Infantrymen Begin Bush Exercise

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30861, 21 September 1965, Page 16

Infantrymen Begin Bush Exercise

An Anzac group comprising a company of New Zealanders from the Ist Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment depot, and a company of Australian infantrymen, moved into position today in thick bush in the jungle-train-ing area of Little Malaya, near Oxford, to begin “Operation Tranquilliser," the South Island contribution to the New Zealand and Australian Armies’ annual exchange exercise.

A base has been built and both companies are setting up strong defensive positions near the border of “Redland,” a mythical Asian state which is infringing the sovereignty of “Blueland.”

For the next two days the troop s will consolidate their position. They will then begin patrols along the border. When the enemy camps are located during the second phase of the exercise, offensives will be mounted against them.

Six Australians have joined

each New Zealand platoon and six New Zealanders are working with each Australian platoon. The enemy, a group of Ist Battalion depot soldiers from "A" company, has been in position for 24 hours. The weather is warm and sunny and the troops have noticed the heat during their treks through the bush. Although the base area contains a new portable shower unit set up by ordnance troops, this will be used only by men returning from the bush for medical treatment at the wellequipped regimental aid post. The fighting troops will live in the bush.

The exercise closely parallels border operations in East Malaysia. It is directed by Lieutenant-Colonel B Poananga, commanding officer of the Ist Battalion, R.N.Z.I R. depot at Burnham. Umpires will assess the success of various actions.