European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 22, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Two units merger of corps in Europe by Vince Crawley Niernberg Bureau Nurnberg Germany a the army is transferring at least two major Germany based combat units from Vii corps to v corps to prepare for troop cuts officials confirmed Friday. The move apparently is the first step in a merger of the two corps As troop Levels shrink in Europe. Pentagon officials including Secretary of defense Dick Cheney have said that the two Europe based army corps would be reduced to one under troop reduction agreements. The command and control of Nairn bergs a 2nd army Cav regt and parts of Ansbach a 1st army div were transferred to v corps on june 15, said spokesmen from the two units. Other units Are involved in the reorganization said Millie Waters a spokeswoman for . Army Europe Headquarters. But she said she  identify them because the reorganization is related to troop cuts that Haven to been announced yet. The decision to re Flag the units was made a to better support anticipated future draw Down actions and to maintain organizational training and readiness standards a Waters said referring to a p in Pard release. A a it a a real change a said col. . Holder commander of the 2nd army Cav regt. A a it la change our Mission and our  during the cold War the regiment guarded the czechoslovakian Border and part of the former East German Borden against a possible Warsaw pact invasion. The new Mission would emphasize the units ability to deploy rapidly and to act As the Forward ground unit for the  hey did both of those jobs during the persian Gulf conflict. A however a i done to think the soldiers will see much difference a Holder said a because the cavalry missions remain about the  Holder meant the units tactics and strategy would remain the same. Most combat units in Usa eur belong to v corps headquartered in Frankfurt or Vii corps in Stuttgart. The Stuttgart corps was sent to the persian Gulf where it delivered a serious blow to iraqis Republican guard. Holder said officials still Are defining the Mission of the new corps. A a they re going to be a general purpose nato Force so they re going to have to plan much More broadly for doing a variety of missions a he said.  in guard by the los Angeles times Washington a the Bush administration fearing continued threats against iraqis kurdish population has agreed to maintain . Troops in Turkey indefinitely As part of a multinational Force that could shield the kurd from government attacks administration officials said thursday. The troop commitment which one official described As a open ended a is an important step toward  a comprehensive Security arrangement for the volatile Middle East. It also Marks the first time since the end of the persian Gulf War that the administration has signalled that it would stand by iraqis embattled kurd for the Long haul although from a distance. The composition and the final location of the Force was still being negotiated by Secretary of state James a. Baker Iii who was meeting in Berlin with . Allies. But officials said the troops almost certainly would not operate under the auspices either of the United nations or nato. A a it a Clear we re not just going to pull out and we done to want others to either a a senior administration official said. A the idea is to preserve the gains made from humanitarian activities to see they re not  at the same time officials acknowledged that the protective Force Baker hoped to assemble would be combat capable and could not be defined accurately As  As a result it could not operate under the . Resolution that provided the underpinning for the allies current Effort to feed shelter and provide Security for the kurd. The . Effort comes As some 2,000 . Troops prepare for their final departure from Northern Iraq where they have mounted a massive Effort to Aid kurdish refugees. Friday the . Military a european come which has overseen operation provide Comfort plans to close its further most logistical support base in Northern Iraq at Sirsen. A no decision has been reached on How or when operation provide Comfort will end. The coalition will leave when the Mission is accomplished. The coalition is addressing the Best Way for the coalition to leave. We Are not prepared to see kurd on Page 10waiting to be evacuated . Dependents wait in line to Board the . Aircraft Carrier Abraham Lincoln on Friday. The Carrier is ferrying some 3,000 americans to the City of Cebu a staging area for americans being airlifted out of the Philippines parts of which have been ravaged by the erupting Volcano mount Pinatubo. Story on Page 10.suicide bombers kill dozens in sri Lanka Colombo sri Lanka apr two suicide bombers Friday detonated a Van filled with explosives at the Headquarters for government operations against tamil rebels killing at least 51 people and wounding 120, military officials said. A there was no immediate claim of responsibility but the government suspected tamil rebels. The blast devastated a military Barracks and blew the roof off the command centers main office across the Street. It left a Crater in the Street 6 feet deep and 20 feet in diameter. Hundreds of people ran screaming in panic through the streets of the residential neighbourhood in the capital. Walter Fernando a Deputy Secretary in the defense ministry said two men tried to drive into the command Center and detonated the explosives when they were stopped by sentries at the Gate. Fernando said at least 155 pounds of plastic expo Sives were used. At least six sentries and the two men in the Van were killed instantly he said. Fernando said tamil Tiger guerrillas were the main suspects. An earlier government statement blamed the attack on a separatist terrorists a the term it uses  tamil tigers. A a senior military official speaking on condition of anonymity said 35 or 37 soldiers and at. Least 16 civilians were killed. He said Between 120 and 150 people were injured. The blast occurred exactly one month after the Maysee blast on Page 10