European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 16, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Vol. 50, no. 336 350 monday March 16,1992 a d 8693 Early retirement approved for some Usa eur civilians by the stars and stripes Heidelberg Germany a Pentagon personnel officials have Given the Green Light for voluntary Early retirements for civilian employees of the army in Europe it was announced sunday. Usa eur civilian employees of any age who have 25 years of service and those employees who Are at least 50 years old with 20 years of service Are eligible to retire. Employees can retire from May 15 through nov. 15, according to officials. Millie Waters a spokeswoman for Usa eur said sunday that no information about retirement pay and benefits for those who retire Early was immediately available. The limited voluntary Early retirement option was approved for Usa eur civilians by the office of personnel management and the office of the Secretary of defense. The move is aimed at lessening the Impact of Job losses among the civilian work Force which is shrinking As a result of the draw Down of . Forces in Europe Waters said. She said Usa eur had requested permission to offer voluntary Early retirement to its civilians. She did not know if the Early retirement option applies to civilians working in other army commands. Usa eur officials announced a hiring freeze last month aimed at reducing the civilian work Force. A civilian personnel official said in an american forces network interview aired earlier this month that one of every two civilian jobs will be eliminated. Usa eur officials advise those eligible for Early retirement to Contact civilian personnel offices for More  is eligible a Usa eur civilian employees of any age who have 25 years of service. A Usa eur civilian employees at least 50 years old with 20 years of service. Turkish army troops search for earthquake survivors in the rubble from an apartment building in  fears quake deaths May hit 4,000 Erz incan Turkey apr tents and emergency food Aid poured into this City reduced to rubble by a major earthquake but Rescue efforts proceed slowly sunday and officials said they feared Many bodies remained buried. The minute Long quake which hit Friday evening flattened one Quarter of this City of 150,000 in Eastern Turkey a rebuilt after a 1939 earthquake killed 32,000 people. Red Cross officials citing reports from the scene have said As Many As 4,000 people might have been killed across Eastern Turkey. But Only a few Hundred bodies had been recovered by sunday officials said. More than 9,700 tents were distributed in the area for up to 60,000 people estimated to have been left homeless by the qua ice according to turkish state minister Erman Sanin. But Many people spent a second night sleeping outside in freezing temperatures. On saturday night desperate residents attacked turkish red Crescent vehicles that were distributing tents the sem official Anatolia news Agency said. . Forces assigned to operation provide Comfort see Turkey on Page 2 Israel denies arms sales says leaks Are blander Jerusalem up israeli poli Iciano blasted the Bush administration in sunday for engaging in a a deliberate Campaign of slander by leaking reports Bat Israel was illegally Selling . Weapons technology to Clirina South Africa ind other nations. Mary suggested the leaks were another attempt to erode the close relationship Between the two countries and arose irom friction connected with . Efforts of mediate the Middle East peace pro Ess. The stories were particularly embarrassing to israeli defense minister Vishe Arens who is on a we Klong trip of the United states. Deputy minister Benjamin Netanyahu who spent most of the weekend denying the stories to television cameras said the reports were part of an orchestrated Effort to discredit Israel. A this deliberate Campaign of slander against Israel is intended to undermine Israel s position in the american Public and the american Congress a he said. A i done to know who is behind it but i know that these Are false reports that they Are without foundation., a he said. Arens was scheduled to meet with defense Secretary Dick Cheney today and Secretary of state James a. Baker Iii on tuesday to discuss the allegations which Arens has denied repeatedly. Candidates Busy wooing Michigan autoworkers Flint Mich. A Trade and jobs took Center stage saturday As the 1992 presidential candidates courted Flint a and found the frustration and anger of a Gritty town where 40,000 general motors jobs have vanished in a decade. All three democratic candidates and Republican challenger Patrick Buchanan were campaigning in Flint on the weekend before the democratic presidential primaries in Michigan and Illinois. Democrat Paul Tsongas promised to revive America s manufacturing base. But he was peppered with questions about his opposition to Banning the permanent hiring of striker replacements. And his audience wanted to know about his support of a free Trade agreement with Mexico that critics say will Cost americans manufacturing jobs. Tsongas also was critical of the Quality of american cars traditionally a taboo on the Campaign Trail in Michigan. A we took a Long time for americans to get around to Quality a Tsongas said. A the main thing you have to see workers on Page 2