( S ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT The ) ( NN brigade ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( VP ( VBN heard ) ( PP-CLR ( IN from ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB since ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP we ) ) ( VP ( VBP keep ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN staff ) ) ( ADVP-LOC ( RB around ) ) ( ADVP ( RB just ) ( IN in ) ( NN case ) ) ) ) )

The brigade has n't been heard from since but we keep the staff around just in case


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP George ) ( NNP Marshall ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN ghost ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB much ) ( RBR more ) ( JJ difficult ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB keep ) ( S ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ happy ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

George Marshall 's ghost is much more difficult to keep happy


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP We ) ) ( VP ( VBP keep ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN lot ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS shrines ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( PRP him ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN around ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Pentagon ) ) ) ( UCP-1 ( NP ( NNS statues ) ) ( NP ( NNS busts ) ) ( NP ( NNS relics ) ) ( CC and ) ( ADJP ( JJ such ) ) ) ) )

We keep a lot of shrines to him around the Pentagon statues busts relics and such


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( DT The ) ( NNP Army ) ( NN headquarters ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ third ) ( NN deck ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Pentagon ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD used ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB burn ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN lot ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN incense ) ) ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( PRP him ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Navy ) ( NN headquarters ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ fourth ) ( NN deck ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD made ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP them ) ) ( VP ( VB stop ) ( NP ( PRP it ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The Army headquarters on the third deck of the Pentagon used to burn a lot of incense to him but the Navy headquarters on the fourth deck made them stop it


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP You ) ) ( VP ( VBP see ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Marshall ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( NP ( NP ( DT this ) ( NN thing ) ) ( PP ( IN about ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Navy ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNPS Marines ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( S ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD wanted ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB make ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP them ) ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( NN part ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Army ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NAC ( NNP Secretary ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Navy ) ) ) ) ( NNP James ) ( NNP Forrestal ) ) ( VP ( VBD blocked ) ( NP ( PRP him ) ) ) ) ) )

You see Marshall had this thing about the Navy and the Marines he wanted to make them part of the Army but Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal blocked him


( S ( ADVP-TMP ( RB Now ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP$ his ) ( NN ghost ) ) ( VP ( MD wo ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB let ) ( PRT ( RP up ) ) ( SBAR-TMP ( IN till ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ 's ) ( VP ( VBN done ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Now his ghost wo n't let up till it 's done


( S ( S-PRP ( VP ( TO To ) ( VP ( VB keep ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP him ) ) ( ADJP-PRD ( VB quiet ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP we ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBP invent ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ new ) ( JJ unified ) ( NN command ) ) ) ( NP-TMP ( NP ( DT every ) ( NN year ) ) ( CC or ) ( RB so ) ) ( VP-3 ( VB run ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Army ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Air ) ( NNP Force ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBD put ) ( NP ( NP ( JJR more ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Navy ) ( CC and ) ( NNPS Marines ) ) ) ) ( PP-PUT ( IN under ) ( NP ( PRP it ) ) ) ) ) )

To keep him quiet we invent a new unified command every year or so run by the Army or the Air Force and put more of the Navy and Marines under it


( S ( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP we ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB still ) ) ( VP ( VBP hear ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP him ) ) ( VP ( VBG moaning ) ( PP-TMP ( IN at ) ( NP ( NN night ) ) ) ( SBAR-PRP ( IN because ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NNP Navy ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ few ) ( NNS ships ) ) ( ADJP ( VBN left ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( S-PRP ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB satisfy ) ( NP ( PRP him ) ) ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Navy ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN sea ) ( NN lift ) ( NNS forces ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( VP ( VBN given ) ( PP-DTV-2 ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ new ) ( NNP Air ) ( NNP Force ) ( NN bureaucracy ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Illinois ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ=1 ( PRP$ its ) ( NN space ) ( NNS operations ) ) ( PP-DTV=2 ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( DT another ) ( NN command ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Colorado ) ) ) ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ=1 ( DT the ) ( NNS frogmen ) ) ( PP-DTV=2 ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ new ) ( NNP Army ) ( NN bureaucracy ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Fort ) ( NNP Bragg ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ=1 ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Navy ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNP Indian ) ( NNP Ocean ) ( CC and ) ( NNP Persian ) ( NNP Gulf ) ( NNS forces ) ) ( PP-DTV=2 ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( NNP Army ) ( NN bureaucracy ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Florida ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

But we still hear him moaning at night because the Navy has a few ships left and to satisfy him the Navy 's sea lift forces were given to a new Air Force bureaucracy in Illinois its space operations to another command in Colorado the frogmen to a new Army bureaucracy in Fort Bragg and the Navy 's Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf forces to an Army bureaucracy in Florida


( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT Which ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ brings ) ( PRT ( RP up ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( ADJP ( JJS worst ) ( CC and ) ( JJS meanest ) ) ( NN ghost ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT all ) ) ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN ghost ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN shah ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Iran ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Which brings up the worst and meanest ghost of all the ghost of the shah of Iran


( S ( SBAR-TMP ( WHADVP-1 ( WRB When ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN shah ) ) ( VP ( VBD died ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP President ) ( NNP Carter ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( ADJP-PRD ( ADJP ( RB so ) ( VBN scared ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN shah ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN ghost ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB blame ) ( NP ( PRP him ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG shoving ) ( NP ( PRP him ) ) ( PRT ( RP out ) ) ( S-PRP ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB make ) ( NP ( NN way ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN ayatollah ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD declared ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Carter ) ( NNP Doctrine ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

When the shah died President Carter was so scared that the shah 's ghost would blame him for shoving him out to make way for the ayatollah that he declared the Carter Doctrine


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Carter ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB go ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NN war ) ) ) ( S-PRP ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB stop ) ( NP ( NN anyone ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN from ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG trying ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB grab ) ( NP ( NNP Iran ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Mr. Carter said he would go to war to stop anyone from trying to grab Iran


( S ( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT that ) ( NN ghost ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB settle ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NNS words ) ) ) ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD wanted ) ( NP ( NP ( NN money ) ( CC and ) ( NNS people ) ) ( ADJP ( NNS lots ) ) ) ) ) )

But that ghost would n't settle for words he wanted money and people lots


( S ( RB So ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Carter ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBD formed ) ( NP ( CD three ) ( JJ new ) ( NNP Army ) ( NNS divisions ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBD gave ) ( NP ( PRP them ) ) ( PP-DTV ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ new ) ( NN bureaucracy ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Tampa ) ) ) ( VP ( VBN called ) ( S ( NP-PRD ( DT the ) ( NNP Rapid ) ( NNP Deployment ) ( NNP Force ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

So Mr. Carter formed three new Army divisions and gave them to a new bureaucracy in Tampa called the Rapid Deployment Force


( S ( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT that ) ( NN ghost ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VBN fooled ) ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD knew ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NNP RDF ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( UCP-PRD ( CC neither ) ( ADJP ( JJ rapid ) ) ( CC nor ) ( ADJP ( JJ deployable ) ) ( CC nor ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN force ) ) ) ( SBAR-ADV ( RB even ) ( IN though ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBD cost ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 8 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 10 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN year ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

But that ghost was n't fooled he knew the RDF was neither rapid nor deployable nor a force even though it cost 8 billion or 10 billion a year


( S ( SBAR-TMP ( IN After ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Carter ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBN defeated ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( CD 1980 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN shah ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN ghost ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBD claimed ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN credit ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( ADVP-TMP ( RB then ) ) ( VBD went ) ( PP-CLR ( IN after ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP President ) ( NNP Reagan ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP Cap ) ( NNP Weinberger ) ) ) ) ) ) )

After Mr. Carter was defeated in 1980 the shah 's ghost claimed the credit and then went after President Reagan and Cap Weinberger


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP I ) ) ( VP ( VBD saw ) ( SBAR-NOM ( WHNP-1 ( WP what ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD did ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( PRP them ) ) ) ) ) ) ( ADVP-MNR ( RB firsthand ) ) ) )

I saw what he did to them firsthand


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP It ) ) ( VP ( VBD made ) ( NP ( PRP$ my ) ( NNS shoelaces ) ) ( VP ( VB dance ) ( PP-PRP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NN terror ) ) ) ) ) )

It made my shoelaces dance with terror


( S ( S ( ADVP ( WRB Why ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD used ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB lay ) ( PP-CLR ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN wait ) ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NNP Cap ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( S ( ADVP ( RB suddenly ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( MD 'd ) ( VP ( VP ( VB leap ) ( PP-DIR ( IN from ) ( PP ( IN behind ) ( NP ( NP ( DT some ) ( NN statue ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Marshall ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN onto ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Cap ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN chest ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VB grab ) ( NP ( PRP him ) ) ( PP-MNR ( IN by ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN throat ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VB choke ) ( NP ( PRP him ) ) ( SBAR-TMP ( IN till ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD coughed ) ( PRT ( RP up ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( QP ( JJ additional ) ( CD 2 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( RB so ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Why he used to lay in wait for Cap suddenly he 'd leap from behind some statue of Marshall onto Cap 's chest and grab him by the throat and choke him till he coughed up an additional 2 billion or so


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Cap ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBD added ) ( NP-1 ( NP ( CD four ) ( JJR more ) ( NNS divisions ) ) ) ( PP-CLR-2 ( TO to ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Army ) ) ) ( NP-5 ( NP ( NP ( CD two ) ) ( ADJP ( JJ active ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( CD two ) ) ( ADJP ( JJ reserve ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( NP=1 ( CD two ) ( NN carrier ) ( NNS groups ) ) ( PP-CLR=2 ( TO to ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Navy ) ) ) ) ( VP ( NP=1 ( DT a ) ( NN division ) ( JJ equivalent ) ) ( PP-CLR=2 ( TO to ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNPS Marines ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( NP=1 ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN C-5B ) ( NN KC-10 ) ( NN C-17 ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( CD thousand ) ( JJ tactical ) ( NN aircraft ) ) ) ( PP-CLR=2 ( TO to ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Air ) ( NNP Force ) ) ) ) ) )

Cap added four more divisions to the Army two active and two reserve two carrier groups to the Navy a division equivalent to the Marines and the C-5B KC-10 C-17 and a thousand tactical aircraft to the Air Force


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP He ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBD bought ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 4 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( JJ prepositioning ) ( NNS ships ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 7 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN ammo ) ( CC and ) ( NN equipment ) ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB fill ) ( NP ( PRP them ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBD parked ) ( NP ( PRP them ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ new ) ( ADJP ( QP ( CD 6 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ( NN base ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( NNP Diego ) ( NNP Garcia ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN middle ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Indian ) ( NNP Ocean ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

He bought 4 billion in prepositioning ships and 7 billion in ammo and equipment to fill them and parked them at a new 6 billion base at Diego Garcia in the middle of the Indian Ocean


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP He ) ) ( VP ( VBD dedicated ) ( NP ( PDT all ) ( DT these ) ( JJ new ) ( NNS forces ) ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Persian ) ( NNP Gulf ) ) ) ) )

He dedicated all these new forces to the Persian Gulf


( S ( NP-TMP ( CD One ) ( NN night ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT both ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Marshall ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN ghost ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN shah ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN ghost ) ) ( ADJP ( RB together ) ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBN caught ) ( NP ( NNP Cap ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBD threw ) ( NP ( PRP him ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN ground ) ) ) ) ) )

One night both Marshall 's ghost and the shah 's ghost together caught Cap and threw him to the ground


( S ( SBAR-TMP ( IN Before ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VB let ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP him ) ) ( VP ( VB go ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBD added ) ( NP ( QP ( DT a ) ( CD thousand ) ) ( NNS bureaucrats ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP RDF ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Tampa ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBD renamed ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( NP-PRD ( NNP Central ) ( NNP Command ) ) ) ) ) )

Before they let him go he added a thousand bureaucrats to the RDF in Tampa and renamed it Central Command


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP He ) ) ( VP ( VBD gave ) ( NP ( DT those ) ( NNS bureaucrats ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NN charge ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT all ) ( JJ naval ) ( NNS operations ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NX ( NX ( NNP Persian ) ( NNP Gulf ) ) ( CC and ) ( NX ( NNP Indian ) ( NNP Ocean ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

He gave those bureaucrats charge of all naval operations in the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Marshall ) ) ( VP ( VBD figured ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( JJ good ) ( NN training ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT those ) ( NNS soldiers ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( S ( ADVP-TMP ( RB someday ) ) ( ADVP ( RB maybe ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB get ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ whole ) ( NNP Navy ) ) ) ) ) )

Marshall figured it would be good training for those soldiers someday maybe they would get the whole Navy


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP They ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( NP ( NN fun ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG moving ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS carriers ) ) ( PRT ( RP around ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBD turned ) ( PRT ( RP out ) ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( VP ( VBN forgotten ) ( PP ( ADVP ( DT all ) ) ( IN about ) ( NP ( JJ mine ) ( NNS sweepers ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

They had fun moving the carriers around but it turned out that they had forgotten all about mine sweepers


( S ( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT the ) ( NN shah ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB still ) ) ( VP ( VBD kept ) ( S ( VP ( VBG leaping ) ( PRT ( RP out ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN at ) ( NP ( NNP Cap ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( RB so ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Cap ) ) ( VP ( VBD bought ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( DT a ) ( CD hundred ) ) ( NN merchant ) ( NNS ships ) ( JJR more ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 7 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NN loading ) ( NNS barges ) ) ( NP ( NNS ramps ) ) ( FW etc. ) ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-PRP ( IN in ) ( NN order ) ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT those ) ( NX ( NX ( CD seven ) ( JJ new ) ( NNP Army ) ( NNS divisions ) ) ( CC and ) ( NX ( CD three ) ( NNP Marine ) ( NNS brigades ) ) ) ) ( VP ( MD could ) ( VP ( VP ( VB unload ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( PDT all ) ( DT those ) ( JJ new ) ( NNS ships ) ( CC and ) ( NN aircraft ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VB go ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NN war ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Zagros ) ( NNS mountains ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

But the shah still kept leaping out at Cap so Cap bought a hundred merchant ships more and 7 billion of loading barges ramps etc. in order that those seven new Army divisions and three Marine brigades could unload from all those new ships and aircraft and go to war in the Zagros mountains


( S ( ADVP ( RB Then ) ) ( ADVP ( RB suddenly ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( NNP Ike ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN ghost ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBD came ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB visit ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBARQ ( WHNP-2 ( WP What ) ( DT the ) ( NN hell ) ) ( SQ ( VBP are ) ( NP-SBJ-3 ( PRP you ) ) ( VP ( VBG doing ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG planning ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN land ) ( NN war ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Asia ) ) ) ) ( ADVP-LOC ( NP ( CD 12,000 ) ( NNS miles ) ) ( RB away ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Then suddenly Ike 's ghost came to visit and said What the hell are you doing planning for a land war in Asia 12,000 miles away


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP We ) ) ( VP ( MD 'd ) ( VP ( VB get ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP$ our ) ( NNS asses ) ) ( VP ( VBN kicked ) ) ) ) ) )

We 'd get our asses kicked


( S ( ADJP-ADV ( JJ Lucky ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NNP Cap ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Ike ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBD was ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ easygoing ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( ADVP-TMP ( RB soon ) ) ( VBD went ) ( ADVP-LOC-CLR ( RB away ) ) ( SBAR-ADV ( IN while ) ( S ( NP-TPC ( DT the ) ( NN shah ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD kept ) ( S ( VP ( VBG coming ) ( ADVP-CLR ( RB back ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Lucky for Cap Ike was easygoing and soon went away while the shah he kept coming back


( S ( ADVP ( RB So ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT the ) ( NNP U.S. ) ) ( VP ( VBD found ) ( NP ( PRP itself ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG paying ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( IN about ) ( CD 2 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN baksheesh ) ) ) ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( JJ various ) ( JJ Arab ) ( NNS potentates ) ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( VBG basing ) ( NNS rights ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN around ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Indian ) ( NNP Ocean ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

So the U.S. found itself paying about 2 billion in baksheesh to various Arab potentates for basing rights around the Indian Ocean


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP We ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( NP ( JJ great ) ( NN success ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Somalia ) ) ) ) )

We had great success in Somalia


( S ( S ( CC But ) ( ADVP ( RB then ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBD turned ) ( PRT ( RP out ) ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP President ) ( NNP Siad ) ( NNP Barrah ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( ADVP ( RB not ) ( IN at ) ( DT all ) ) ( NP-PRD ( DT a ) ( JJ nice ) ( NN person ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NNP Navy ) ) ( VP ( VBD pointed ) ( PRT ( RP out ) ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN base ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD promised ) ( NP ( PRP us ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Berbera ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( VP ( VBN silted ) ( PRT ( RP up ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( NP ( QP ( IN about ) ( DT a ) ( CD hundred ) ) ( NNS years ) ) ( RB ago ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( ADVP ( RB anyway ) ) ( VBD was ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( CD 1,244 ) ( NNS miles ) ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN mouth ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Gulf ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

But then it turned out that President Siad Barrah was not at all a nice person and the Navy pointed out that the base he promised us in Berbera had silted up about a hundred years ago and anyway was 1,244 miles from the mouth of the Gulf


( SBARQ ( CC But ) ( WHNP-1 ( WP who ) ) ( SQ ( VP ( VBZ 's ) ( VP ( VBG counting ) ) ) ) )

But who 's counting


( S ( S ( ADVP ( RB Still ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Berbera ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJS best ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP we ) ) ( VP ( MD could ) ( VP ( VB get ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( RB so ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP we ) ) ( VP ( VBP stay ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN bed ) ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NNP President ) ( NNP Barrah ) ) ) ) ) )

Still Berbera was the best we could get so we stay in bed with President Barrah


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( PDT All ) ( DT these ) ( NNS reports ) ) ( PP ( IN about ) ( S-NOM ( NP-SBJ ( PRP him ) ) ( VP ( VBG committing ) ( NP ( NN genocide ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( ADVP ( RB probably ) ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ exaggerated ) ) ( ADVP ( RB anyway ) ) ) )

All these reports about him committing genocide are probably exaggerated anyway


( S ( SINV ( CC But ) ( MD would ) ( RB n't ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP you ) ) ( VP ( VB know ) ) ) ( S ( SBAR-ADV ( RB now ) ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP we ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VBG spending ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS jillions ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNS dollars ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBP have ) ( VP ( VBN built ) ( NP ( NP ( DT those ) ( JJ new ) ( NNS divisions ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( JJ new ) ( NN air ) ( NNS wings ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBP have ) ( VP ( VBN positioned ) ( NP ( PDT all ) ( DT these ) ( NNS ships ) ( CC and ) ( NNS supplies ) ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB fight ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNPS Russians ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Iran ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT the ) ( NNPS Russians ) ) ( VP ( VBP seem ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB have ) ( VP ( VBN lost ) ( NP ( NP ( NN interest ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ whole ) ( NN subject ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

But would n't you know now that we are spending jillions of dollars and have built those new divisions and new air wings and have positioned all these ships and supplies to fight the Russians in Iran the Russians seem to have lost interest in the whole subject


( S ( ADVP-TMP ( RB Meanwhile ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Congress ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBG cutting ) ( NP ( JJ huge ) ( NNS chunks ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN out ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN rest ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN defense ) ( NN budget ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Meanwhile Congress is cutting huge chunks out of the rest of the defense budget


( S ( ADVP ( RB Predictably ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT some ) ( NNP Navy ) ( NNS guys ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SQ ( VB Do ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP we ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB still ) ) ( VP ( VB need ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB keep ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT all ) ( CD 18 ) ( NNP Army ) ( NNS divisions ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( JJ active ) ( NN duty ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( PDT all ) ( DT those ) ( JJ extra ) ( JJ land-based ) ( NN aircraft ) ) ( PP ( IN without ) ( NP ( NNS bases ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( PDT all ) ( DT those ) ( NNP Army ) ( NNS guys ) ) ( VP ( VBG playing ) ( NP ( NN admiral ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Tampa ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Predictably some Navy guys said Do we still need to keep all 18 Army divisions on active duty and all those extra land-based aircraft without bases and all those Army guys playing admiral in Tampa


( SQ ( MD Could ) ( RB n't ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP we ) ) ( VP ( VB save ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 20 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 30 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN year ) ) ) ( PP-MNR ( IN by ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG shifting ) ( NP ( DT that ) ( NN stuff ) ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS reserves ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Could n't we save 20 billion or 30 billion a year by shifting that stuff to the reserves


( SBAR ( CC And ) ( WHADVP ( WRB why ) ( RB not ) ) ( S ( VP ( VB save ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS costs ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( DT a ) ( CD thousand ) ) ( NNS bureaucrats ) ) ) ) ( PP-MNR ( IN by ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VP ( VBG abolishing ) ( NP ( NNP Central ) ( NNP Command ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBG putting ) ( NP ( NP ( NN responsibility ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NNP Gulf ) ( JJ naval ) ( NNS operations ) ) ) ) ( ADVP-PUT ( ADVP ( RB back ) ( SBAR ( WHADVP ( WRB where ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ belongs ) ) ) ) ) ( ADVP ( RB afloat ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN task ) ( NN force ) ( NN commander ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Gulf ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

And why not save the costs of a thousand bureaucrats by abolishing Central Command and putting responsibility for Gulf naval operations back where it belongs afloat with the task force commander in the Gulf


( SBARQ ( CC And ) ( WHADVP-2 ( WRB where ) ) ( SQ ( VP ( VBD were ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( RB all ) ( PRP$ our ) ( ADJP ( RB handsomely ) ( VBN paid ) ) ( NNP Indian ) ( NNP Ocean ) ( NNS allies ) ) ( NP-TMP ( NP ( JJ last ) ( NN year ) ) ( SBAR ( WHADVP-3 ( WRB when ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP$ our ) ( NNS convoys ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( VP ( VBG being ) ( VP ( VBN attacked ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

And where were all our handsomely paid Indian Ocean allies last year when our convoys were being attacked


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNS Questions ) ) ( PP ( JJ like ) ( NP ( DT that ) ) ) ) ( VP ( ADVP ( RB really ) ) ( VBP stir ) ( PRT ( RP up ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Marshall ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN ghost ) ) ) )

Questions like that really stir up Marshall 's ghost


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP He ) ) ( VP ( VBD appeared ) ( NP-TMP ( JJ late ) ( CD one ) ( NN night ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN bedroom ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ new ) ( NN defense ) ( NN secretary ) ) ( NP ( NNP Dick ) ( NNP Cheney ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

He appeared late one night in the bedroom of the new defense secretary Dick Cheney


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Marshall ) ) ( VP ( VBD came ) ( S ( VP ( VBG clanking ) ( PRT ( RP in ) ) ( PP-CLR ( JJ like ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NNP Marley ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN ghost ) ) ( VP ( VBG dragging ) ( NP ( NP ( DT those ) ( NNS chains ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS brigades ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NN air ) ( NNS wings ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS links ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( JJ Arab ) ( NNS despots ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Marshall came clanking in like Marley 's ghost dragging those chains of brigades and air wings and links with Arab despots


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP He ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB leave ) ( SBAR-TMP ( IN until ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Cheney ) ) ( VP ( VBD promised ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB do ) ( SBAR-NOM ( WHNP-1 ( WDT whatever ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NNP Pentagon ) ( NNS systems ) ( NNS analysts ) ) ( VP ( VBD told ) ( NP ( PRP him ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

He would n't leave until Mr. Cheney promised to do whatever the Pentagon systems analysts told him


( S ( S ( ADVP ( RB So ) ) ( NP-TMP ( JJ next ) ( NN day ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Cheney ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBD went ) ( ADVP-CLR ( RB out ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBD did ) ( NP ( RB just ) ( DT that ) ) ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP He ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBD canceled ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ 600-ship ) ( NNP Navy ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBD cut ) ( ADVP-CLR ( RB back ) ) ( NP ( NP ( CD one ) ( NN carrier ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( CD 20 ) ( NNS frigates ) ) ) ) ) ) )

So next day Mr. Cheney went out and did just that He canceled the 600-ship Navy and cut back one carrier and 20 frigates


( S ( ADVP ( RB Then ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD canceled ) ( NP ( NP ( NN production ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Navy ) ( POS 's ) ) ( ADJP ( RBS most ) ( JJ important ) ) ( NN carrier ) ( NN aircraft ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN F-14 ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN A-6 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Then he canceled production of the Navy 's most important carrier aircraft the F-14 and the A-6


( S ( PP ( IN On ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ other ) ( NN hand ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Cheney ) ) ( VP ( VBD retained ) ( NP ( PDT all ) ( DT those ) ( JJ new ) ( NN land ) ( NNS forces ) ) ) )

On the other hand Mr. Cheney retained all those new land forces


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Marshall ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN ghost ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ satisfied ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB now ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( MD 'll ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( ADVP-PRD ( RB back ) ) ) ) ) )

Marshall 's ghost is satisfied for now but he 'll be back


( S ( PP ( X ( WP What ) ) ( IN with ) ( S-NOM ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Halloween ) ) ( VP ( VBG coming ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJR bigger ) ( NN defense ) ( NNS cuts ) ) ( VP ( VBG looming ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( ADJP ( JJR more ) ( CC and ) ( JJR more ) ) ( NNP Pentagon ) ( NNS bureaucrats ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VBG crawling ) ( PP-DIR ( IN under ) ( NP ( PRP$ their ) ( NNS desks ) ) ) ) ) )

What with Halloween coming and bigger defense cuts looming more and more Pentagon bureaucrats are crawling under their desks


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP They ) ) ( VP ( VBP know ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( MD can ) ( VP ( VB hold ) ( PRT ( RP off ) ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS ghosts ) ) ( NP-TMP ( RB only ) ( DT a ) ( JJ little ) ( NN while ) ( RB longer ) ) ( PP-MNR ( IN by ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG cutting ) ( NP ( NNS carriers ) ( CC and ) ( NNS ships ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

They know that they can hold off the ghosts only a little while longer by cutting carriers and ships


( S ( S ( ADVP ( RB Then ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT the ) ( JJ whole ) ( NN thing ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB start ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB collapse ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-ADV ( RB just ) ( IN as ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBD did ) ( VP ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS 1970s ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( DT the ) ( NNS ghosts ) ( CC and ) ( NNS banshees ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBG howling ) ( PP-LOC ( IN through ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN place ) ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG turning ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNS people ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN hair ) ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ white ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Then the whole thing will start to collapse just as it did in the 1970s and the ghosts and banshees will be howling through the place turning people 's hair white


( S ( VP ( VBZ Gives ) ( NP ( PRP me ) ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS willies ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( ADVP ( RB just ) ) ( VBG thinking ) ( PP-CLR ( IN about ) ( NP ( PRP it ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Gives me the willies just thinking about it


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Lehman ) ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NNP Reagan ) ( NNP Navy ) ( NN secretary ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN managing ) ( NN director ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP PaineWebber ) ) ) ) ) )

Mr. Lehman a Reagan Navy secretary is a managing director of PaineWebber


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT A ) ( JJ former ) ( NNP Sperry ) ( NNP Corp. ) ( VBG marketing ) ( NN executive ) ) ( VP ( VBG admitting ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( NN role ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Pentagon ) ( JJ procurement ) ( NN scandal ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD pleaded ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ guilty ) ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( NN bribery ) ( CC and ) ( NN conspiracy ) ( NNS charges ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG helping ) ( S ( VP ( VB funnel ) ( NP ( CD 400,000 ) ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ midlevel ) ( NNP Navy ) ( NN acquisition ) ( NN official ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN during ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ early ) ( NNS 1980s ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

A former Sperry Corp. marketing executive admitting his role in the Pentagon procurement scandal pleaded guilty to bribery and conspiracy charges for helping funnel 400,000 to a midlevel Navy acquisition official during the early 1980s


( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( NP ( NNP Frank ) ( NNP Lavelle ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WP who ) ) ( S ( PP-TMP ( IN at ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN time ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT the ) ( VBG marketing ) ( NN director ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NNP Sperry ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Clearwater ) ) ( NP ( NNP Fla. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD admitted ) ( S ( VP ( VBG participating ) ( PP-CLR ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN scheme ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB bribe ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Garland ) ( NNP Tomlin ) ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Navy ) ( NN official ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Frank Lavelle who at the time was the marketing director for Sperry in Clearwater Fla. admitted participating in a scheme to bribe Garland Tomlin the Navy official


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Tomlin ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WP who ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD left ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Navy ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( CD 1985 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD pleaded ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB guilty ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RBR earlier ) ( NP ( DT this ) ( NN year ) ) ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( JJ related ) ( NN conspiracy ) ( NN bribery ) ( CC and ) ( NN tax-evasion ) ( NNS charges ) ) ) ) )

Mr. Tomlin who left the Navy in 1985 pleaded guilty earlier this year to related conspiracy bribery and tax-evasion charges


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN bribery ) ( NN scheme ) ) ( VP ( VBD took ) ( NP-CLR ( NN place ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN between ) ( NP ( CD 1982 ) ( CC and ) ( CD 1985 ) ) ) ( PP ( VBG according ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS documents ) ) ( VP ( VBN filed ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NNS prosecutors ) ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NN connection ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Lavelle ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ guilty ) ( NN plea ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ federal ) ( NN district ) ( NN court ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Alexandria ) ) ( NP ( NNP Va ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The bribery scheme took place between 1982 and 1985 according to documents filed by prosecutors in connection with Mr. Lavelle 's guilty plea in federal district court in Alexandria Va


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Sperry ) ) ( VP ( VBD merged ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( NNP Burroughs ) ( NNP Corp. ) ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB become ) ( NP-PRD ( NNP Unisys ) ( NNP Corp. ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( JJ late ) ( CD 1986 ) ) ) ) )

Sperry merged with Burroughs Corp. to become Unisys Corp. in late 1986


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NN Court ) ( NNS documents ) ) ( VP ( VBN filed ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NNS prosecutors ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP indicate ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Tomlin ) ) ( VP ( VBD tried ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB steer ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NNP Sperry ) ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( ADJP ( JJ multimillion ) ( NN dollar ) ) ( NN contract ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB computerize ) ( NP ( NP ( NN maintenance ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ certain ) ( NNP Navy ) ( NNS electronics ) ( NN equiment ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Court documents filed by prosecutors indicate Mr. Tomlin tried to steer to Sperry a multimillion dollar contract to computerize maintenance of certain Navy electronics equiment


( S ( S-TPC-1 ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Tomlin ) ) ( PP ( IN among ) ( NP ( JJ other ) ( NNS things ) ) ) ( VP ( ADVP-MNR ( RB illegally ) ) ( VBD provided ) ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Lavelle ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ inside ) ( NN information ) ( CC and ) ( NNS documents ) ) ( VP ( VBN intended ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB give ) ( NP ( NNP Sperry ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( JJ unfair ) ( NN advantage ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN competition ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NNS documents ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) )

Mr. Tomlin among other things illegally provided Mr. Lavelle with inside information and documents intended to give Sperry an unfair advantage in the competition the documents said


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Sperry ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB ultimately ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBN eliminated ) ( PP-CLR ( IN from ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN competition ) ) ) ( PP ( IN without ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG receiving ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN work ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Sperry ultimately was eliminated from the competition without receiving the work


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNS Documents ) ) ( VP ( VBN filed ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NNS prosecutors ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( VBP indicate ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Lavelle ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( JJ fellow ) ( NNS conspirators ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD requested ) ( CC and ) ( VBD obtained ) ( NP ( NP ( NN approval ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN scheme ) ) ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN from ) ( NP ( JJR more-senior ) ( NNP Sperry ) ( NNS officials ) ) ) ( SBAR-PRP ( IN because ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN payment ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr ) ( NNP Tomlin ) ) ( VP ( VBD requested ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB so ) ( JJ large ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Documents filed by prosecutors also indicate that Mr. Lavelle and his fellow conspirators requested and obtained approval of the scheme from more-senior Sperry officials because the payment which Mr Tomlin requested was so large


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( NP ( NNP Charles ) ( NNP Gardner ) ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ former ) ( NNP Unisys ) ( NN vice ) ( NN president ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP James ) ( NNP Neal ) ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ former ) ( NN company ) ( NN consultant ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP have ) ( VP ( VBN admitted ) ( S ( VP ( VBG participating ) ( PP-CLR ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT this ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( JJ other ) ( NN bribery ) ( NNS schemes ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Charles Gardner a former Unisys vice president and James Neal a former company consultant have admitted participating in this and other bribery schemes


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Unisys ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN said ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT all ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ( NNS officials ) ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WP who ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD participated ) ( PP-CLR ( IN in ) ( NP ( JJ improper ) ( NNS activities ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP have ) ( VP ( VBN left ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Unisys has said that all of the company officials who participated in improper activities have left the company


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Lavelle ) ) ( VP ( VBZ faces ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN maximum ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 20 ) ( NNS years ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN jail ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( ADJP ( CD 500,000 ) ) ( NN fine ) ) ) ) )

Mr. Lavelle faces a maximum of 20 years in jail and a 500,000 fine


( SINV ( VP-TPC-1 ( VBG Following ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ weekly ) ( NN listing ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ unadited ) ( JJ net ) ( NN asset ) ( NNS values ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( RB publicly ) ( JJ traded ) ( NN investment ) ( NN fund ) ( NNS shares ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBN reported ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( DT the ) ( NNS companies ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN as ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Friday ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN close ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Following is a weekly listing of unadited net asset values of publicly traded investment fund shares reported by the companies as of Friday 's close


( SINV ( VP-TPC-2 ( ADVP ( RB Also ) ) ( VBN shown ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN closing ) ( JJ listed ) ( NN market ) ( NN price ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ dealer-to-dealer ) ( JJ asked ) ( NN price ) ) ) ) ( PP-1 ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT each ) ( NN fund ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNS shares ) ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN percentage ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN difference ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Also shown is the closing listed market price or a dealer-to-dealer asked price of each fund 's shares with the percentage of difference


( NP-HLN ( NNP Closed ) ( NNP End ) ( NNP Bond ) ( NNPS Funds ) )

Closed End Bond Funds


( NP-HLN ( NNP Flexible ) ( NNP Portfolio ) ( NNPS Funds ) )

Flexible Portfolio Funds


( NP-HLN ( NP ( NNP Specialized ) ( NNP Equity ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP Convertible ) ( NNPS Funds ) ) )

Specialized Equity and Convertible Funds


( NP ( X ( SYM a ) ) ( NP ( NN Ex-dividend ) ) )

a Ex-dividend


( PP-TMP ( X ( SYM b ) ) ( PP ( IN As ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Thursday ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN close ) ) ) ) )

b As of Thursday 's close


( S ( VP ( X ( SYM c ) ) ( VP ( VBN Translated ) ( PP-CLR ( IN at ) ( NP ( NNP Commercial ) ( NNP Rand ) ( NN exchange ) ( NN rate ) ) ) ) ) )

c Translated at Commercial Rand exchange rate


( PP ( X ( SYM e ) ) ( PP ( IN In ) ( NP ( JJ Canadian ) ( NNS dollars ) ) ) )

e In Canadian dollars


( PP-TMP ( X ( SYM f ) ) ( PP ( IN As ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Wednesday ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN close ) ) ) ) )

f As of Wednesday 's close


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Eastern ) ( NNPS Enterprises ) ) ( VP ( VBN bolstered ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NP ( JJ improved ) ( NNS tonnages ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( JJ marine-shipping ) ( NN unit ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJR narrower ) ( JJ third-quarter ) ( NN net ) ( NN loss ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 1.1 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NP ( CD five ) ( NNS cents ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Eastern Enterprises bolstered by improved tonnages in its marine-shipping unit had a narrower third-quarter net loss of 1.1 million or five cents a share


( S ( NP-TMP ( JJ Last ) ( NN year ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Eastern ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN quarter ) ( NN loss ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 1.7 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NP ( CD eight ) ( NNS cents ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Last year Eastern had a quarter loss of 1.7 million or eight cents a share


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN Quarter ) ( NN revenue ) ) ( VP ( VBD rose ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 44 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( CD 160.1 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN from ) ( NP ( CD 111.2 ) ( CD million ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN year ) ) ( RB ago ) ) ) ) )

Quarter revenue rose 44 % to 160.1 million from 111.2 million a year ago


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NAC-LOC ( NNP Weston ) ( NNP Mass. ) ) ( NNS utilities ) ( CC and ) ( NN marine-transport ) ( NN concern ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNS results ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ third ) ( NN quarter ) ) ( NP ( NP ( RB usually ) ( DT a ) ( JJ money-losing ) ( NN one ) ) ( PP-PRP ( RB because ) ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN seasonality ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN gas ) ( NN business ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( VP ( VBN aided ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NP ( JJR higher ) ( NN gas ) ( NNS sales ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( MD May ) ( CD 1989 ) ( NN acquisition ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Water ) ( NNPS Products ) ( NNP Company ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The Weston Mass. utilities and marine-transport concern said results for the third quarter usually a money-losing one because of the seasonality of the gas business were also aided by higher gas sales and the May 1989 acquisition of Water Products Company


( S ( PP-TMP ( IN For ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( CD nine ) ( NNS months ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Eastern ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ net ) ( NN income ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 41.8 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 1.80 ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ) ( ADVP ( RB up ) ( NP ( CD 23 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 33.9 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 1.46 ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN year ) ) ( RB ago ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

For the nine months Eastern had net income of 41.8 million or 1.80 a share up 23 % from 33.9 million or 1.46 a share a year ago


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN Revenue ) ) ( VP ( VBD grew ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 24 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 614.5 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN from ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 497.1 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ) )

Revenue grew 24 % to 614.5 million from 497.1 million


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Winnebago ) ( NNPS Industries ) ( NNP Inc. ) ) ( VP ( VBN battered ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NP ( DT a ) ( VBG deepening ) ( NN slowdown ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( JJ recreational ) ( NN vehicle ) ( NN industry ) ( NNS sales ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBD reported ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( VBN widened ) ( JJ fourth-quarter ) ( NN loss ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBD slashed ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN dividend ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN half ) ) ) ) ) )

Winnebago Industries Inc. battered by a deepening slowdown in recreational vehicle industry sales reported a widened fourth-quarter loss and slashed its dividend in half


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT The ) ( NAC-LOC ( NNP Forest ) ( NNP City ) ( NNP Iowa ) ) ( NN maker ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN motor ) ( NNS homes ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN loss ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 11.3 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 46 ) ( NNS cents ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN quarter ) ) ( VP ( VBN ended ) ( NP-TMP-CLR ( NNP Aug. ) ( CD 26 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The Forest City Iowa maker of motor homes said it had a loss of 11.3 million or 46 cents a share in the quarter ended Aug. 26


( S ( ADVP-TMP ( NP ( DT A ) ( NN year ) ) ( RB earlier ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN deficit ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 1.5 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NP ( CD six ) ( NNS cents ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

A year earlier the company had a deficit of 1.5 million or six cents a share


( SINV ( S-TPC-1 ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT The ) ( NN cut ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN dividend ) ) ) ( PP ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 10 ) ( NNS cents ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB semiannually ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( CD 20 ) ( NNS cents ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB indicate ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( PRP me ) ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBP do ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB see ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( DT the ) ( NNS problems ) ) ( VP ( VBG being ) ( VP ( VBN fixed ) ( ADVP-MNR ( RB real ) ( RB quick ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Frank ) ( NNP Rolfes ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN analyst ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Dain ) ( NNP Bosworth ) ( NNP Inc. ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Minneapolis ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The cut in the dividend to 10 cents a share semiannually from 20 cents would indicate to me they do n't see the problems being fixed real quick said Frank Rolfes an analyst at Dain Bosworth Inc. in Minneapolis


( S ( ADVP ( RB Indeed ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Winnebago ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBD started ) ( NP ( JJ several ) ( JJ promotional ) ( NNS programs ) ) ( S-PRP ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB spur ) ( NP ( JJ retail ) ( NNS sales ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN fall ) ( CC and ) ( NN winter ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Indeed Winnebago said it started several promotional programs to spur retail sales in the fall and winter


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN year ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB already ) ) ( VP ( VBG shaping ) ( ADVP ( RB up ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN as ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ difficult ) ( NN one ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ recreational ) ( NN vehicle ) ( NN industry ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ makes ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS products ) ) ( PP ( JJ such ) ( IN as ) ( NP ( NP ( NN motor ) ( NNS homes ) ) ( NP ( NN travel ) ( NNS trailers ) ) ( NP ( JJ folding ) ( NNS campers ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NN van ) ( NNS conversions ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The year was already shaping up as a difficult one for the recreational vehicle industry which makes products such as motor homes travel trailers folding campers and van conversions


( S ( PP ( IN With ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN exception ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN van ) ( NNS conversions ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN industry ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN seen ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN decline ) ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 1988 ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ robust ) ( NNS sales ) ) ) ) ) ) )

With the exception of van conversions the industry has seen a decline from 1988 's robust sales


( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN rate ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN decline ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD snowballed ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP August ) ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( NN unit ) ( NNS sales ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NNS dealers ) ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN month ) ) ) ( ADVP ( RB down ) ( NP ( CD 10.5 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN from ) ( ADVP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN year ) ) ( RB earlier ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PP ( VBG according ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Recreation ) ( NNP Vehicle ) ( NNP Industry ) ( NNP Association ) ) ) ) ) )

But the rate of the decline snowballed in August with unit sales to dealers for the month down 10.5 % from a year earlier according to the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association


( S ( PP-LOC ( IN At ) ( NP ( NNP Winnebago ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNS sales ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN quarter ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD fell ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 6 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 89.5 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN from ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 95.4 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN year ) ) ( RB earlier ) ) ) ) )

At Winnebago sales for the quarter fell 6 % to 89.5 million from 95.4 million a year earlier


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( VBD attributed ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN decline ) ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NNS consumers ) ( POS ' ) ) ( NN concern ) ) ( PP ( IN over ) ( NP ( NP ( NN interest ) ( NNS rates ) ( CC and ) ( NN gas ) ( NNS prices ) ) ( NP ( NP ( CD two ) ( NN key ) ( NNS expenses ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NN RV ) ( NNS buyers ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The company attributed the decline to consumers ' concern over interest rates and gas prices two key expenses for RV buyers


( SINV ( S-TPC-2 ( NP-SBJ ( PRP It ) ) ( VP ( VBZ 's ) ( NP-PRD ( DT a ) ( JJ large-ticket ) ( JJ discretionary ) ( NN purchase ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Robert ) ( NNP Curran ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WP who ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ follows ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN industry ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NNP Merrill ) ( NNP Lynch ) ( CC & ) ( NNP Co ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

It 's a large-ticket discretionary purchase said Robert Curran who follows the industry for Merrill Lynch & Co


( S ( ADVP ( RB So ) ) ( SBAR-TMP ( WHADVP-1 ( WRB when ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( EX there ) ) ( VP ( VBZ 's ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( NN talk ) ( CC and ) ( NN concern ) ) ( PP ( IN about ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN economy ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( PRP it ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ 's ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB not ) ( JJ unreasonable ) ) ( SBAR-2 ( IN for ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN portion ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( VBG buying ) ( NN public ) ) ) ) ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB defer ) ( NP ( NNS purchases ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

So when there 's talk and concern about the economy it 's not unreasonable for a portion of the buying public to defer purchases


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Curran ) ) ( VP ( VBZ expects ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NN industry ) ( NN RV ) ( NNS sales ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( DT all ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( CD 1989 ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB fall ) ( NP-EXT ( QP ( IN about ) ( CD 5 ) ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN from ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 1988 ) ) ( SBAR ( WHADVP-1 ( WRB when ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNS sales ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( CD 427,300 ) ( NNS units ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJS highest ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN since ) ( NP ( CD 1978 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Mr. Curran expects industry RV sales for all of 1989 to fall about 5 % from 1988 when sales of 427,300 units were the highest since 1978


( S ( CC And ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN weakness ) ) ( VP ( MD could ) ( VP ( VB continue ) ( PP-TMP-CLR ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ first ) ( NN half ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ next ) ( NN year ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

And he said the weakness could continue in the first half of next year


( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN industry ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ good ) ( NN decade ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB ahead ) ) ( SBAR-ADV ( RB particularly ) ( IN if ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( VBG aging ) ( NN baby ) ( NNS boomers ) ) ( VP ( VBP fulfill ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN industry ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNS dreams ) ) ( PP-MNR ( IN by ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG buying ) ( NP ( NNS RVs ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

But he said the industry has a good decade ahead particularly if aging baby boomers fulfill the industry 's dreams by buying RVs


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Winnebago ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBN hit ) ( ADVP-MNR ( RB especially ) ( RB hard ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJS latest ) ( NN downturn ) ) ) ( SBAR-PRP ( IN because ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NN unit ) ( NNS sales ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( JJ bread-and-butter ) ( NN motor ) ( NN home ) ( NN business ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD tumbled ) ( NP-EXT ( NP ( NP ( CD 25 ) ( NN % ) ) ( ADVP-LOC ( RB industrywide ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP August ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 10.4 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ first ) ( CD eight ) ( NNS months ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN year ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Winnebago was hit especially hard in the latest downturn because unit sales in its bread-and-butter motor home business tumbled 25 % industrywide in August and 10.4 % in the first eight months of the year


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( VP ( VBD suffered ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN quarter ) ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN from ) ( NP ( NP ( NN incentive ) ( NNS programs ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS losses ) ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG discontinuing ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN motor ) ( NN home ) ( NN line ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS costs ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG developing ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ new ) ( JJ commercial ) ( NN vehicle ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN among ) ( NP ( JJ other ) ( NNS things ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The company said it also suffered in the quarter from incentive programs losses from discontinuing a motor home line and costs of developing a new commercial vehicle among other things


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN news ) ) ( VP ( VBD sent ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Winnebago ) ( NN stock ) ) ( VP ( VBG falling ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 62.5 ) ( NNS cents ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( CD 5.25 ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP New ) ( NNP York ) ( NNP Stock ) ( NNP Exchange ) ( NP ( JJ composite ) ( NN trading ) ) ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( JJ 52-week ) ( NN low ) ) ) ) ) )

The news sent Winnebago stock falling 62.5 cents to 5.25 in New York Stock Exchange composite trading a 52-week low


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN dividend ) ( NN cut ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB prove ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RBS most ) ( JJ costly ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP John ) ( NNP K. ) ( NNP Hanson ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Winnebago ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN founder ) ( CC and ) ( NN chairman ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The dividend cut will prove most costly for John K. Hanson Winnebago 's founder and chairman


( S ( PP ( VBN Based ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( NN control ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( IN about ) ( CD 45 ) ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Winnebago ) ( POS 's ) ) ( QP ( CD 24.7 ) ( CD million ) ) ( NNS shares ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP$ his ) ( JJ annual ) ( NN dividend ) ( NN income ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN cut ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( QP ( IN about ) ( CD 2.2 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN from ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 4.4 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Based on his control of about 45 % of Winnebago 's 24.7 million shares his annual dividend income would be cut to about 2.2 million from 4.4 million


( S ( PP-TMP ( IN For ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN year ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Winnebago ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN loss ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 4.7 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 19 ) ( NNS cents ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PP ( VBG following ) ( NP ( NP ( NN profit ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 2.7 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 11 ) ( NNS cents ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN year ) ) ( RB earlier ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

For the year Winnebago had a loss of 4.7 million or 19 cents a share following profit of 2.7 million or 11 cents a share a year earlier


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS Sales ) ) ( VP ( VBD rose ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 2 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 437.5 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN from ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 430.3 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ) )

Sales rose 2 % to 437.5 million from 430.3 million


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Rochester ) ( NNP Telephone ) ( NNP Corp. ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBD completed ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN purchase ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NNP Urban ) ( NNP Telephone ) ( NNP Corp. ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Clintonville ) ) ( NP ( NNP Wis. ) ) ) ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ second-largest ) ( JJ unaffiliated ) ( JJ independent ) ( NN telephone ) ( NN company ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT that ) ( NN state ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Rochester Telephone Corp. said it completed its purchase of Urban Telephone Corp. of Clintonville Wis. the second-largest unaffiliated independent telephone company in that state


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Rochester ) ( NNP Telephone ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT the ) ( NN acquisition ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBN made ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN exchange ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( JJ common ) ( NNS shares ) ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( PDT all ) ( DT the ) ( NNS shares ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Urban ) ( NNP Telephone ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT a ) ( NN price ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VBN disclosed ) ) ) ) )

Rochester Telephone said the acquisition was made in an exchange of its common shares for all the shares of Urban Telephone but a price was n't disclosed


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Urban ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ first ) ( NN telephone ) ( NN subsidiary ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Wisconsin ) ) ) ) ) )

Urban is the company 's first telephone subsidiary in Wisconsin


( S ( PP-TMP ( IN Since ) ( NP ( NNP June ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Rochester ) ( NNP Telephone ) ) ( VP ( VBD signed ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS letters ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN intent ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB purchase ) ( NP ( CD three ) ( JJ other ) ( NNP Wisconsin ) ( NNS firms ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Since June Rochester Telephone signed letters of intent to purchase three other Wisconsin firms


( S ( S-TPC-1 ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NP ( NNP Japan ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ wholesale ) ( NNS prices ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ first ) ( CD 10 ) ( NNS days ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP October ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBD fell ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 0.3 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN from ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ previous ) ( CD 10 ) ( NNS days ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( VP ( VBD rose ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 3.3 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN from ) ( ADVP-TMP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN year ) ) ( RB ago ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Bank ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Japan ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) )

Japan 's wholesale prices in the first 10 days of October fell 0.3 % from the previous 10 days but rose 3.3 % from a year ago the Bank of Japan said


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( JJ wholesale ) ( NN price ) ( NN index ) ) ( VP ( VBD stood ) ( PP-CLR ( IN at ) ( NP ( CD 89.6 ) ) ) ) ) ( PRN ( S ( NP-SBJ ( CD 1985 ) ) ( VP ( VBZ equals ) ( NP ( CD 100 ) ) ) ) ) )

The wholesale price index stood at 89.6 1985 equals 100


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Groupe ) ( NNP AG ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN chairman ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT the ) ( JJ Belgian ) ( NN insurer ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ prepared ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB give ) ( PRT ( RP up ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT some ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN independence ) ) ) ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ white ) ( NN knight ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-ADV ( IN if ) ( FRAG ( S ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ necessary ) ) ( S-PRP ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB repel ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN raider ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Groupe AG 's chairman said the Belgian insurer is prepared to give up some of its independence to a white knight if necessary to repel a raider


( S ( PP-LOC ( IN Amid ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ heavy ) ( NN buying ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNS shares ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Belgium ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJS largest ) ( NN insurer ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Maurice ) ( NNP Lippens ) ) ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( VP ( VBD warned ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN interview ) ) ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT a ) ( JJ white ) ( NN knight ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG buying ) ( PRT ( RP out ) ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN raider ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( MD could ) ( VP ( VB leave ) ( NP ( NNS speculators ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ big ) ( NNS losses ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN on ) ( NP ( PRP$ their ) ( NNP AG ) ( NN stock ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Amid heavy buying of shares in Belgium 's largest insurer Maurice Lippens also warned in an interview that a white knight in buying out a raider could leave speculators with big losses on their AG stock


( S ( PP-TMP ( IN Since ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN beginning ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN year ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN stock ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( ADVP ( RB nearly ) ) ( VBN doubled ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG giving ) ( NP ( NNP AG ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN market ) ( NN value ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( IN about ) ( CD 105 ) ( CD billion ) ) ( JJ Belgian ) ( NNS francs ) ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 2.7 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Since the beginning of the year the stock has nearly doubled giving AG a market value of about 105 billion Belgian francs 2.7 billion


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( ADJP ( RBS most ) ( JJ likely ) ) ( JJ white ) ( NN knight ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( NNP Societe ) ( NNP Generale ) ( FW de ) ( NNP Belgique ) ( NNP S.A. ) ) ( SBAR ( SBAR ( WHNP-2 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( ADVP-TMP ( RB already ) ) ( VP ( VBZ owns ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 18 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP AG ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-3 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( PRP itself ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBN controlled ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NP ( NNP Cie ) ( NNP Financiere ) ( FW de ) ( NNP Suez ) ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ acquisitive ) ( JJ French ) ( JJ financial ) ( NN conglomerate ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The most likely white knight would be Societe Generale de Belgique S.A. which already owns 18 % of AG and which itself is controlled by Cie Financiere de Suez the acquisitive French financial conglomerate


( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Lippens ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT a ) ( NN rescue ) ) ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( VP ( MD could ) ( VP ( VB involve ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Asahi ) ( NNP Mutual ) ( NNP Life ) ( NNP Insurance ) ( NNP Co. ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ owns ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 5 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP AG ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

But Mr. Lippens said a rescue also could involve Asahi Mutual Life Insurance Co. which owns 5 % of AG


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP AG ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB hardly ) ( RB alone ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN anxiety ) ) ) ) )

AG is hardly alone in its anxiety


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT A ) ( JJ rambunctious ) ( NN shake-up ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( ADVP-MNR ( RB quickly ) ) ( VBG reshaping ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Europe ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ once-stately ) ( NN insurance ) ( NN business ) ) ) ) )

A rambunctious shake-up is quickly reshaping Europe 's once-stately insurance business


( S ( S-ADV ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ Worried ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP European ) ( NNP Community ) ( NNS directives ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1991 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB remove ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ many ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS barriers ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( JJ cross-border ) ( NN insurance ) ( NNS services ) ) ) ) ) ) ( S-TMP ( VP ( VBG starting ) ( PP-TMP-CLR ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN mid-1990 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-2 ( NNS insurers ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VP ( VBG rushing ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB find ) ( NP ( NNS partners ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBG preparing ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NN price ) ( NNS wars ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Worried by European Community directives that will remove many of the barriers to cross-border insurance services starting in mid-1990 insurers are rushing to find partners and preparing for price wars


( S ( PP-LOC ( IN In ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP West ) ( NNP Germany ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNPS Netherlands ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNS insurers ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VBG flirting ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( NNS banks ) ) ) ) ) )

In West Germany and the Netherlands insurers are flirting with banks


( S ( S ( PP-LOC ( IN In ) ( NP ( NNP France ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NP ( NNP Suez ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP Axa-Midi ) ( NNPS Assurances ) ( NNP S.A. ) ) ( DT both ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP have ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( PP-PRD ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN prowl ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( JJ giant ) ( NNS acquisitions ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Suez ) ) ( NP-TMP ( JJ last ) ( NN month ) ) ( VP ( VBD acquired ) ( NP ( NP ( NN control ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Groupe ) ( NNP Victoire ) ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ sixth-largest ) ( JJ European ) ( NN insurance ) ( NN company ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN after ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN takeover ) ( NN battle ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NNP Cie ) ( NNP Industrielle ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

In France Suez and Axa-Midi Assurances S.A. both have been on the prowl for giant acquisitions Suez last month acquired control of Groupe Victoire the sixth-largest European insurance company after a takeover battle with Cie Industrielle


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Lippens ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN volume ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS shares ) ) ( VP ( VBG changing ) ( NP ( NNS hands ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN grown ) ( ADVP ( RB significantly ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN since ) ( NP ( NNP mid-September ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Mr. Lippens said the volume of shares changing hands has grown significantly since mid-September


( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD estimated ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT a ) ( NN raider ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB have ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ able ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB amass ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( DT no ) ( JJR more ) ( IN than ) ( CD 4 ) ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS shares ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( JJ recent ) ( NNS months ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

But he estimated that a raider would have been able to amass no more than 4 % of the shares in recent months


( S ( PP ( RB Aside ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG exploring ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS plans ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( JJ joint ) ( NNS ventures ) ( CC or ) ( NNS acquisitions ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Lippens ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN called ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ top ) ( NNS managers ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS companies ) ) ( VP ( VBN rumored ) ( PP-CLR ( IN as ) ( NP ( JJ potential ) ( NNS raiders ) ) ) ( FRAG ( PP-LOC ( IN among ) ( NP ( PRP them ) ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NNP Axa-Midi ) ) ( NP ( NNP Union ) ( FW des ) ( NNP Assurances ) ( FW de ) ( NNP Paris ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP Suez ) ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT all ) ) ( VP ( VBN based ) ( PP-LOC-CLR ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP France ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Aside from exploring plans for joint ventures or acquisitions Mr. Lippens has called top managers of companies rumored as potential raiders among them Axa-Midi Union des Assurances de Paris and Suez all based in France


( S ( S-TPC-3 ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( PRP They ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP have ) ( DT all ) ( VP ( ADVP-MNR ( RB very ) ( RB clearly ) ) ( VBN stated ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBP have ) ( RB not ) ( VP ( VBN acquired ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( RB not ) ( VP ( VBG acquiring ) ) ) ( NP-1 ( NP ( NNS shares ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP AG ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) )

They have all very clearly stated that they have not acquired and are not acquiring shares of AG he said


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT Any ) ( NN raider ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB find ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( PRP it ) ) ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ hard ) ) ( S-1 ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB crack ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP AG ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNS battlements ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Any raider would find it hard to crack AG 's battlements


( S-1 ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT A ) ( NN syndicate ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNS shareholders ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ holds ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( RB just ) ( IN under ) ( CD 50 ) ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP AG ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PRN ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Lippens ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( NNS members ) ) ( VP ( VBP have ) ( VP ( VBN agreed ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB give ) ( NP ( NN one ) ( DT another ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN right ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ first ) ( NN refusal ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-ADV ( SINV ( MD should ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBP sell ) ( NP ( DT any ) ( NNP AG ) ( NNS shares ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

A syndicate of shareholders holds just under 50 % of AG Mr. Lippens said and members have agreed to give one another the right of first refusal should they sell any AG shares


( S ( PP ( RB Aside ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Generale ) ( FW de ) ( NNP Belgique ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP Asahi ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN syndicate ) ) ( VP ( VBZ includes ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Antwerpsche ) ( NNP Hypotheekkas ) ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ Belgian ) ( NN savings ) ( NN bank ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( JJ various ) ( NN family ) ( NNS interests ) ) ) ) )

Aside from Generale de Belgique and Asahi the syndicate includes Antwerpsche Hypotheekkas a Belgian savings bank and various family interests


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT A ) ( NNP Generale ) ( NN spokesman ) ) ( VP ( VBD confirmed ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT the ) ( JJ giant ) ( JJ Belgian ) ( VBG holding ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ willing ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB raise ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN stake ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP AG ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-ADV ( SINV ( MD should ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT a ) ( NN raider ) ) ( VP ( VB seek ) ( NP ( NN control ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

A Generale spokesman confirmed that the giant Belgian holding company would be willing to raise its stake in AG should a raider seek control


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNS Asahi ) ( NNS officials ) ) ( VP ( MD could ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN reached ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NN comment ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Asahi officials could n't be reached for comment


( S ( PP ( ADVP ( RB Even ) ) ( IN without ) ( NP ( NN bid ) ( NN talk ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NP ( DT this ) ( NN year ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN surge ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNS prices ) ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NNP Brussels ) ( JJ real ) ( NN estate ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN excited ) ( NP ( NP ( NN interest ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP AG ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Even without bid talk this year 's surge in prices for Brussels real estate has excited interest in AG


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT those ) ( NNS holdings ) ) ( VP ( VBP constitute ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ third-biggest ) ( NN real-estate ) ( NN portfolio ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Belgium ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The company says those holdings constitute the third-biggest real-estate portfolio in Belgium


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP CRI ) ( NNP Inc. ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBD reduced ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( VBN estimated ) ( NN cash ) ( NN distribution ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NNP Capital ) ( NNP Housing ) ( CC and ) ( NNP Mortgage ) ( NNPS Partners ) ( NNP Inc. ) ( NN trust ) ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( PP ( IN between ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( CD 71 ) ( NNS cents ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( CD 74 ) ( NNS cents ) ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN from ) ( PP ( IN between ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 75 ) ( NNS cents ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( CD 80 ) ( NNS cents ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN year ) ) ( VP ( VBG ending ) ( NP-TMP-CLR ( NNP June ) ( CD 9 ) ( CD 1990 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

CRI Inc. said it reduced the estimated cash distribution for its Capital Housing and Mortgage Partners Inc. trust to between 71 cents and 74 cents a share from between 75 cents and 80 cents for the year ending June 9 1990


( SINV ( S-TPC-1 ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT The ) ( NN change ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ expected ) ( NN cash ) ( NNS distributions ) ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Champs ) ( JJ real ) ( NN estate ) ( NN investment ) ( NN trust ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ stems ) ( PP-CLR ( IN from ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( VBN revised ) ( NN estimate ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ administrative ) ( NNS costs ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Jay ) ( NNP R. ) ( NNP Cohen ) ) ( NP ( NNP Champs ) ( NN executive ) ( NN vice ) ( NN president ) ) ) )

The change in expected cash distributions from the Champs real estate investment trust stems from a revised estimate of administrative costs said Jay R. Cohen Champs executive vice president


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP CRI ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ sponsors ) ( NP ( NNP Champs ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( DT a ) ( JJ world-wide ) ( JJ real ) ( NN estate ) ( NN investment ) ( NN firm ) ) ) )

CRI which sponsors Champs is a world-wide real estate investment firm


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT This ) ( NN city ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBG girding ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NN gridlock ) ) ) ( NP-TMP ( NN today ) ) ( SBAR-TMP ( IN as ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNS hundreds ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS thousands ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNS commuters ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP avoid ) ( NP ( NP ( NN travel ) ( NNS routes ) ) ( VP ( VBN ravaged ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NP ( JJ last ) ( NN week ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN earthquake ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

This city is girding for gridlock today as hundreds of thousands of commuters avoid travel routes ravaged by last week 's earthquake


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNS Estimates ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NN damage ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ six-county ) ( NNP San ) ( NNP Francisco ) ( NNP Bay ) ( NN area ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD neared ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 5 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ( PP ( VBG excluding ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN cost ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG repairing ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN region ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN transportation ) ( NN system ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Estimates of damage in the six-county San Francisco Bay area neared 5 billion excluding the cost of repairing the region 's transportation system


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( DT The ) ( NNP Bay ) ( NNP Bridge ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ main ) ( NN artery ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN into ) ( NP ( NNP San ) ( NNP Francisco ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN from ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ east ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN closed ) ( PP-TMP ( IN for ) ( NP ( QP ( IN at ) ( JJS least ) ( JJ several ) ) ( NNS weeks ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The Bay Bridge the main artery into San Francisco from the east will be closed for at least several weeks


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NN Part ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN bridge ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD collapsed ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN quake ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD registered ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 6.9 ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Richter ) ( NN scale ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Part of the bridge collapsed in the quake which registered 6.9 on the Richter scale


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN bridge ) ) ( ADVP ( RB normally ) ) ( VP ( VBZ carries ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 250,000 ) ( NNS commuters ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN day ) ) ) ) )

The bridge normally carries 250,000 commuters a day


( S ( ADVP ( RB Also ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( RBS most ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS ramps ) ) ( VP ( VBG connecting ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN city ) ) ( PP-LOC-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( JJ main ) ( NN link ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN south ) ) ) ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( CD 101 ) ( NN freeway ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP have ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( VP ( VBN closed ) ( PP-PRP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NNS repairs ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Also most of the ramps connecting the city to its main link to the south the 101 freeway have been closed for repairs


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( DT The ) ( NNP Bay ) ( NNP Area ) ( NNP Rapid ) ( NNP Transit ) ( NN system ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-2 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ runs ) ( NP ( NN subway ) ( NNS trains ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN beneath ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN bay ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBN braced ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN doubling ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( JJ daily ) ( JJ regular ) ( NN ridership ) ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( CD 300,000 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The Bay Area Rapid Transit system which runs subway trains beneath the bay is braced for a doubling of its daily regular ridership to 300,000


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP BART ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN increased ) ( NP ( NN service ) ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 24 ) ( NNS hours ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN day ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NN preparation ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN onslaught ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

BART has increased service to 24 hours a day in preparation for the onslaught


( SINV ( ADJP-PRD-TPC-1 ( RBS Most ) ( JJ unusual ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB be ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( JJ water-borne ) ( NNS commuters ) ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP East ) ( NNP Bay ) ( NNS towns ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Oakland ) ( CC and ) ( NNP Berkeley ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Most unusual will be water-borne commuters from the East Bay towns of Oakland and Berkeley


( S ( PP-TMP ( IN For ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ first ) ( NN time ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( CD 32 ) ( NNS years ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NN ferry ) ( NN service ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( VP ( VBN restored ) ( PP-LOC ( IN between ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP East ) ( NNP Bay ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP San ) ( NNP Francisco ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

For the first time in 32 years ferry service has been restored between the East Bay and San Francisco


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT The ) ( NNP Red ) ( CC and ) ( NNP White ) ( NNP Fleet ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ operates ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( JJ regular ) ( NN commuter ) ( NN ferry ) ( NN service ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( CC and ) ( IN from ) ( NP ( NNP Marin ) ( NNP County ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( NN tourist ) ( NNS tours ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN bay ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBG offering ) ( NP ( NNP East ) ( NNP Bay ) ( NNS commuters ) ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN chance ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB ride ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS waves ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN price ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 10 ) ) ( NP ( NN round-trip ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The Red and White Fleet which operates regular commuter ferry service to and from Marin County and tourist tours of the bay is offering East Bay commuters a chance to ride the waves for the price of 10 round-trip


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT That ) ( NN tariff ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB too ) ( JJ stiff ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT some ) ( NNP Financial ) ( NNP District ) ( NN wage ) ( NNS earners ) ) ) ) )

That tariff is too stiff for some Financial District wage earners


( SINV ( S-TPC-1 ( NP-SBJ ( PRP I ) ) ( VP ( MD 'll ) ( VP ( VB stay ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( NNP BART ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) ( NP-SBJ-2 ( NP ( CD one ) ( NN secretary ) ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG swallowing ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ her ) ( NNS fears ) ) ( PP ( IN about ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG using ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ transbay ) ( NN tube ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

I 'll stay with BART said one secretary swallowing her fears about using the transbay tube


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS Officials ) ) ( VP ( VBP expect ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT the ) ( NNP Golden ) ( NNP Gate ) ( NNP Bridge ) ) ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN swamped ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( JJ extra ) ( NN load ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNS commuters ) ) ) ) ) ( PP ( VBG including ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP East ) ( NNP Bay ) ( NNS residents ) ) ( VP ( VBG making ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ long ) ( NN detour ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Officials expect the Golden Gate Bridge to be swamped with an extra load of commuters including East Bay residents making a long detour


( SINV ( S-TPC-1 ( NP-SBJ ( PRP We ) ) ( VP ( VBP 're ) ( VP ( VBG anticipating ) ( NP ( RB quite ) ( DT a ) ( NN traffic ) ( NN crunch ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( CD one ) ( NN official ) ) )

We 're anticipating quite a traffic crunch said one official


( S ( NP-SBJ ( QP ( IN About ) ( CD 23,000 ) ) ( NNS people ) ) ( ADVP ( RB typically ) ) ( VP ( VBP travel ) ( PP-LOC-CLR ( IN over ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Golden ) ( NNP Gate ) ( NNP Bridge ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN during ) ( NP ( NN commute ) ( NNS hours ) ) ) ) )

About 23,000 people typically travel over the Golden Gate Bridge during commute hours


( S ( NP-SBJ ( QP ( IN About ) ( CD 130,000 ) ) ( NNS vehicles ) ) ( VP ( VBP cross ) ( PP-TMP ( IN during ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ 24-hour ) ( NN period ) ) ) ) )

About 130,000 vehicles cross during a 24-hour period


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNS Meetings ) ) ( VP ( VBN canceled ) ( PP-LGS ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Apple ) ( NNP Computer ) ( NNP Inc. ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ European ) ( NNS sales ) ( NN force ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP ( JJ other ) ( NNS groups ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD raised ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN specter ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ empty ) ( NN hotel ) ( NNS rooms ) ( CC and ) ( NNS restaurants ) ) ) ) ) )

Meetings canceled by Apple Computer Inc. 's European sales force and by other groups raised the specter of empty hotel rooms and restaurants


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP It ) ) ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( VP ( VBD raised ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS hackles ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN city ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN tourism ) ( NNS boosters ) ) ) ) ) )

It also raised hackles of the city 's tourism boosters


( SINV ( S-TPC-1 ( NP-SBJ ( JJ Other ) ( NNS cities ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VP ( VBG calling ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS groups ) ) ( VP ( VBN booked ) ( ADVP-LOC ( RB here ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NNS tours ) ( CC and ) ( NNS conferences ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( PRN ( S ( RB not ) ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ crass ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBG stealing ) ( NP ( PRP$ our ) ( NN booking ) ( NN list ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Scott ) ( NNP Shafer ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN spokesman ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NNP Mayor ) ( NNP Art ) ( NNP Agnos ) ) ) ) ) )

Other cities are calling groups booked here for tours and conferences and not to be crass stealing our booking list said Scott Shafer a spokesman for Mayor Art Agnos


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN City ) ( NNS officials ) ) ( VP ( VBN stuck ) ( PRT ( RP by ) ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ their ) ( NN estimate ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 2 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NN damage ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ quake-shocked ) ( NN city ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

City officials stuck by their estimate of 2 billion in damage to the quake-shocked city


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( JJ other ) ( CD five ) ( NNP Bay ) ( NN area ) ( NNS counties ) ) ( VP ( VBP have ) ( VP ( VBN increased ) ( NP ( PRP$ their ) ( JJ total ) ( NN damage ) ( NNS estimates ) ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 2.8 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The other five Bay area counties have increased their total damage estimates to 2.8 billion


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT All ) ( NNS estimates ) ) ( VP ( VBP exclude ) ( NP ( NP ( NN highway ) ( NN repair ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( MD could ) ( VP ( VB exceed ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 1 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

All estimates exclude highway repair which could exceed 1 billion


( SINV ( PP-PRD-TPC-3 ( IN Among ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ expensive ) ( NNS unknowns ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNS stretches ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ elevated ) ( NN freeway ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP San ) ( NNP Francisco ) ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-2 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD were ) ( VP ( VBN closed ) ( PP ( IN because ) ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ quake-inflicted ) ( NN damage ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Among the expensive unknowns are stretches of elevated freeway in San Francisco that were closed because of quake-inflicted damage


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( RBS most ) ( JJ worrisome ) ( NN stretch ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( CD 1.2 ) ( NNS miles ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NN waterfront ) ( NN highway ) ) ( VP ( VBN known ) ( PP-CLR ( IN as ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Embarcadero ) ( NNP Freeway ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The most worrisome stretch is 1.2 miles of waterfront highway known as the Embarcadero Freeway


( S ( SBAR-TMP ( IN Until ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBN closed ) ( NP-TMP ( NNP Tuesday ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( VP ( VBN provided ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJS quickest ) ( NN series ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNS exits ) ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS commuters ) ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Bay ) ( NNP Bridge ) ) ) ( VP ( VBG heading ) ( PP-DIR ( IN into ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Financial ) ( NNP District ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Until it was closed Tuesday it had provided the quickest series of exits for commuters from the Bay Bridge heading into the Financial District


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS Engineers ) ) ( VP ( VBP say ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB take ) ( NP ( QP ( IN at ) ( JJS least ) ( CD eight ) ) ( NNS months ) ) ( S-PRP ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB repair ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Embarcadero ) ( NN structure ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Engineers say it will take at least eight months to repair the Embarcadero structure


( S ( PP ( IN As ) ( NP ( NP ( NN part ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN quake ) ( NN recovery ) ( NN effort ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN city ) ( NNP Building ) ( NNP Department ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN surveyed ) ( NP ( QP ( IN about ) ( CD 3,000 ) ) ( NNS buildings ) ) ( PP ( VBG including ) ( NP ( NP ( DT all ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Financial ) ( NNP District ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNS high-rises ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

As part of the quake recovery effort the city Building Department has surveyed about 3,000 buildings including all of the Financial District 's high-rises


( SINV ( S-TPC-1 ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT The ) ( JJ preliminary ) ( NN conclusion ) ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN survey ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( CD 200 ) ( NN downtown ) ( NNS high-rises ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( SBAR-PRD ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP we ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB incredibly ) ( JJ lucky ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Lawrence ) ( NNP Kornfield ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP San ) ( NNP Francisco ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ chief ) ( NN building ) ( NN inspector ) ) ) )

The preliminary conclusion from a survey of 200 downtown high-rises is that we were incredibly lucky said Lawrence Kornfield San Francisco 's chief building inspector


( S ( SBAR-ADV ( IN While ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( JJ many ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT these ) ( NNS buildings ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD sustained ) ( NP ( JJ heavy ) ( NN damage ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( JJ little ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT that ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBN involved ) ( NP ( JJ major ) ( JJ structural ) ( NN damage ) ) ) )

While many of these buildings sustained heavy damage little of that involved major structural damage


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN City ) ( NN building ) ( NNS codes ) ) ( VP ( VBP require ) ( NP ( NP ( NN construction ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( MD can ) ( VP ( VB resist ) ( NP ( NNS temblors ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

City building codes require construction that can resist temblors


( S ( PP-LOC ( IN In ) ( NP ( NNP England ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Martin ) ( NNP Leach ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN spokesman ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( NN Lloyd ) ( POS 's ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP London ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT the ) ( NN insurance ) ( NN market ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( RB n't ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB yet ) ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ able ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB estimate ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ total ) ( JJ potential ) ( NNS claims ) ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN disaster ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

In England Martin Leach a spokesman for Lloyd 's of London said the insurance market has n't yet been able to estimate the total potential claims from the disaster


( S ( S-TPC-1 ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT The ) ( NN extent ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS claims ) ) ) ) ( VP ( MD wo ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN known ) ( PP-TMP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT some ) ( NN time ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Leach ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) )

The extent of the claims wo n't be known for some time Mr. Leach said


( S ( PP-TMP ( IN On ) ( NP ( NNP Friday ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN during ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN visit ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NNP California ) ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB survey ) ( NP ( NN quake ) ( NN damage ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-2 ( NNP President ) ( NNP Bush ) ) ( VP ( VBD promised ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB meet ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ federal ) ( NN government ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN obligation ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB assist ) ( NP ( NN relief ) ( NNS efforts ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

On Friday during a visit to California to survey quake damage President Bush promised to meet the federal government 's obligation to assist relief efforts


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP California ) ( NNS officials ) ) ( VP ( VBP plan ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB ask ) ( NP ( NNP Congress ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 3 ) ( CD billion ) ( CC or ) ( JJR more ) ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ federal ) ( NN aid ) ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN form ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS grants ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( JJ low-interest ) ( NNS loans ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

California officials plan to ask Congress for 3 billion or more of federal aid in the form of grants and low-interest loans


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT The ) ( NN state ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( ADJP ( QP ( CD 1 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ( NN reserve ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBN expected ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB add ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 1 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( DT that ) ( NN fund ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ next ) ( NN year ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The state has a 1 billion reserve and is expected to add 1 billion to that fund in the next year


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT Some ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT that ) ( NN money ) ) ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ available ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( NN highway ) ( NN repair ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( JJ special ) ( NN emergency ) ( NN aid ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNS members ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN legislature ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( VP ( VBG mulling ) ( PRT ( RP over ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ temporary ) ( NN state ) ( NN gasoline ) ( NN tax ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB raise ) ( NP ( NP ( NN money ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NN earthquake ) ( NN relief ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Some of that money will be available for highway repair and special emergency aid but members of the legislature are also mulling over a temporary state gasoline tax to raise money for earthquake relief


( S ( ADVP ( RB However ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NN state ) ( NNS initiatives ) ) ( VP ( VBP restrict ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN ability ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN legislature ) ) ) ( S-1 ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB raise ) ( NP ( JJ such ) ( NNS taxes ) ) ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-ADV ( IN unless ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NNS voters ) ) ( VP ( VBP approve ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ statewide ) ( NN referendum ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

However state initiatives restrict the ability of the legislature to raise such taxes unless the voters approve in a statewide referendum


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP G. ) ( NNP Christian ) ( NNP Hill ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP Ken ) ( NNP Wells ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD contributed ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( DT this ) ( NN article ) ) ) ) )

G. Christian Hill and Ken Wells contributed to this article


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Comair ) ( NNPS Holdings ) ( NNP Inc. ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Cincinnati ) ) ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBD bought ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Airline ) ( NNP Aviation ) ( NNP Academy ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN pilot ) ( NN training ) ( NN school ) ) ( VP ( VBN based ) ( PP-LOC-CLR ( IN at ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Sanford ) ( NNP Regional ) ( NNP Airport ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN near ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Orlando ) ) ( NP ( NNP Fla ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Comair Holdings Inc. said in Cincinnati that it bought Airline Aviation Academy a pilot training school based at Sanford Regional Airport near Orlando Fla


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Comair ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBD paid ) ( NP ( NN cash ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( VP ( VBD declined ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB disclose ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN price ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Comair said it paid cash but declined to disclose the price


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Comair ) ( NNPS Holdings ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN parent ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Comair ) ( NNP Inc. ) ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ regional ) ( NN air ) ( NN carrier ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Comair Holdings is the parent of Comair Inc. a regional air carrier


( S ( S-TPC-2 ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Airline ) ( NNP Aviation ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ annual ) ( NN revenue ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 5 ) ( CD million ) ( TO to ) ( CD 6 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( NP ( JJ great ) ( NN growth ) ( NN potential ) ) ( PP-PRP ( IN because ) ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ large ) ( NN number ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP U.S. ) ( NNS pilots ) ) ) ( VP ( VBG nearing ) ( NP ( NN retirement ) ( NN age ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Comair ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) )

Airline Aviation which has annual revenue of 5 million to 6 million has great growth potential because of the large number of U.S. pilots nearing retirement age Comair said


( S ( S-TPC-3 ( NP-SBJ-2 ( DT The ) ( NN unit ) ) ( VP ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN renamed ) ( S ( NP-PRD ( NNP Comair ) ( NNP Aviation ) ( NNP Academy ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB continue ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN headed ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NP ( NNP Scott ) ( NNP Williams ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN son ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN founder ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Comair ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) )

The unit will be renamed Comair Aviation Academy and will continue to be headed by Scott Williams a son of its founder Comair said


( S ( PP ( IN For ) ( NP ( NNS bankers ) ( CC and ) ( NNS regulators ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Arizona ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBG looking ) ( PP-PRD ( RBR more ) ( IN like ) ( NP ( NNP Texas ) ) ) ( NP-TMP ( DT every ) ( NN day ) ) ) ) )

For bankers and regulators Arizona is looking more like Texas every day


( S ( PP-TMP ( IN On ) ( NP ( NNP Friday ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Los ) ( JJ Angeles-based ) ( NNP First ) ( NNP Interstate ) ( NNP Bancorp ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ expects ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ net ) ( NN loss ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 16 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ third ) ( NN quarter ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( CD 1989 ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-PRP ( RB because ) ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NN hemorrhaging ) ) ( PP ( IN at ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NAC ( NNP First ) ( NNP Interstate ) ( NNP Bank ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Arizona ) ) ) ) ( NN unit ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

On Friday Los Angeles-based First Interstate Bancorp said it expects a net loss of 16 million for the third quarter of 1989 because of hemorrhaging at its First Interstate Bank of Arizona unit


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP First ) ( NNP Interstate ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN unit ) ) ( VP ( VBN bludgeoned ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NP ( NNP Arizona ) ( POS 's ) ) ( VBG worsening ) ( NN real-estate ) ( NNS woes ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB have ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( ADJP ( QP ( CD 174 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( NN loss ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN quarter ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

First Interstate said the unit bludgeoned by Arizona 's worsening real-estate woes will have a 174 million loss for the quarter


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP First ) ( NNP Interstate ) ) ( VP ( VBD took ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ huge ) ( ADJP ( QP ( CD 350 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( NN provision ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NN loan ) ( NNS losses ) ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Arizona ) ( NN bank ) ) ) ) )

First Interstate took a huge 350 million provision for loan losses at the Arizona bank


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP It ) ) ( VP ( VBD charged ) ( PRT ( RP off ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( VBN estimated ) ( QP ( CD 200 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Arizona ) ( NNS loans ) ) ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG leaving ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN unit ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN reserve ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ future ) ( NNS losses ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 255 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( IN about ) ( CD 61 ) ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( QP ( CD 416 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ troubled ) ( NNS loans ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( JJ repossessed ) ( JJ real ) ( NN estate ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

It charged off an estimated 200 million of Arizona loans leaving the unit with a reserve for future losses of 255 million about 61 % of its 416 million of troubled loans and repossessed real estate


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP First ) ( NNP Interstate ) ) ( VP ( VBD made ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN move ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN under ) ( NP ( NP ( NN pressure ) ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( NNS regulators ) ) ) ) ) ) )

First Interstate made the move under pressure from regulators


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN action ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBD capped ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN spurt ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ grim ) ( NNP Arizona ) ( NN banking ) ( NN news ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ third ) ( NN quarter ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( ADVP-MNR ( RB emphatically ) ) ( VBD signaled ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Arizona ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBG challenging ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NNP Texas ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ long ) ( NN reign ) ) ( PP ( IN as ) ( NP ( NP ( NN banking ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJS busiest ) ( NN graveyard ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The action capped a spurt of grim Arizona banking news for the third quarter and emphatically signaled that Arizona is challenging Texas 's long reign as banking 's busiest graveyard