Private Army To Fight Communism

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31306, 28 February 1967, Page 17

Private Army To Fight Communism

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) JOHANNESBURG, February 27.

A private army of about 500 men, formed in South Africa on the pattern of the French Foreign Legion, is available at £150,000 a month to fight Communism anywhere in the world, according to reports appearing in South African newspapers.

The reports quoted Pretoria businessman, Mr Neville Warrington, as saying that he had started the army and that five requests for its services had already been received. Mr Warrington would not name the countries which had made these requests but he said that they were all at present actively fighting communism.

His legionnaires were hand-picked, highly-trained, and mostly former members of South Africa’s defence force. They had regular parades and training sessions, he said. None were paid at present as they all had jobs, but they could be called up within six weeks and would be prepared to leave for any country in the world. “They are not an ordinary group of mercenaries. Communism today must also be fought on the ideological plane,” Mr Warrington said. Mentally Prepared Members of the army were given regular lectures to prepare them mentally, in addition to their physical training, for a clash with communism. “The hirer has to supply the weapons and ammunition because these differ with the type of territory which is to be fought in,” Mr Warrington said.