TROOPS CROSS THE NILE

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23232, 20 January 1941, Page 10

TROOPS CROSS THE NILE

TRAINING MANOEUVRES FOR SOUTH ISLAND MEN

(From the Official War Correspondent with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the Middle East.)

CAIRO, January 17.

The most historic waterway in the world was crossed by South Island infantrymen “under their own power” yesterday, when novel manoeuvres took them from one bank of the Nile to the other. The full battalion advanced in waves from the fringe of the desert over the green fields to the edge of the irrigation canal running parallel with the river.

The troops pushed.light footbridges across this and took cover on the banks of the Nile. Rushing collapsible assault boats reminiscent of duckshooting punts to the muddy shore, they were rowed in relays to a sandy island in the middle of the river. They moved stealthily over this and again took to the boats to cross the main fork of the river. passing between picturesque native sailing craft, and scrambling in open formation up the far bank to supposed enemy objectives. The engineers, who had been trained to a high level of efficiency in the transport of troops and material across stretches of water, cooperated with the battalion, and gave the exercise an added realism by firing charges on both land and water to simulate an enemy barrage. They also demonstrated the use of heavier craft, including those capable of carrying vehicles. . . .

Other, units are carrying out similar exercises in turn as part of an intensive training programme which the New. Zealand Expeditionary Force has begun.