
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, July 26, 1990                   TAG: 9007260214
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: LONDON                                LENGTH: Short

BRITAIN ANNOUNCES PLAN TO CUT MILITARY FORCES

Britain, NATO's most hawkish member, said Wednesday it plans to pull half its troops from West Germany and cut its overall regular forces by 18 percent in response to a reduced Soviet threat.

The United States announced defensive reductions after last year's democratic revolutions in Eastern Europe. But British officials had cautioned against any quick decisions.

In Wednesday's announcement to the House of Commons, however, Defense Secretary Tom King said, "Our aim is an orderly and planned transition to the new world unfolding. It is a time of opportunity and hope for change, yet without putting at risk the safe protection of our country."

King said Britain will make no reductions in its nuclear arsenal.

The government envisages that by 1995, Britain will have two rather than four divisions assigned to defend West Germany, King said. It will also halve the number of air bases there.

- Associated Press

by CNB