European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 24, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 6 the stars and stripes sunday april 24,1994 Clinton urges ban on assault arms Washington a president Clinton praised Congress on saturday for making Progress on anti crime legislation but said he won t be satisfied until legislators go further and pass a ban on assault weapons. I want the House to join the Senate to ban the weapons of War that plague our streets assault weapons Clinton said in his weekly radio address taped Aday earlier. The House and Senate each have passed crime Bills and the two Chambers now must work out their differences. A key distinction is the Lack of an assault ban in the House version which was approved late thursday. House speaker Thomas Foley d-wash., has said the House May vote on a separate assault weapons ban be fore House Senate negotiators begin crafting the final crime package. Clinton credited the american people with putting pressure on Congress to act or come legislation say ing it was you who sounded the  he added Washington finally got the  ii want the House to join the Senate to ban the weapons of War that plague our streets assault weapons president Clinton trying to demonstrate the tragic consequences of violent crime Clinton invited Mark Klaas to join him As he taped the radio address. Klaas daughter Polly was abducted from her California Home and slain by a re peat violent offender v Clinton said Klaas has been a Strong supporter of his three strikes and you re out proposal which would require mandatory life sentences for three time violent offenders. -. A i know he would join me in saying we need it we Llight for it and the Congress has to pass it Clinton said -. -. Overall both the House and Senate crime Bills would require life imprisonment for three time violent offenders expand the number of crimes eligible for the death penalty and Call for More Money for building prisons crime prevention programs and hiring police. The Senate approved hiring 100,000 More police while the House approved financing for 50,000. That s not enough Clinton said of the latter. Clinton said he expects to see a final Bill reach his desk by memorial Day May 30. The hard work in t Over not yet he said. In the Republican response to Clinton s address sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas said the House crime Bill was Washington smoke and  the Senate Bill is fully funded and paid for she said. That Means the prisons and police officers can be a reality. The House Bill is not funded at All. That Means Well never actually see those new prisons and new police officers unless we go further into  in the stars and stripes 10 year Sago april 24,1984 libyans began preparations to leave their besieged London embassy and British Diplo Mats in Tripoli started packing Fok lowing London s decision to break relations with the North african nation. " -. 20 years ago april 24,1974 a flood of Dollar Selling in new York and in Europe sent the . Currency to 2.481 Ger Man Marks in Frankfurt a new Low for 1974 and into Sharp decline in London and Paris. 30 years ago april 24,1964 labor and management negotiators settled a protracted dispute Over work rules easing the threat of a nationwide rail strike. 40 years ago april 24,1954 the United states branded assassination and kidnapping plots against soviet Emi Grant leaders in West Germany As a deliberately outrageous and uncivilized course of conduct by the so Viet regime. 50 year Sago april 24, 1944 -. Bombers renewed their pre invasion Blitz on nazi targets across Europe hours after More than 1 ,000 British Royal air Force planes closed out the week s heaviest air offensive. With raids on three cities Dusseldorf and Brunswick in Germany and Laon in France. World War 50 years ago today april 24 Finland rejects the soviet Union s terms for peace a break in relations with Berlin expulsion of German troops demobilization of the finnish army and $600 million in reparations. Heavy fighting rages Between soviet and Axis troops in Crimea. Australian soldiers capture Padang in new Guinea. Source 2194 Days of War w. H. Smith publishers inc. The world almanac of world War ii Bison books corp., 1981 a River linkup Tougau Germany a serenaded by Dixieland jazz and Balalaika music . And russian veterans of their armies historic linkup on the Elbe River held a reunion saturday in this easter German City which vigorously promotes itself As a Symbol of International under  was the 49th anniversary of the Day in 1945 when the . And soviet armies met by Tougau about 90 Miles South Oberlin and sealed the defeat of nazi Germany. ".". / the vows of peace and Friendship that the soldiers then swore have survived the Long bad Patch of the cold War. If civic leaders in Tougau population 21,000, want to boost their City As a place to Cele brate understanding among Peoples they have avid supporters in the american and russian veterans. It was one of the Best Days of my life William r. Beswick of West Point a said of meeting the russians on april 25, 1945. We were glad to see them an they were just As glad to see  another of the three . Veteran present William snide of Pembroke va., held hands with russian Veteran Al expander Silvas Chiq once a lieutenant who was in famous photographs of Amer ican gis and soviet soldiers meeting along the Elbe. The veterans now Are around 70, but their minds easily go Back to when they were Young men making history nearly five decades ago. I knew it was the end of the War for me said or. Delbert Philpott of sunny Vale Calif. There was no enemy in front of us. I remember i wrote Home saying i would see them soon. In our minds rethought we would live to get  . Veteran Delbert Philpott second from left of Sunnyvale Calif., stands shoulder to shoulder with american and russian soldiers who gathered at Tougau Germany on saturday to Mark the meeting of the two countries armies on april 25,1945. Beswick kept his Arm. Around Russia Veteran Alexander a Olshansky and though they knew Only a few words of a common language said that they were great friends and had visited each others Homes. A a. The veterans and top russian and .army officers led a March of several thou Sand people Over Tougau s new Elbe River Ridge. Dixieland bands from All Over Europe kept up a hot beat in the background and at the Middle of the Bridge a 50-Mem Ber Balalaika ensemble from the russian army danced Sang and played. A virtual Saint of Tougau is a Chicago taxi Driver Joe Polowsky who was among the first to meet russian soldiers and never gave up his vow of peace and Friendship. He was buried in Tougau in 1983, fulfilling wish to return to the place of the most hopeful moment in his Lite. He was a simple Man who did much for peace and understanding Between people Beswick said in the municipal cemetery where Polowsky is buried. Polowsky stood a Vigil every april 25 Ina Bridge in Chicago to memorialize the Elbe linkup and his wish to be buried into Gau gave momentum to the veterans annual reunions. Kelso leaves Navy in Boorde s hands Annapolis my. A  b. Kelso ii formally stepped dowry saturday As the Navy s top officer ending career tarnished by the Tail Hook scan dal. Adm. Mike Boorda took charge after change of command ceremony at the . Naval Academy. He was commander of . Naval forces Europe and Al lied forces Southern Europe before As suming the Post of chief of naval operations. The Tail Hook sexual abuse scandal was t mentioned directly during the 90 minute ceremony that focused on Kelso achievements during his 38 years with the Navy. Boorda referred to it indirectly when he pledged to continue to push the Nav Down the Road toward real total equal  let me say and there has been a Lotof talk about this Frank Kelso brought us a Long Way along that Road Boord Asaid Kelso jokingly referred to his trouble when he praised his wife Landess for being the one who always kept his hat size from getting too big. She has t had too much trouble Dur ing this tour of duty doing it he said. On tuesday the Senate approved Kel so s retirement at his current four Star rank overriding a motion by All seven women senators that he be demoted and have his pension Cut because of the Tail Hook scandal. Kelso attended the 1991 Tail Hook association convention of naval aviators inlay vegas where several women including some female military officers were assaulted by Drunken male officers. Kelso said he did not witness  later launched an investigation that critics said was badly carried out. Under Federal Law the Senate mus give approval for officers to retire at three and four Star rankings. The Senate voted 54-43 to allow Kelso to retire As a four Star Admiral with an $84,340-a-year pension. The female senators had proposed cutting his rank to two Star Admiral lowering his annual pension by $16,873