European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 25, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 8 b the stars and stripes thursday. July 25, 1991 military of unit at Patch Barracks from units from wire reports. London a defense Secretary Tom King on tuesday outlined a sweeping 25 percent reduction in the armed forces that will eliminate some of Britain a most famous regiments. King disclosing the details to the House of commons just four months after British troops fought in the persian Gulf War said the armed forces would be reduced by 40,000 troops to a standing Force of 116,000 by the mid-1990sr. Kings statement followed mondays announcement by French defense minister Pierre Joe that he planned to Cut army strength by 50,000 to about 225,000 Over the next five years. A for More than 40 years the British army has stood in the frontline of Europe with our nato allies a King said. A we have had to maintain even on peacetime very substantial Force Levels on the continent of Europe against the risk of a massive Surprise attack across a wide front by the huge military strength of the Warsaw pact. A but suddenly after All these years of confrontation the Warsaw pact has collapsed East Germany is no More and Poland Czechoslovakia Hungary and others All seek closer links with the  the measures include the merger of Many regiments and the reduction of the number of battalions within the regiments. Infantry battalions Are to be reduced by nearly a third from 50 British and five gurkha Batal Lions to 38 and two respectively by 1997. Armoured regiments will be Cut by eight to 11 by the mid-1990s. In Northern Ireland the army a largest regiment the Ulster defence regiment is to merge with the Royal Irish rangers but King stressed the army a commitment in the troubled Region. The cuts will also reduce the number of reservists from 75,000 to Between 55,000 and 60,000. Gurkhas Are the soldiers recruited from Nepal who have traditionally served in the British army and Are deployed mainly in Hong Kong. The City reverts to chinese Rule in 1997. King said the Force would be reduced to 2,500 from an estimated 6,000. A some of the most famous names in the British army will be abandoned As part of the cuts. Regimental identity is important to Britain Sall Volunteer army. In Many cases sons followed fathers into the same regiment. �?o1 recognize that there will be sadness at the amalgamations and at the possible loss of some famous names a King said. A everyone who recognizes the great benefits that flow from regimental loyalty and tradition understands  Kings announcement followed intense lobbying on the part of individual regiments. Among the survivors was the Royal Welch Fusiliers Veteran of Waterloo a member of the Grenadier guards which is being eliminated leaves Wellington Barracks after the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace. Which came to parliament this month with 90,000 signatures and a regimental Goat. Among the endangered names a the Gloucestershire regiment credited with holding off 30,000 chinese soldiers for three Days with 652 men at the Itjin River in Korea in 1951, will merge with the Duke of Edinburgh a Royal regiment. A the Kings own scottish Borderers which fought in the world War i Battles of the Somme and Gallipoli will merge with the Royal scots the army a oldest regiment mustered in 1633 to fight in the thirty years War. A the life guards and the blues and royals will become a single unit. The life guards escorted King Charles u into London in 1660 when the monarchy was restored. The blues and royals were formed in 1969 by merging the Royal horse guards and the Royal dragoons which originally formed in 1661. French defense cuts under fire Paris up a plans by the socialist government to Cut Back French forces deployed in Germany and the continued reductions of army manpower prompted protests from the conservative opposition tuesday. Former prime minister Jacques Chirac said his rally for the Republic party would ask the government to review its decision following the announcement monday by defense minister Pierre Joe that 20,000 French troops nearly half of the French forces deployed in Germany will be withdrawn Over the next two years. Most of the units will be dissolved including some from the crack 5th French army div members of those units paraded Down the champs-elys6es for the traditional Bastille Day March earlier this month in what turned out to be their last Public appearance. As Many As 10,000 French personnel including 1,000 civilians will be pulled from Germany next year. Most of the units will be dissolved. Be Figaro newspaper condemned what it called a a severe budget for the services and a defense cuts on All fronts Quot Chirac also lashed out at president Francois Mitterrand a government for scrapping plans to build a new system of Mobile nuclear missiles which would have been the Centrepiece of Frances Independent nuclear Force. On monday Joe confirmed reports that the s-45 program had been cancelled. Chirac the head of the Neo gaullist party called the move a a grave decision heavy with consequences for the defense of  Chirac who also is mayor of Paris accused the government of failing to consult the National Assembly before it cancelled the missile program. The s-45s were designed to replace s-3 missiles which Are fired from fixed silos. Modernization of the French nuclear Force a bought to have led to a debate in parliament a Chirac said. A instead of that or. Mitterrand has chosen the Monarch Al exercise of  Joe said France will adapt the new m-5 submarine launched missile to replace the land based weapon system. Joe dismissed suggestions that France would abandon its Independent nuclear strike Force. Sophisticated Mirage 2000 fighter bombers can drop nuclear bombs and atomic warheads can also be launched by French submarines and the fixed silos. The scaling Down of the nuclear Arsenal will represent a savings of about $2.5 billion. The Cost of the s-45 program had been projected at $5 billion and of that amount $100 million had been earmarked for this year. Adapting the m-5s to replace the s-3s will Cost an estimated $2.5  celebrate 25 years Ramstein a Germany a the men and women assigned to he 1141st . Air Force special activities so will celebrate the units 25-year anniversary at Patch Barracks Stuttgart on aug. 9-10. A there will be a Small ceremony to recognize the Silver anniversary during an organizational Day picnic at Patch on aug. 10. The 1141st will put together a time capsule with items provided by Headquarters and detachments personnel. The capsule which is to be sealed and built into a Coffee table for the commanders office will include air Force items from the present. Located with . Quot european come he the Squadron functions similarly to a major command and also provides an array of services typically found at a consolidated base personnel office. Col. Joseph l. Nameth is the squadrons  head for 66th eco col. John r. Fuhrmann will relinquish command of the 66th electronic combat Wing at Sembach a Germany to col. Joe d. Ferris on monday. Fuhrmann 46, will be senior air Force adviser to the naval War College at Newport r.i., after commanding the Wing for 1 i years. Ferris 47, was the vice commander of the 66th.baumholder commander Brig. Gen. David l. Benton Iii will assume command of the Baum older military Community and become assistant commander of the 8th inf div at bad Kreuz Nach Germany an actual change of command will not take place because the former commander Brig. Gen. William m. Steele has already assumed duties As the Deputy commandant at fort Leavenworth Kan. Steele 45, was Baum older a commander for six months. Benton 47, is arriving from fort Sill okla., where he was commander of the 212th Field arty brigade. A Welcome ceremony will be held for Benton on aug. 8.Reynolds leaves 601 St col. Kenneth Reynolds relinquished command of the 601st tac control Wing based at Sembach a Germany to col. Victor a. Hill on july 8. The 44-year-old Reynolds who commanded the 601st for two years will be assistant Deputy chief of staff for plans and programs at . Air forces in Europe Headquarters. Hill 46, was the wings vice commander.52nd trans so unit honoured Span Dahlem a Germany a the 52nd trans so has earned 1990 . Air forces in Europe awards for outstanding traffic management office transportation Squadron and transportation civilian employee. The Squadron was cited for its 97 percent vehicle in commission rate and exceeding command goals every month for every Type of vehicle it maintained. It was the Only Safe unit to do so said capt. Mike  base spokesman. The transportation management office handled More than 4,400 household shipments and personnel moves for the Span Dahlem Community. It also processed 32,500 cargo items to support the wings flying  in photo Booth injures 2 women in Oslo Oslo Norway apr two women suffered Hea injuries when a Coin operated instant photo Booth ble1 up As it took a picture police said tuesday. Police officer to Wanderaas said an aerosol can c paint remover had been left in the Booth at an Osl shopping Center. The can leaked creating a Gas pocket and a spark from the photo Flash exploded the Gas h said. A i heard a terrible explosion. I saw a woman fall of of the wrecked Booth. Another woman was lying on the floor bleeding heavily from her nose a witness Hann Lindstad told the Oslo newspaper Verden gang. The women both in their 20s, were being treated i a Hospital tuesday. Their names were not released