European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 4, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Vries 50 years of service vol. 51, no. 231 Friday december 4,1992 b d 8693 economists predict comeback for Buck by Kevin Robinson staff writer German Chancellor Helmut Kohls admission that his nations High flying Economy May be experiencing a delayed reaction to a lingering worldwide recession could signal better times for the . Dollar against the German Mark economists say. Kohl made his assessment during a budget debate before the parliament or bundestag on nov. 25. In essence Kohl said the euphoria surrounding German unification has Given Way to the Stark reality that the economic Boom is Over. But bad news for Germany could mean Good news for the Dollar which amid a current resurgence is fluctuating Between 1.50 and 1.60 Marks. Today the Dollar buys 1.54 Marks at military Banks and economists think it could go As High As 1.80 Marks next year. A we Are forecasting a weaker Deutsch Mark against the Dollar a said Joachim fils an International economist with Goldman Sachs in Frankfurt Germany. A by the end of next year we expect a Dollar of about 1.75  fils said the forecast is based on several factors a expected lower inflation that May Spur the German Cen trial Bank or Bundesbank to reduce key lending rates. A increased German exports to re surging markets in the United states and Japan that should keep the value of the Mark Down. A anticipation that the unit see Buck on Pago 2troops await Somalia go ahead by Chuck Vinch Washington Bureau Washington the 1st Marine expeditionary Force and the army a 10th Mountain div Light will be the Lead elements of the . Force that is expected to head for Somalia shortly Pentagon spokesman Pete Williams said thursday. Both units have been put on Alert. The . Security Council has not yet approved the . Offer to provide up to 30,000 troops to get humanitarian Aid flowing in the War torn african nation. But in anticipation of such approval which was expected to come late thursday or today the defense department is finishing its plan to get . Troops into Somalia. The primary Mission of those forces would be to help Aid workers get the food shipments a now stacked in port a to the starving populace an Effort that has been thwarted by gangs of gunmen under the Loose control of local warring militias. A commander for the imminent Mission has not formally been named but Marine it. Gen. Robert a Johnston commander of the 1st me is a Likely candidate Williams said. The Alert notice Given to the 1st me and the 10th Mountain div was a a cautionary step Quot Williams said. A they have been told to stand by and be prepared. But they have not been Given a Mission yet because there has been no . Vote  three Marine amphibious ships carrying 1,800 troops and 23 helicopters have taken up positions in International Waters see troops on Page 2 a gunman working As a guard for Unicof stands atop a truck at the Relief Agency a compound wednesday in Mogadishu  targets 30 More Sites in draw Down by Joseph Owen Heidelberg Bureau the . Forces announced thursday that they will release All or part of 30 More military installations in Germany Turkey and the United kingdom. The announcement raises to 661 the number of overseas Sites that the United states has scheduled for closure draw Down or conversion to standby status since Large scale troop withdrawals began three years ago according to the . European come in Stuttgart Germany. Of that number 622 Are in the european come. The worldwide number represents about 40 percent of All redraw Down overseas . Installations. The largest Sites on the new list will close the command said. They Are the air forces a Aschheim communications Annex and the army a twist Eden ammunition area in Germany. The army shutter Cavern in see related Chart on Page 2 Hanau Germany will reduce operations significantly. The closures and reductions will affect More than 2,700 troops 230 . Civilian workers and 300 non-. Positions. The changes Are to take effect by september 1995, said a command spokeswoman army capt. Debra Pressley. The air Force which announced last week the pending release of two War contingency hospitals in England added four More such hospitals to the closure list thursday. The latest announcement Means the . Air forces in Europe has Only four contingency hospitals in Europe not scheduled to close. The largest Hospital closure announced thursday is that of the 1,500-bed 870th contingency Hospital at Raf Little Tissington England where 43 airmen two . Civilians and five non-. Workers Are employed according to the 20th fighter Wing based at Raf upper Heyford England. The hospitals closure will not affect other operations on the base the Wing said. The same is True of . Retail shops at Raf Bicester where the 500-bed 317th contingency Hospital will be closed and turned Over to the British government. In Germany the air Force is shedding two facilities in a Aschheim Well known As a former cruise missile site. The missile site remains in operation As an ammunition depot but the air Force is giving up two annexes known locally As a metro  they consist of a few buildings on a Quarter mile Square plot said master see Sites on Page 2i sound off on Gays in the military a pages 12-13