Army Gets Its Wish—Jungle Warfare Conditions

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29016, 3 October 1959, Page 16

Army Gets Its Wish— Jungle Warfare Conditions

(New Zealand Press Association)

LEVIN, October 2. The foothills of the Tararuas east oi Levin were turned into a muddy, windswept battlefield .today. Lashed by rain, about 900 troops of the 2nd Battalion, New Zealand Regiment, squelched through mud as they moved into position for the final exercise before the battalion leaves for Malaya. The Army required simulated jungle warfare conditions for the exercise, and it got them. Rain—.39in in 24 hours up to 11 a.m.— turned rough bush tracks into morasses, gouged potholes in roads and made a slip in the main road to the area too dangerous to be traversed by heavy Army vehicles. Rifles, loaded with blank cartridges. hammered in the bush, trip wires sprayed flares and smoke bombs were tossed in the first simulated action which took place this morning when the advance party of the troops was ambushed by the ‘'enemy,” a group of “Anasians.”

The area of the exercise is between nine and 11 miles from Levin, bordered by the Makahika stream.

j The main body of the troops i moved into the area from Linton military camp about 10 a.m. and I then deployed into the bush in parties.

Originally it was intended to transport them direct to the base by heavy vehicles, but the trucks were stopped about four miles from base by a slip. Lighter vehicles got through from the slip to the base. The air drop of supplies on Sunday at midday will take place on an empty area at the top of a ridge close to the base camp. About half a mile from this area *“ e third and final phase—an attack on the “enemy”—will take place on Tuesday. The “enemy,” which moved into position this morning, comcrl S c d L 5mmembers , mbers of an original Squadron which went to Malaya. Their job is to harass the battalion by day and night. They are equipped with bugles, loud nailers and a plentiful supply of blank cartridges.

They are supplied with the new F.N. rifles and will undertake sporadic ambushes and other harassing operations. The main body of the troop£ deployed in a two-hour march to their positions. A member of the party said this morning that the tracks \Vere in a terrible ’ condition and likely to get worse.

During their march to the base the troops crossed the Ohau stream in places.