Dogs Led Troops To Infiltrators

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30555, 25 September 1964, Page 15

Dogs Led Troops To Infiltrators

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter — Copyright) . KUALA LUMPUR, September 24. Two tracker dogs played a vital role in the killing of six Indonesian paratroops in the Labis area of south central Malaya yesterday j according to unconfirmed reports reaching Kuala Lumpur from Labis today. ■

The reports said the two dogs, both male Labradors, were flown by helicopter into the hilly jungle at dawn yesterday. The dogs picked up a scent and for nine hours they led the Security Forces through the jungle. They brought the forces to the hide-out of a group of Indonesian paratroops. The casualties from the resultant battle were reported yesterday in a Government statement as six Indonesians and one Security Force man dead. Today’s reports said the two dogs had been brought to the south Malaya campaign from Malaysian Borneo, where they had also been used in anti-Indonesian operations. Operations by British, Malaysian and New Zealand Security Forces against the remnants of the Indonesian paratroops continued in the Labis area today. Of the paratroop force — estimated to be about 100 strong—which was dropped in the area pn September 2, 25 have been killed and more than 50 captured.

Casualties in the south Malaya campaign so far total 39 Indonesians—2s at Labis, and 14 from a seaborne force which landed in the Pontian area on the south-west coast on August 17 —and five Se curity Force men.