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UNITED STATES 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549


SCHEDULE 13G

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No.   )*

Alpha Industries, Inc.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Issuer)


Common Stock
- -------------------------------------------------------------------
(Title of Class of Securities)


02075310
- --------------
(CUSIP NUMBER)

Check the following box if a fee is being paid with this statement.[ ]  (A
fee is not required only if the filing person: (1) has a previous statement 
on file reporting beneficial ownership of more than five percent of the 
class of securities described in Item 1; and (2) has filed no amendment 
subsequent thereto reporting beneficial ownership of five percent or less 
of such class.)  (See Rule 13d-7).

*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting
person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of 
securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which 
would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be 
deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities 
Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that 
section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act 
(however, see the Notes).

 


Page 2 of 13 Pages


CUSIP NO. 02075310                  13G

1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
   S.S. or I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON

Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.

2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* Joint Filing 

(a) [ ]
(b) [ ]

3. SEC USE ONLY

4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
     
Delaware

NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH

5. SOLE VOTING POWER

NONE

6. SHARED VOTING POWER

619,300

7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

NONE

8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

619,300

9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

619,300

10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*

11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9

6.0%

12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*

HC, CO

    *SEE INSTRUCTION BEFORE FILING OUT!




Page 3 of 13 Pages


CUSIP NO.    02075310               13G

1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
   S.S. or I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON

Merrill Lynch Group, Inc.

2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* Joint Filing

(a) [ ]                                       
(b) [ ]

3. SEC USE ONLY

4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
     
Delaware

NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH

5. SOLE VOTING POWER

NONE

6. SHARED VOTING POWER

619,300

7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

NONE

8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

619,300

9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

619,300

10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*

11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9

6.0%

12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*

HC, CO

    *SEE INSTRUCTION BEFORE FILING OUT!




Page 4 of 13 Pages


CUSIP NO.    02075310              13G

1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
   S.S. or I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON

Princeton Services, Inc.

2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* Joint Filing

(a) [ ]
(b) [ ]

3. SEC USE ONLY

4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
     
Delaware

NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH

5. SOLE VOTING POWER

NONE

6. SHARED VOTING POWER

619,300

7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

NONE

8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
       
619,300

9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

619,300

10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*

11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9

6.0%

12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*

HC, CO

    *SEE INSTRUCTION BEFORE FILING OUT!




Page 5 of 13 Pages


CUSIP NO.   02075310                13G

1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
   S.S. or I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON

Fund Asset Management, L.P.

2.  CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* Joint Filing 

(a) [ ]
(b) [ ]

3. SEC USE ONLY

4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

Delaware

NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH

5. SOLE VOTING POWER

NONE

6. SHARED VOTING POWER

606,400

7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

NONE

8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

606,400

9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

606,400

10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*

11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9

5.9%

12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*

IA, PN

    *SEE INSTRUCTION BEFORE FILING OUT!




Page 6 of 13 Pages


CUSIP NO.   02075310                13G

1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
   S.S. or I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON

Merrill Lynch Special Value Fund, Inc.

2.  CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* Joint Filing 

(a) [ ]
(b) [ ]

3. SEC USE ONLY

4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

Maryland

NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH

5. SOLE VOTING POWER

NONE

6. SHARED VOTING POWER

606,400

7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

NONE

8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

606,400

9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

606,400

10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*

11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9

5.9%

12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*

IV, CO

    *SEE INSTRUCTION BEFORE FILING OUT!





Page 7 of 13 Pages


                    SCHEDULE 13G


ITEM 1 (a)  Name of Issuer:
            --------------

            Alpha Industries, Inc.

ITEM 1 (b)  Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:
            -----------------------------------------------
            
            20 Sylvan Road
            Woburn, MA  01801
            

ITEM 2 (a)  Name of Persons Filing:
            ---------------------

            Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.
            Merrill Lynch Group, Inc..
            Princeton Services, Inc.
            Fund Asset Management, L.P.
            Merrill Lynch Special Value Fund, Inc.

ITEM 2 (b)  Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence:
            -----------------------------------------------------------
                
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.
World Financial Center, North Tower
250 Vesey Street
New York, New York  10281

Merrill Lynch Group, Inc.
World Financial Center, North Tower
250 Vesey Street
New York, New York  10281

Princeton Services, Inc.
800 Scudders Mill Road
Plainsboro, New Jersey  08536

Fund Asset Management, L.P.
800 Scudders Mill Road
Plainsboro, New Jersey  08536

Merrill Lynch Special Value Fund, Inc.
800 Scudders Mill Road
Plainsboro, New Jersey  08536




Page 8 of 13 Pages


ITEM 2 (c)  Citizenship:
            -----------

See Item 4 of Cover Pages

ITEM 2 (d)  Title of Class of Securities:
            ----------------------------

Common Stock

ITEM 2 (e)  CUSIP NUMBER:
                
02075310

ITEM 3          
   
   Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. ("ML&Co."), Merrill Lynch Group, Inc. ("ML
Group") and Princeton Services, Inc. ("PSI") are parent holding companies, in
accordance with (S) 240.13d-1(b) (ii) (G) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 (the "1934 Act").  Fund Asset Management, L.P. d/b/a Fund Asset 
Management ("FAM") is an investment adviser registered under Section 203 of th
Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the "Advisers Act").  Merrill Lynch Special 
Value Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") is an investment company registered under 
Section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "Investment Company Act").


ITEM 4  Ownership
        --------- 

(a)  Amount Beneficially Owned:
             
   See Item 9 of Cover Pages.  Pursuant to (S) 240.13d-4 of the 1934 Act, 
ML&Co., ML Group, PSI and FAM disclaim beneficial ownership of the securities 
of Alpha Industries, Inc. (the "Company") referred to herein, and the filing 
of this Schedule 13G shall not be construed as an admission that such persons 
are, for the purposes of Section 13(d) or 13(g) of the 1934 Act, the beneficial 
owner of any securities of the Company covered by this statement.

(b)  Percent of Class:

     See Item 11 of Cover Pages

(c)  Number of shares as to which such person has:

     (i)  sole power to vote or to direct the vote:
                 
          See Item 5 of Cover Pages
                 
    (ii)  shared power to vote or to direct the vote:

          See Item 6 of the Cover Pages

   (iii)  sole power to dispose of or to direct the disposition of:
                            
          See Item 7 of Cover Pages




Page 9 of 13 Pages


    (iv)  shared power to dispose of or direct the disposition of:

          See Item 8 of Cover Pages
                        
ITEM 5  Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class.
        --------------------------------------------

Not Applicable

ITEM 6  Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person.
        ---------------------------------------------------------------

   FAM is an investment adviser registered under Section 203 of the Invest-
ment Advisers Act and acts as an investment adviser to several investment 
companies registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act and
certain private accounts.  With respect to securities held by those investment
companies and private accounts, several persons have the right to receive, or 
the power to direct the receipt of dividends from or the proceeds from the 
sale of, such securities.  The Fund, a reporting person on this Schedule 13G 
for which FAM serves as investment adviser, has an interest that relates to 
more than 5% of the class of securities reported herein.  


ITEM 7   Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which 
         ---------------------------------------------------------
  Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company.
  ---------------------------------------------------------------------

See Exhibit A

ITEM 8   Identification and Classification of Members of the Group.
         ----------------------------------------------------------

Not Applicable



Page 10 of 13 Pages


ITEM 9  Notice of Dissolution of Group.
        ------------------------------

Not Applicable

ITEM 10  Certification
         -------------

    By signing below each of the undersigned certifies that, to the best of
their knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired in
the ordinary course of business and were not acquired for the purpose of and do
not have the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of 
such securities and were not acquired in connection with or as a participant in 
any transaction having such purpose or effect.

Signature.
- ---------

    After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, each 
of the undersigned certifies that the information set forth in this statement 
is true, complete and correct.


Date:  January 14, 1998


Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.

/s/ Andrea Lowenthal

- ----------------------------
Name: Andrea Lowenthal
Title:  Attorney-In-Fact*


Merrill Lynch Group, Inc.

/s/ Andrea Lowenthal

- -----------------------------
Name: Andrea Lowenthal
Title:  Attorney-In-Fact**


Princeton Services, Inc.  

/s/ Andrea Lowenthal

- -----------------------------
Name:  Andrea Lowenthal
Title:  Attorney-In-Fact***


- ------------------------------------
* Signed pursuant to a power of attorney, dated November 17, 1995, included
as Exhibit B to this Schedule 13G.

** Signed pursuant to a power of attorney, dated November 17, 1995, included
as Exhibit C to this Schedule 13G.

*** Signed pursuant to a power of attorney, dated November 30, 1995, included
as Exhibit D to this Schedule 13G.




Page 11 of 13 Pages


Fund Asset Management, L.P.
By: Princeton Services, Inc. (General Partner)

/s/ Andrea Lowenthal

- -------------------------
Name:   Andrea Lowenthal
Title Attorney-In-Fact****


Merrill Lynch Special Value Fund, Inc.

/s/ Andrea Lowenthal

- --------------------------
Name: Andrea Lowenthal
Title:  Attorney-In-Fact*****

**** Signed pursuant to a power of attorney, dated November 30, 1995, included
as Exhibit E to this Schedule 13G.

***** Signed pursuant to a power of attorney, dated July 10, 1997, included
as Exhibit F to this Schedule 13G.





Page 12 of 13 Pages


                          EXHIBIT A TO SCHEDULE 13G
                          -------------------------

                 ITEM 7 DISCLOSURE RESPECTING SUBSIDIARIES
                 -----------------------------------------

   Three of the persons filing this report, Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., a
Delaware corporation with its principal place of business at World Financial
Center, North Tower,  250 Vesey Street, New York, New York ("ML&Co."), Merrill
Lynch Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business
at World Financial Center, North Tower, 250 Vesey Street, New York, New York 
("ML Group"), and Princeton Services, Inc. a Delaware corporation with its 
principal place of business at 800 Scudders Mill Road, Plainsboro, New Jersey,
("PSI") are parent holding companies pursuant to (S)240 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G)   
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "1934 Act").  The relevant 
subsidiaries of ML&Co. are ML Group and PSI, which is the general partner of
Fund Asset Management, L.P. d/b/a Fund Asset Management ("FAM").  The 
relevant subsidiary of ML Group is PSI.
     
     ML&Co. may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of certain of the reported
securities of Alpha Industries, Inc. (the "Company") held by or deemed to be
beneficially owned by ML Group.
     
     ML Group, a wholly-owned direct subsidiary of ML&Co., may be deemed to be
the beneficial owner of certain of the reported securities of the Company as 
set forth herein by virtue of its control of its wholly-owned subsidiary, PSI.

    PSI, a wholly-owned direct subsidiary of ML Group, may be deemed to be the
beneficial owner of certain of the reported securities of the Company as set 
forth herein by virtue of its being the general partner of FAM.

    FAM is an investment adviser registered under Section 203 of the Investment
Advisers Act.  FAM may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of certain of the 
reported securities of the Company as set forth herein as a result of its 
acting as investment adviser to one or more investment companies registered 
under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act and/or to one or more private 
accounts.
    
    One registered investment company advised by FAM, Merrill Lynch Special 
Value Fund, Inc., is the owner of certain of the reported securities of the 
Company as set forth herein and is a reporting person.

    Pursuant to (S)240.13d-4 of the 1934 Act, ML & Co., ML Group, PSI and FAM 
disclaim beneficial ownership of the securities of the Company reported herein, 
and the filing of this Schedule 13G shall not be construed as an admission that 
any such entity is, for the purposes of Section 13(d) or 13(g) of the 1934 Act 
of 1934, the beneficial owner of any securities of the Company.



 
Page 13 of 13 Pages
                                
                                  EXHIBIT B
                                  ---------
                              POWER OF ATTORNEY


    The undersigned, Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. (the "Corporation"), a 
corporation duly organized under the laws of the State of Delaware, with its
principal place of business at World Financial Center, North Tower, New York, 
New York, 10281, does hereby make, constitute and appoint Andrea Lowenthal, 
Richard D. Kreuder, Andrea Lowenthal, Gregory T. Russo, or any other individual
from time to time elected or appointed as Secretary or an Assistant Secretary
of the Corporation, acting severally, each of whose address is Merrill Lynch
& Co., Inc., World Financial Center, North Tower, New York, New York 10281, as 
its true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, for it and in its name, place and stead
(i) to execute on behalf of the Corporation and cause to be filed and/or 
delivered, as required under Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 
1934 (the "Act") and the regulations thereunder, any number, as appropriate, 
of original, copies, or electronic filings of the Securities and Exchange 
Commission Schedule 13D or Schedule 13G Beneficial Ownership Reports (together 
with any amendments and joint filing agreements under Rule 13d-1(f)(1) of the 
Act, as may be required thereto) to be filed and/or delivered with respect to 
any equity security (as defined in Rule 13d-1(d) under the Act) beneficially 
owned by the undersigned and which must be reported by the undersigned pursuant
to Section 13(d) of the Act and the regulations thereunder, (ii) to execute on
behalf of the Corporation and cause to be filed and/or delivered, any number,
as appropriate, of original, copies or electronic filings of any forms (inclu-
ding, without limitation, Securities and Exchange Commission Form 3, 4 and 5)
required to be filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Act and the regulations
thereunder, and (iii) generally to take such other actions and perform such
other things necessary to effectuate the foregoing as fully in all respects
as if the undersigned could do if personally present.  This Power of Attorney
shall remain in effect until revoked, in writing, by the undersigned.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney 
this 17th day of November, 1995.


MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC.


By:    /s/ David H. Komansky
- ----------------------------
Name:  David H. Komansky
Title: President and Chief Operating Officer



                                  EXHIBIT C
                                  ---------
                              POWER OF ATTORNEY


    The undersigned, Merrill Lynch Group, Inc. (the "Corporation"), a 
corporation duly organized under the laws of the State of Delaware, with its
principal place of business at World Financial Center, North Tower, New York, 
New York, 10281, does hereby make, constitute and appoint Andrea Lowenthal, 
Richard D. Kreuder, Andrea Lowenthal, Gregory T. Russo, or any other individual
from time to time elected or appointed as Secretary or an Assistant Secretary
of the Corporation, acting severally, each of whose address is Merrill Lynch
& Co., Inc., World Financial Center, North Tower, New York, New York 10281, as 
its true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, for it and in its name, place and stead
(i) to execute on behalf of the Corporation and cause to be filed and/or 
delivered, as required under Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 
1934 (the "Act") and the regulations thereunder, any number, as appropriate, 
of original, copies, or electronic filings of the Securities and Exchange 
Commission Schedule 13D or Schedule 13G Beneficial Ownership Reports (together 
with any amendments and joint filing agreements under Rule 13d-1(f)(1) of the 
Act, as may be required thereto) to be filed and/or delivered with respect to 
any equity security (as defined in Rule 13d-1(d) under the Act) beneficially 
owned by the undersigned and which must be reported by the undersigned pursuant
to Section 13(d) of the Act and the regulations thereunder, (ii) to execute on
behalf of the Corporation and cause to be filed and/or delivered, any number,
as appropriate, of original, copies or electronic filings of any forms (inclu-
ding, without limitation, Securities and Exchange Commission Form 3, 4 and 5)
required to be filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Act and the regulations
thereunder, and (iii) generally to take such other actions and perform such
other things necessary to effectuate the foregoing as fully in all respects
as if the undersigned could do if personally present.  This Power of Attorney
shall remain in effect until revoked, in writing, by the undersigned.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney 
this 17th day of November, 1995.


MERRILL LYNCH GROUP, INC.


By:    /s/ Rosemary T. Berkery
- ------------------------------
Name:  Rosemary T. Berkery
Title: Vice President and Director


                                   
                                  EXHIBIT D
                                  ---------
                              POWER OF ATTORNEY


    The undersigned, Princeton Services Inc., a corporation duly organized 
under the laws of the State of Delaware, with its principal place of business 
at 800 Scudders Mill Road, Plainsboro, New Jersey 08536 does hereby make, 
constitute and appoint Andrea Lowenthal, Andrea Lowenthal, Richard D. Kreuder, 
Gregory T. Russo, or Dauna R. Williams, acting severally, each of whose address 
is Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., World Financial Center, North Tower, New York, 
New York 10281, as its true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, for it and in its 
name, place and stead to execute and cause to be filed and/or delivered, as 
required under Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Act") 
and the regulations thereunder, any number, as appropriate, of original, 
copies, or electronic filings of the Securities and Exchange Commission 
Schedule 13D or Schedule 13G Beneficial Ownership Reports (together with any 
amendments and joint filing agreements under Rule 13d-1(f) (1) of the Act, as 
may be required thereto) to be filed and/or delivered with respect to any 
equity security (as defined in Rule 13d-1(d) under the Act) beneficially owned 
by the undersigned and which must be reported by the undersigned pursuant to 
Section 13(d) of the Act and the regulations thereunder, and generally to take 
such other actions and perform such other things necessary to effectuate the 
foregoing as fully in all respects as if the undersigned could do if personally 
present.  This Power of Attorney shall remain in effect until revoked, in 
writing, by the undersigned.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney 
this 30th day of November, 1995.


PRINCETON SERVICES, INC.


By:    /s/ Philip L. Kirstein
- --------------------------------------
Name:  Philip L. Kirstein
Title: Director, Senior Vice President
         Secretary and General Counsel


                                   
                                  EXHIBIT E
                                  ---------
                              POWER OF ATTORNEY


    The undersigned, Fund Asset Management, L.P. d/b/a Fund Asset
Management, a Limited Partnership duly organized under the laws of the 
State of Delaware, with its principal place of business at 800 Scudders Mill 
Road, Plainsboro, New Jersey 08536 does hereby make, constitute and appoint
Andrea Lowenthal, Andrea Lowenthal, Richard D. Kreuder, Gregory T. Russo, 
or Dauna R. Williams, acting severally, each of whose address is Merrill Lynch
& Co., Inc., World Financial Center, North Tower, New York, New York 10281, as 
its true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, for it and in its name, place and stead 
to execute and cause to be filed and/or delivered, as required under Section 
13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Act") and the regulations 
thereunder, any number, as appropriate, of original, copies, or electronic 
filings of the Securities and Exchange Commission Schedule 13D or Schedule 
13G Beneficial Ownership Reports (together with any amendments and joint filing 
agreements under Rule 13d-1(f) (1) of the Act, as may be required thereto) to 
be filed and/or delivered with respect to any equity security (as defined in 
Rule 13d-1(d) under the Act) beneficially owned by the undersigned and which
must be reported by the undersigned pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Act and 
the regulations thereunder, and generally to take such other actions and 
perform such other things necessary to effectuate the foregoing as fully in 
all respects as if the undersigned could do if personally present.  This Power 
of Attorney shall remain in effect until revoked, in writing, by the 
undersigned.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney 
this 30th day of November, 1995.


Fund Asset Management, L.P.
d/b/a Fund Asset Management
By: Princeton Services, Inc., General Partner



By:    /s/ Philip L. Kirstein
- ---------------------------------------------
Name:  Philip L. Kirstein
Title: Director, Senior Vice President
         Secretary and General Counsel



                                  EXHIBIT F
                                  ---------
                              POWER OF ATTORNEY


    The undersigned, Merrill Lynch Special Value Fund, Inc., a corporation 
duly organized under the laws of the State of Maryland, with its principal 
place of business at 800 Scudders Mill Road, Plainsboro, New Jersey 08536 
does hereby make, constitute and appoint Andrea Lowenthal, Andrea Lowenthal, 
Richard D. Kreuder, Gregory T. Russo, or Dauna R. Williams, acting severally, 
each of whose address is Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., World Financial Center, 
North Tower, New York, New York 10281, as its true and lawful attorneys-in-
fact, for it and in its name, place and stead to execute and cause to be filed 
and/or delivered, as required under Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange 
Act of 1934 (the "Act") and the regulations thereunder, any number, as 
appropriate, of original, copies, or electronic filings of the Securities and 
Exchange Commission Schedule 13D or Schedule 13G Beneficial Ownership Reports 
(together with any amendments and joint filing agreements under Rule 13d-1(f) 
(1) of the Act, as may be required thereto) to be filed and/or delivered with 
respect to any equity security (as defined in Rule 13d-1(d) under the Act) 
beneficially owned by the undersigned and which must be reported by the 
undersigned pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Act and the regulations 
thereunder, and generally to take such other actions and perform such other 
things necessary to effectuate the foregoing as fully in all respects as if 
the undersigned could do if personally present.  This Power of Attorney shall 
remain in effect until revoked, in writing, by the undersigned.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney 
this 10th day of July, 1997.


MERRILL LYNCH SPECIAL VALUE FUND, INC.


By:    /s/ Thomas D. Jones, III
- --------------------------------
Name:  Thomas D. Jones, III
Title: Secretary