European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 27, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 8 a the stars and stripes wednesday november 27,1991u.s. Flag lowered at Clark a Many mourn closing of historic base in Philippines Clark a Philippines a the american Flag was lowered for the last time tuesday As the United states abandoned one of its oldest and largest overseas military bases. The base was heavily damaged in last june a eruptions of mount Pinatubo. About 1,000 people watched As a . Air Force Honor guard lowered the Flag and handed it to ambassador Frank Wisner. . Officials said about 250 american troops remained at the base but would leave later in the Day for new assignments. Philippine employees at the base embraced the departing americans and Many in the crowd wept during the two hour ceremony marking the end of nearly a Century of american military presence at Clark. Looters already were swarming Over the sprawling base taking appliances cables and other gear said . Sources who spoke on condition of anonymity. In february looters stripped another . Facility Camp of Donnell of virtually everything that the americans left behind. A the longstanding . Military presence is ending a said maj. Gen. William a. Studer who commands the 13th air Force. He said the commands Headquarters would move to Guam with other units deployed elsewhere in the Pacific. In recent years the United states maintained about 20,000 troops military dependents and defense department personnel at the base a major transit and training facility for . And Allied forces in the Pacific. The 130,000-acre base was heavily damaged when nearby mount Pinatubo erupted raining Down tons of volcanic debris. . Officials decided to abandon the installation and negotiated an agreement with the Philippines to keep the Subic Bay naval base for 10 More years in return for $250 million in annual Aid. A i think the general mood is probably excitement about going Home being Back with your families again sadness at leaving your friends Here All mixed up with some fatigue from working the Way we have for the last four or five months a world the . Ambassador to the Philippines Frank Wisner receives Clark Abs Flag from a member of an air Force Honor guard. Said a base spokesman it. Col. Ron Rand. During the ceremony . And philippine officials expressed Hope that Clarks closure will not spell the end of cooperation Between Washington and Manila. A we in the Pacific air Force look Forward to continuing this partnership As we seek to preserve the peace of this Region in the years ahead a said Gen. Jimmie v. Adams commander of the Pacific air forces. A your departure from Clark does not eliminate the importance of that pres ence in this vital Region nor does it diminish the strategic importance a he added after giving the symbolic keys to the base to the philippine military a chief of staff Gen. Lisandro Abadia. Wisner said the closing of Clark will require a new Security arrangement in the Western Pacific and a the United states is ready to associate herself with  a a it a sad a said sgt. Harry Sharp 27, a member of the Honor guard who was assigned to Clark in May. A a it a a goodbye to your friends and move  the closing of the giant base is expected to further damage the Economy of this area which is still suffering from the effects of the Volcano. Antonio Abad Santos mayor of nearby Angeles said about 30 percent of the City a 250,000 people had left in search of jobs elsewhere. He said at least 15,000 people had lost their jobs when the base closed and Only about 400 have found new employment. Placards were placed near the ceremony site praising the americans and expressing regret they were leaving. A no country can replace you in our hearts a one of them said.200 British protesters Greet North in Oxford from wire reports Oxford England a about 200 demonstrators monday protested retired Marine it. Col. Oliver North a appearance at the Start of a United kingdom promotional visit saying he had no place in a City a with a University of Wisdom and  to avoid a hostile confrontation North the Central figure in the Iran Contra scandal had to use a Back Entrance of a hotel where he was attending a dinner to promote his new Book under  air crash kills 37 Moscow a a soviet Airliner crashed on Landing tuesday morning in the town of Sugul main the tatar autonomous soviet Republic killing 33 passengers and four Crew members the soviet news Agency Tass said. Tass said the an-24 plane crashed at 5 04 . As it was completing a night from  in the Tyumen Oil Region of Sibera to Bug Ulma a town of 88,000 about 500 Miles Southeast of mos cow. The soviet Agency gave no Burtner details dui said a commission had been set up to investigate. Ave no further details but Kohl guides minister s promotion to ruling coalition s no. 2 Post Bonn Germany apr German Chancellor Helmut Kohl engineered a Power re alignment within his ruling coalition monday As Interior minister Wolfgang Schauble gained a promotion apparently aimed at grooming him for the coalitions top Post. Schauble in a wheelchair since a deranged Radical shot and almost killed him last year was named parliamentary Leader of Kohls Christian Democrat Chris Tian social Union coalition. Thus Schauble becomes the second most powerful figure in the coalitions parliamentary Hei Rachy ranking Only behind the Chancellor. Kohl years ago used the same position As a springboard to the chancellery. Schauble has been dubbed a Crown Prince by the Media because of Kohls reported Hopes of seeing his 49-year-old colleague some Day governing the country. In a secret ballot by the coalitions lawmakers 95.6 percent approved Kohls proposal to appoint Schauble to the leaders Post. There was no other candidate. Kohl 61, later praised Schauble As a a Man with a Superior spirit. With the capacity to listen As Well As to  the coalition also elevated Rudolf Seiters Kohls chief of staff into Schauble a former Job and promoted coalition parliamentary whip Friedrich Bohl to Seiters chancellery Post. Schauble is taking Over the coalitions parliamentary chairmanship from Alfred Dregger who is retiring. Kohls popularity has taken a beating because of economic difficulties stemming from German unification. He apparently Hopes to change that with the shuffle in leadership. Schauble an important figure in German Unity is one of the nations most popular politicians. He narrowly escaped death after the Radical a Man with a history of mental disorders shot him oct. 12, 1990, during an election Campaign rally. One. Bullet hit Schauble a spinal Cord leaving him paralysed from the Waist Down. Another Bullet hit Schauble a face necessitating extensive plastic surgery. Schauble miraculously rebounded resuming his duties despite his disability. He Maneu vers his wheelchair to the podium during parliamentary debates and into conference rooms during press briefings. Recently Schauble has been serving As Point Man for Kohl in a nationwide debate Over a massive influx of Asylum seekers making vehement Calls for stemming their numbers. But critics of Kohl and Schauble charged that placing More emphasis on the influx rather than on attacks against them has served to encourage German apprehensions concerning foreigners. Newspapers say Kohls political game plan is to win the 1994 Federal elections and equal Konrad Adenauer a 14-year record As the longest serving Chancellor. Kohl became Chancellor in 1982. According to the scenario fashioned in newspaper reports Schauble would succeed Kohl should the Chancellor decide to retire after Adenauer a record is matched