied periodically for training see Borders on Page 3 82 dead in Europe As Snow icy winds add to devastation London a icy winds and the popular Swiss ski resort of Zer heavy Snow brought new misery thurs Matt remained Cut off by Snow. Inv to ctaim_kotto�o/4 i a _. Day to storm battered Europe where this weeks turbulent weather has claimed 82 victims from Ireland to Greece. Britain France and West Germany suffered the highest casualties and the worst damage from uprooted Trees downed Power lines blocked roads and flooded villages. Some towns along Denmark a North sea coast also were flooded. Gale whipped seas devastated the seaweed Harvest off Wales denying welshmen their traditional St. David a Day breakfast delicacy of Laver read which is made with the Plant. Eighteen people were reported killed in Britain 19 in France 16 in West Germany nine in Belgium seven in Switzerland six in Italy three in East Germany and one each in Austria continued on Page 3 heavy winds rip . Bases causing millions in damage is amps Ken George workers face a big repair Job on the roof of the 3rd corps support Comdr a Headquarters building at Wiesbaden a after winds took their toll. By the stars and stripes fierce winds ripped roofs from buildings and felled Trees across military installations in Central Europe Early thursday in a late Winter storm that left Ramstein a without Power for 11 hours. The storms also forced More than a dozen department of defense dependents schools to close Early or cancel classes. Damage was reported to be extensive with roofs Trees and cars falling prey to winds of More than 90 Mph in some areas. Vii corps suffered at least $3.6 million in damage to its units during wednesday nights wind assault capt. Anda Strauss said. V corps was still assessing damage from this weeks storms a v corps spokeswoman said. But damage from wind in the previous three storms totalled $7.5 million. Spokesmen for Safe bases reported that the storm caused at least $550,000 in damage. Before wednesdays storms hit . Military facilities in Europe had already suffered at least $15.8 million in damage this year. Master sgt. Mel Bradley with the european forecast unit in Graben Trarbach West Germany said the turbulent weather should return to Normal in time for the weekend. A a it a been a very unusual Winter of see winds on Page 3