European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 27, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Friday March 27, 1992 the stars and stripes a Page 5navy Norfolk a. A a task Force of Navy investigators has been assigned to round the clock duty in an Effort to catch whoever has set about 20 fires aboard the nuclear powered aircraft Carrier Enterprise. A shipboard arsons Are very difficult to work with a said Mike Dorsey a spokesman for the naval investigative service. A much of the evidence is often consumed during the course of the fire a Dorsey said. A you have to rely on people to reconstruct the evidence use a lot of forensic analysis to determine if accelerant were used or not  the 31-year-old Enterprise the second nuclear powered warship to join the Navy Fleet has been docked at nearby Newport news shipbuilding amp dry Dock co. Since last year. It is undergoing a $1.3 billion overhaul and refuelling of its reactors work that is expected to last an additional three years. The fires which started a few months ago Haven to disrupted the overhaul schedule or threatened the ships reactors nay officials said. Dorsey said the four investigators assigned to the Case Haven to identified a suspect. A we have gone through hundreds of interviews Quot since the fires started he said. The latest and most serious fire occurred last weekend in a storeroom. Damage was confined to packing material and a desk but six Crew members suffered minor bums or smoke inhalation. All the previous fires involved paper and trash and no one was injured Navy officials said. Cmdr. Steve Honda a spokesman for the Navy a Atlantic Fleet air Force said the Enterprise has approximately 2,200 Crew members staying with the vessel during its overhaul. About 2,000 civilian engineers and technicians perform overhaul related work during any Given Days main shift said Jack Schnaedter a spokesman for the shipyard. A fire aboard ship especially one at sea is one of the greatest hazards in the Navy. Last month an engine room fire killed two sailors aboard the destroyer Dahl Gran while it sailed off the East coast. But the Dahlgren fire was believed to be accidental and related to equipment  stops blast simulator plan near Alabama i Washington a the Navy on wednesday it off indefinitely its plan to use a nuclear blast Simu Ator to test ship electronics off the Alabama coast. Navy Secretary h. Lawrence Garrett Iii notified rep. Sonny Callahan r-ala., that he had made the decision on the Empress ii program. A fall things considered i believe the Navy has made a Wise decision a Callahan said. A while it is my understanding that the decision was based solely on current fiscal constraints i would Hope this news would nonetheless put to rest the concerns some might have of any testing activity in the Gulf of Mexico m the foreseeable  Gulf coast groups have fought the project which was to begin this fall because they fear it will damage the environment. In the final environmental Impact statement the Navy concluded that the Empress ii Barge should be operated at a site 26 Miles South of Mobile Bay. But in a letter to Callahan Garrett said a continuing fiscal pressure on the Navy budget has forced reductions in Empress ii testing such that there is not at this time a requirement for Empress ii operations in the Gulf of  in the stars and stripes10 years ago March 27,1982 a a Federal health official said the incurable venereal disease genital herpes was spreading faster in the United states than any other virus except the common cold and influenza. 20years ago March 27,1972 the Urcla Bruins with College basketball s player of the year Bill Walton Defeated Florida state to win their sixth straight Mcaa basketball championship. 30years ago March 27,1962 at least 50 were killed and 180 wounded when French troops and police opened fire on thousands of european demonstrators who swarmed into downtown Algiers in answer to the secret army organizations summons to a show the world our unanimous desire to remain french."40 years ago March 27,1952 a the new Jersey Superior court ruled that because of overriding Public interest sen. Robert a. Tafts name would remain in the states april 15 presidential primary despite tafts request that his name be taken off. World War ii50 years ago today 27 march1 a 9 #4 2 japanese troops in Western Burma begin concentrating for an attack on British defenders at prime on the Irrawaddy River while chinese soldiers continue to hold out in Tou goo to the East the last British and Volunteer american air units in Burma Are withdrawn to India in the Mediterranean Axis bombers strike British Malta for the 1,600th time source 2194 Days of War. W h Smith pu0 shots iroc. Would Anu inc Book of wot id War. B son Boos com Quot a tape shows officers were justified in hitting King retired Captain says Simi Valley Calif. A a re to Simi Valley Calif. A a re tired los Angeles police Captain who viewed the videotaped police beating of Motorist Rodney King More than 100 times testified wednesday that two viewings convinced him a the use of Force was  Robert Michael called As an expert witness in the defense of four former and current police officers said he saw �?o10 distinct uses of Force rather than one continuous use of  Between each use of Force he suggested the officers were stopping to evaluate the situation. Under Cross examination by defense attorney John Barnett Michael said he did no to conclude until seeing the tape twice that All of the Force was defensible. Michael also conceded the tape appeared brutal. Barnett represents officer Theodore Briseno who contends he tried to Stop the beating when his colleagues sgt. Stacey Koon and officers Laurence Powell and Timothy wind were a out of  earlier there was a Brief interruption As a defense attorney asked permission to Call a parole agent As his next witness apparently to testify about Kings criminal record. Prosecutors objected saying the officers were on trial not King. Deputy District attorney Terry White also told Superior court judge Stanley Weisberg that a ruling last year prohibited use of Kings prison or parole records in the trial. That ruling still stands even though the judge who made it was later removed from the Case the prosecutor contended. Defense attorney Darryl Mounger right confers with his client sgt. Stacey Koon wednesday during the trial of . Officers accused of beating Motorist Rodney King. Weisberg put off making a decision. King was beaten March 3, 1991, after he was stopped for a traffic offence. A witness captured the beating on videotape and it was broadcast nationally. The officers contend the beating was justified because they feared King would attack them or run away. In other testimony sgt. Charles l. Duke jr., a training officer testified that an officers a reasonable perception of a suspects intentions is More important than the persons actual intent in deciding whether to use Force. A if the officers perception was that or. King was getting to his feet to flee would the officer be justified in using a Baton to keep him in position so he  get up a asked defense attorney Michael Stone. A yes a said the witness. Duke was rebutting prosecution claims that King was never aggressive toward officers. 2 Philadelphia officers suspended a Philadelphia a two police officers have been charged with assault and will be fired for allegedly beating up two men in a Street fight commissioner Willie Williams announced wednesday. One of the victims was bitten on both ears Williams said. Officers Francis Cheney and Paul Viola turned themselves in wednesday and were suspended without pay for 30 Days with intent to fire Williams said. Williams said the March 2 incident began with a dispute that pitted two men in a car against Cheney and Viola who were off duty. He said that the men in the other car had a baseball Bat but that Cheney and Viola took it away and beat them with it. Cheney a attorney Jack Mcmahon said the officers were defending themselves against a two Drunken  he said he believed Williams action was influenced by his status As a finalist to replace los Angeles police chief Daryl f. Gates who is retiring amid a scandal Over the videotaped beating of Motorist Rodney King. Four current and former . Officers Are on trial for assault in that Case. Williams denied the los Angeles Job had anything to do with it. A a in a just sending the same message that in be sent for the past four years As police commissioner that this Type of action will not be tolerated a Williams said