The Guardian from London, Greater London, England • 2

2 I NEWS TIm Guardian Wednesday April 30 1997 Pentagon plans leaner, meaner, smarter defence, with 'digitalised' infantry Ability to fight two simultaneous conflicts is abandoned US army faces cut to Gulf war size Martin Walkar In Washington year, the US would still spend more on defence than the next nine military powers combined. And investments in new technology and the coming of the "digitalised soldier" are designed to keep its forces a technical generation ahead of any rival. "We don't want to engage in a fair said the defence secretary. William Cohen. "We want to dominate across the full spectrum of conflict, so if we ever do have to fight, we will win on our terms." The cuts, expected to fall heaviest on manpower and weapons, and have cameras in their helmets.

The idea is to equip infantry squads with the same battlefield informa tion that the general has from spy satellites and pilotless drone surveillance planes, while also allowing the general to "see" the battlefield from foxhole level. The review is also driven by budget restrictions. After a slowing of military purchas ing since 1990, the air force and navy are each planning for $300 billion of new war-planes over the next decade. This will be curtailed, with tactical airpower, and drop one of the 12 aircraft carrier task forces, come as the US is at least theoretically extending its military commitment by enlarging Nato into eastern Europe. Although the published ver skm of the review will blur the issue for diplomatic reasons, one of the key questions behind the Pentagon's study has been whether, and when, the US should prepare for a serious confrontation with China.

The conclusion appears to be that a land war in Asia is out of the question. but according to Nato ministerial sources involved in the review, the US should retain the naval and air superiority to pen China within its borders, and support allies like Taiwan and South Korea. The final text will address more frankly two other fundamental questions: the degree to which the army should re-equip and retrain for peacekeeping rather than war. and the role of high technology in infantry warfare. Although smaller at just 445.000 troops the 21st cen tury US army is supposed to be "leaner, meaner and above all the chairman of the joint chiefs, General John Shalikashvili.

told a recent seminar. "We wanted to determine to 2010 and beyond, what the environment would be out there; what America's interests and what the challenges to America's interests would he." he added. The new army will lean heavily on the experiments at Fort Hood, Texas, with a digitalised infantry brigade, in which soldiers carry small laptop computers as well as will then be subject to review by an independent panel of defence experts, before head ing to Congress, where the individual services will lobby hard to defend their turf. The army in particular will warn that the cuts go too deep "We wake up at 2am every morning, sweating, asking how we are going to meet the demands on our force." said the armv vice-chief of staff, Lieutenant-General Jay Garner, citing the strain on troop levels imposed by commitments in Bosnia, Haiti and South Korea. the air force expected to lose some of its $70 billion budget for the new 22 Stealth fighter, and the navy losing some of its $83 billion budget for new F-18 attack jets.

"I fear this could become a budget driven asessment of how much strategy we can af ford, rather than what our strategy should be." warned Republican congressman Floyd Spence. the hawkish chairman of the House of Rep resentatives national security committee. The Pentagon proposal will be published next month. It IRA hoaxes cause transport chaos JaaaaaaaaBaaaaHBaS Li. I Closed unctions Entire ot motorway closed Bomb hoaxes on roads and airports 1 Ml: Both carnage-ways between Watford and Hemel Hempstead closed 2 M2S: Junctions 2-6 Dartford to Godstone and between junctions 1 9-23, closed both directions 3 M3: Closed between lunctions 12-14 in both 4 M27: between 3-7 5 M26: section 6 A20: carriageways closed THE United States army could be cut to fewer troops than it deployed in the Gulf war under a qua drennial defence review pre pared by the Pentagon, which appears to drop the longstanding requirement that the US be able to fight two wars at the same time.

Despite the cuts, to keep the Pentagon budget at a stable $250 billion (152 billion) a Prisoners protesting on the Loyalists in Maze jail protest at restrictions following finding of tunnel tA Tf K9 Cftnto Correspondent FORTY EIGHT hours before the election, the IRA caused massive disruption to travellers in the South and West of England with threats of bombs on motorways and at airports leaving the security services bracing themselves for further IRA activities today and tomorrow. Warnings using a recognised codeword were responsible for the closure of parts of the Ml. M3, M5, M25, M26 and A20, causing lengthy tail backs and jams. There were also threats of bombs at Heathrow, Gatwick and East-leigh airport in Southampton. The town centre of Chatham in Kent was also closed briefly in the morning following a threat.

Police were able to keep traffic moving in some areas after it appeared clear that there was no genuine device, but stressed that the safety of the public remained the prime concern, regardless of any inconvenience. A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said the policy of assessing the risk remained unchanged, while security sources said that if hoaxes were routinely ignored, the IRA would certainly plant a real device so that future threats were taken seriously. (In 199192, at the height of IRA attempts to disrupt the transport system, 98 per cent of hoax calls did not result in closures; out of 72 occasions when police closed transport systems, devices were found in 25 cases. The same risk assessment applies today.) Although there were no claims of responsibility yesterday, it was accepted that the latest wave of alerts was part of the IRA's pre-election directions strategy to cause maximum inconvenience with minimum risk and without fatali ties which could damage Sinn Fein's electoral chances tomorrow. Leading politicians condemned what has now be come one of the routines of the election campaign.

John Major said: "I do not think the British nation are going to be moved by this. They have made their judgment of the IRA. They are not going to accept that Sinn Fein can use the ballot box in Northern Ire land and threats and bombs there and elsewhere on the mainland." Home Secretary Michael Howard said: "The one clear message we have to give the from the jail. The fire soon went out yesterday, as smoke billowi briefly from two observation towers in the yard of a loyalist block, but fires did not take hold. Negotiations were believed to be under way between inmates and the Prison Serv ice last night.

About 10 prisoners could be seen on a roof waving a Red Hand of Ulster flag and banners saying "Loyalist victims of IRA and "Northern Ireland Office lies The trouble began yester day morning in H-blocks one, two and three, all of which house Ulster Defence Associa tion members, after they refused to co-operate with cell causes disruption to travellers 7 Chatham: Town centre closed Airports: Bomb Ihreats at Gatwick. Heathrow and Eastleigh airport in Southampton IRA is that the British people will never give in to pressure of this kind. What they are doing is utterly futile." Liberal Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown said: "These are futile, stupid acts which will achieve absolutely noth ing. The IRA will have no in fluence on the general election." Shadow home secretary Jack Straw, who had to cancel a flight to Plymouth because of the alert at Gatwick. said: "From the reaction of people at Gatwick.

I can tell the IRA and Sinn Fein that their activities are stupid and counter-productive and sim ply stiffen the resolve of the British people not to give in to terrorism CALL fctwhowtOMO 7W imimw. Both Chekhovian tone Tributes to Lord to Spanish elegy roof of the Maze prison, Belfast, LOYALIST paramilitaries warned the Government of repercussions last night if riot squads were sent in to break up a rooftop protest at Northern Ireland's top security Maze prison, writes David Sharrock. Prisoners were protesting at security measures introduced after an IRA escape tunnel was discovered last month. The Ulster Freedom Fighters said a "price would be paid" if riot squads were sent in. It was issued to a news organisation in Belfast using a recognised code word.

Black smoke billowed The difficulty lies in capturing the play 's specifically Spanish mood without tourist-brochure cliche. In this Lloyd is aided by Anthony Ward's set which starts as a gaily bedecked greenhouse alive with roses, anemones and chrysanthemums and which ends up as a starkly stripped room battered by wind and rain: the transition from opulent fertility to echoing emptiness astutely mirrors the transformation in the heroine herself Lloyd also makes good use of colour and movement. The evening starts with a fan-waving dance by a group of sensually undulating women. Later a trio of black-clad spinsters supervised by their mother descend on Dona Rosita like a flight of ravening crows. And by the end, the heroine's rose hued dress has given way to a simple white gown In short, this isa subtly in telligent and very well acted production.

Phoebe Nicholls lends the heroine exactly the right melancholy dignity. And there is outstanding support from Celia Imrie as a plain-speaking housekeeper, from Kathryn Hunter as a vo racious visitor wolfing down all the passing snacks, from Eleanor Bron as Dona's lady-likeaunt and from Give Swift who doubles as her rose-fixated uncle and a minor poet who dreams of Parnassus and ends up doing the school plumbing After triumphing with Ivanov, the Almeida now gives us a delicately touching evening of Hispanic Chekhov. PHOTOGRAPH JOHN GILES some carrying placards, protested at the cancellation of visits. The loyalist prisoner Billy Wright joined the demonstration along with three other prisoners, now styling themselves members of the Loyalist Volunteer Force. They were all moved from the integrated Maghaberry prison on Friday to HBlock six, whose other wing holds republicans.

Mark Fulton, a friend of Wright, said: "The prisoners don't see why they should be punished for something republicans did." Taylor, judge' remote and out of touch. He wanted to abolish wigs and fancy robes, but was foiled by opposition from circuit judges. Law lords. Appeal Court and High Court judges, lawyers and court staff gathered yesterday in the court where he had presided for tributes led by Lord Bingham, his successor, who sat 'ith the Master of the Rolls, Lord Woolf, and the Vice-Chancellor, Sir Richard Scott. Lord Bingham said: "He spoke out fearlessly and eloquently on issues affecting the administration of justice, but without being factious or petty, never stooping to personal denigration He was loved and admired by those who worked for him.

He was above all a wise, just and humane judge." The Lord Chancellor, Lord Mackay, said: "Lord Taylor was a strong and fearless champion of justice throughout his life. He did not shrink from expressing his views on the administration of justice and thereby enabled the judiciary to make a full contribution to public debate." Born into a Jewish family of doctors and lawyers in Newcastle upon Tyne, he had a brilliant career at the Bar, taking silk at the early age of 36. He went on to become chairman of the Bar. and was appointed a High Court judge in 1980 and an Appeal Court judge in 1988. Obituary, paga 19 checks and head counts.

The measures were introduced yesterday following a report into security at the prison after the tunnel was found. Prison officers claim the paramilitary organisations are running large parts of the Maze. When the protest began officers were withdrawn from the loyalist blocks as a precaution against their being trapped, as they were during a protest three years ago. The Prison Service said there was no question of their being able to escape Outside the Maze about 60 relatives. and just Lord Taylor: outspoken 'champion of justice' minimum sentences for persistent burglars and drug dealers and mandatory life sentences for violent and sex offenders.

He believed the proposals would lead to a denial of jus tice because judges would no longer be able to fit the pun ishment to the circumstances of the crime and the offender. Even after illness forced him to step down, he remained an outspoken critic of the plans Lord Taylor was the judge whose inquiry into the Hillsborough football disaster changed the face of British football. His 1989 report led to a change to allseater stadiums and other reforms. He was keen to get rid of the judges' image as stuffy, 'a wise Clara Oyar Legal Corraspondant HEARINGS at the Royal Court of Justice in Lon don came to a halt yesterday morning as judges and lawyers paid tribute to Lord Taylor of Gosforth, the for met Lord Chief Justice, who died on Monday after more than a year battling against cancer Lord Taylor, who would have been 67 tomorrow, held the top judicial post in England and Wales from 1992 until a brain tumour forced his premature retirement in May. 1996, a few months after he lost his wife to cancer.

Peter Taylor was appointed Lord Chief Justice in 1992 to restore public confidence in the criminal justice system, badly dented by a series of high profile miscarriages of justice His style was a complete departure from that of his predecessor, the sphinx-like Lord Lane. Lord Taylor held regular press conferences, appeared on BBC's Question Time, and repeatedly attacked the sentencing policies of the Home Secretary, Michael Howard, in speeches distributed in advance to the media to ensure maximum coverage. Encouraged by his openness, other judges spoke out. In his final speech in the House of Lords before retirement in May, 1996, he mounted a devastating attack on Mr Howard's plans for Michael Billington Dona Roslta, Tha Spinatar Almeida Theatre LORCA in English often presents a problem: how do you convey his poetic lyricism and thwarted sensu ality? But both Peter Oswald's new version and Phyllida Lloyd's production of Dona Rosita, The Spinster, capture the Chekhovian qualities of this delicately moving play, dating from 1935, about fading beauty and passing time. The setting is a Granada villa between 1890 and 191U At the play's centre is the orphaned Dona Rosita lovingly tended by an aunt and uncle, like one of the latter's greenhouse flowers, and herself dot ing passionately on her cousin.

When he is summoned to South America she keeps alive the memory of his love and the dream of his constancy only to confront, as the years pass, her solitude and disappointed hopes. Realism mixes effortlessly with symbolism. Dona Rosita is a touchingly accurate picture of a woman sustained by an illusion. But she also becomes an emblem of Spanish womanhood victimised by men. And, as Ian Gibson in triguingly suggests in the programme, she stands for Granada in its decline from centre of civilisation to backwater.

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