European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 3, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Theofas vol. 50, no. 354 350 Friday april 3,1992 d 8693 Achenes hails Russia s plan to Cut its armed strength by Susanne m. Schafer the associated press Washington a defense Secretary Dick Cheney said thursday that the Pentagon is pleased by russians decision to drop its Quick strike attack posture and pare its armed forces to Between 1.2 million and 1.3 million. A clearly it would be Welcome a Cheney said in an interview shortly after taking part in a congressional ceremony honouring former House members. The defense Secretary said he understands that the draw Down plan May not have received official approval but the Pentagon has assumed All along that the russian Force will get smaller. The withdrawal of former soviet Union troops from Eastern Europe and the states formation of their own forces signalled the changes Cheney said. He said it his understanding that the new Force will be a postured in a much More defensive  the United states got first word of the transition plans during Cheney a meeting on tuesday in Brussels Belgium with the top military adviser to russian president Boris Yeltsin col. Gen. Pavel Grachev. Cheney and Grachev were attending the first Ever conference of East West defense ministers meeting at the Headquarters of the North Atlantic treaty organi see Cheney on Page 2holding on for life firefighter Dennis Barwick of san Gabriel calif., tries to Rescue an unidentified 15-year-old Pasadena resident from the Rio Hondo River wednesday in Rosemead. The boy was finally rescued several Miles Down River. Heavy april thunderstorms caused flooding in the san Fernando Valley. For details on the weather in the states see Story on Page  found guilty May face life term new York a John Gotti was convicted thursday of All counts in his murder racketeering Case capping the governments six year crusade to topple americans most notorious crime Boss. The verdict a guilty on All counts a came in at about 1 20 . Gotti was smiling confidently at the for woman As she read the verdict but showed no reaction As she announced  Gotti faces a possible life term in prison. His co defendant Frank Locascio was also convicted of murder and racketeering but acquitted on one count. Gotti dubbed a the Teflon done after three previous acquittals was convicted of ordering the murder of his predecessor a big Paul Castellano in order to assume Syndicate control As head of the Gambino crime family. Salvatore a Sammy Bull Gravano gottis former right hand Man who turned states evidence and became the key prosecution witness testified that Gotti ordered the slayings. Castellano and Tommy Bilotti were gunned Down outside a popular Manhattan Steakhouse in 1985. It was a hit that authorities said catapulted Gotti to his position As head of the nations most Apfell John Gotti powerful crime family. Gotti a became Boss immediately after the murder. That a Why he murdered him a assistant . Attorney John see Gotti on Page 2 official says he never saw directive on downgrading by David Tarrant staff writer usage urn Stop civilian personnel officer said he never knew of documents directing him to downgrade More than 40 supervisory positions in personnel offices until questioned by a department of defense inspector general in 1991. A May 1991 inspector general report concluded that Archie Grimmett usage urn a assistant Deputy chief of staff for civilian personnel did not take action to Correct overgrazing of jobs within his own ranks even though a review by the . Army in Europe had found that More than �?o40 key supervisory positions in subordinate pos were Over graded As Early As 1986. Grimmett came to Usa eur in october 1988. The report cited four witnesses who gave testimony to the inspector general that the paperwork necessary to reclassify the jobs to the Correct Grade Levels was presented to Grimmett. A three of the witnesses testified that the last time they saw the package of downgrade letters it was sitting on the Windowsill in the directors office the inspector general report said. But in an interview monday Grimmett repeated what he had told the inspector general he never saw the documents in question. A a report was supposed to have been Given to me when i arrived in october continued on Page 3 san Vito a Italy 1,855 49 141 22 114 incur Elk a Turkey 5,873 9 550 2 95 Izmir air station Turkey 878 19 51 1 80 Tan Zelhof Central Airport Barlin 813 4 61 0 79 Raf Greenham common England 1,141 7 55 4 57 see Story on Page 10