HAND-PICKED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 109, 10 May 1941, Page 9

HAND-PICKED

BRITISH PARATROOPS Men From Dominions In Force To Play Vital Part United Press ssocintion.—Opyriuht. Rec. 2 p.m. LONDON, May 9. Hand-picked volunteers from nearly every British regiment, including some from the Dominions who are serving with the British Army, are training as paratroops, the Empire's newest weapon. Britain has several training schools for paratroops, who are expected to play a vital part in the final Allied victory. There are more volunteers than can be handled. According to British Official Wireless, armed with pistols, lines. Bren guns and sub-machine guns British parachute troops even in small numbers form a formidable fighting force. "There is nothing German parachute troops can do that we cannot do," said a senior officer of this force to-day. All the men forming this force are volunteers and come from practically every regiment in the British Army. Thev are of perfect physique and trained to be selfreliant fifihters. Drops can be made by fully-trained parachutists from as low as 500 ft, as the parachute is so constructed as to open almost simultaneously with leaving the aeroplane. About ten men is the average load for an aircraft.