European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 8, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Sunday aprii8, 1990 the stars and stripes Page 5report attacks safety of chinooks by Richard . Sia the Baltimore Sun Washington a the army has spent nearly $1 billion to buy 144 More ch-47d Chinook helicopters despite its inability to fix a variety of nagging defects that have resulted in crashes that killed 17 and injured 6 others since 1984, a one year congressional investigation has found. A draft report by the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on oversight and investigations attributed a series of air catastrophes to the failure of the army aviation systems come to respond promptly to complaints from Chinook flight Crews and to the commands practice of applying a band aids to the helicopters. Three battalion commanders were so concerned last year about the risks that they decided on their own to Tell their pilots to avoid High altitudes and stay out of the Clouds the report said. Maj. Nancy Burt an army spokeswoman said that the service had not received a copy of the report but asserted that a in All cases when the aircraft deficiencies were identified the aviation systems come took Steps to resolve the  a Soldier safety is the army a primary concern and the army would not allow the ch-47d to continue flight operations if it were not a Safe aircraft a she said. The congressional report however said that since the ch-47d was first fielded in february 1984 a the army has issued at least 84 flight safety directives to Correct problems on the aircraft. A it has been grounded for mechanical problems nine times with five groundings in 1989 alone. A three accidents have killed is soldiers and two Boeing co. Employees. A a 1984 crash injured six soldiers. A at least 25 a potentially disastrous emergencies have been recorded. A the army is still unsure whether or not the ch-470 has been fixed a said the report which suggested the helicopter manufactured by Boeing helicopter co. Of Philadelphia had a an Overall design  the most serious problems have entered on transmission Cooling fans whose malfunctions have started fires flight control rods critical to mane vering and controlling the aircraft that have been prone to fire damage and Cross shafts the links Between engine and transmission systems that have cracked severely the report said. In a sharply worded letter wednesday to Secretary of the army Michael . Stone rep. John d. Ding Ell d-mich., chairman of the House panel demanded answers no later than april 16 to questions about a this intolerable  a Public hearing will be held later on the Issue he said. The report on the ch-47d, the latest version of the Vietnam Era twin engine transport helicopter deals it another blow to army aviation coming on the Levels of an announcement that Dingell will hold hearings to investigate recurring defects and spare parts shortages plaguing the army a $14 million Apache attack helicopter. Moss. Man gets 6-month jail term for beating dog Lowell mass. Apr a Lowell Man has been sentenced to six months in jail for cruelty to an animal As a result of a neighbor taking photographs of him beating his family dog. Kevin Deschene 19, was sentenced thursday on a conviction for a Misdemeanour complaint of cruelty to animals. Animal rights advocates said it was the first time in at least 20 years that anyone in Massachusetts had been imprisoned for abusing an animal. A this shows that something can be done in cases like these and it certainly sends a message to people that animal cruelty will not be tolerated a said Allan Davidson director of the Lowell humane society where the dog Champ is in protective custody. Deschenes neighbor Jim Molloy testified that he had seen Deschene on several occasions beating and kicking the dog a mixed Breed while it was chained to a Post. He took photos of Deschene kicking and beating the animal with a Plank last fall. A i had no idea that beating the dog was a crime when i took the pictures a said Molloy. A i just hoped they would take the dog  Deschene and his family have contended that the dog was merely being disciplined for tearing up garbage. In addition to the jail term judge James Killam fined Deschene $500. V Quot >3 photos taken by a neighbor show 19-year-old Kevin Deschene of Lowell mass., beating and kicking the family dog Champ. A lawmakers going to Asia to study alternatives to bases in Philippines Washington apr seven members of a House armed services subcommittee will travel to East Asia to consider alternatives to . Military bases in the Philippines the panel said Friday. The delegation from the subcommittee on military installations and facilities was to leave saturday for Hawaii Guam Thailand and Indonesia for a 10-Day trip. The trip also includes an examination of . Security responsibilities in the Region and the lawmakers plan to visit Vietnam and Cambodia to assess the extent to which the soviet Union has reduced its forces at Cam Rahn Bay. The United states and the Philippines Are scheduled to begin negotiations on two . Facilities in the Philippines Clark air base and Subic Bay naval base. Philippine officials have criticized the current ar-ur8ed president Corazon Aquino to m a v a re a hts. Earlier this year Aquino refused to Sikni i a re Ense Secretary Dick Cheney who visited me Philippines As part of an asian trip. A reduced East West tensions and an increased re can debt it May be time to pack up and leave be Philippines a said rep. Patricia Schroeder d colo., chairwoman of the subcommittee. A on this Mission we Hope to find out whether the Impact of such a departure can be  Schroeder said that some in the Philippines Are demanding that the United states pay $2 billion a year in rent for the bases a nearly the amount that the citizens of Colorado pay in state  in addition to Schroeder the delegation includes reps. David Martin . Norman Sisisky a a. Jim Courter . James Hansen a Utah and Larry Hopkins Ray. And congressional Delegate Ben Blaz of  Layoff hits e. German Plant Berlin apr an East German factory got a bitter taste of capitalism and was forced to Lay off most of its workers because it  compete in an area dear to German hearts and stomachs a chocolate. The state run Elb Florence chocolate factory in Dresden had to Lay off 350 of its 530 workers because it could not match the Quality and Cost of West German chocolate the state news Agency adn  the stars and stripes 40 years ago today. April 8, 1950 a George s. Wheeler an american student and teacher at Prague Scharles University asked Czechoslovakia to Grant Asylum for himself and his family.30 years ago today. April 8, 1960 a the soviet Union proposed that the 10-nation disarmament conference in Geneva Switzerland break its deadlock by negotiating on the basis of the . Resolution that brought the talks into being.20 years ago today. April 8, 1970 a the Dukes county grand jury in Edgartown mass., concluded a two Day investigation into the drowning death of Mary to Kopechne without returning an indictment against her companion on the night of her death sen. Edward Kennedy a mass. The District attorney declared the Case closed.10 years ago today. April 8, 1980 a president Carter broke diplomatic relations with Iran because of the a illegal and outrageous holding of 50 . Hostages in Tehran