ADVANCING FORCE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 47, 25 February 1937, Page 17

ADVANCING FORCE

ON THE N.W. FRONTIER

BUILDING A ROAD

Life among the British forces at present in the Khaisora Valley, on the

north-west frontier of India, where they are following the ancient practice of building a road as they advance, is described by an official eye-witness

(says the "Manchester Guardian"). Extracts from his account are given here:

Forces of today require far more impedimenta than did those of the "classical" wars of the nineties. The grand, old days of "burn and scuttle" are over. The tribesmen are now better armed. They are becoming "airminded." They have always been experts at guerrilla warfare. • Their tactics are deserving of respect, and nothing can be left to chance.

Our forces require far more today in the way of maintenance than did those of thirty years ago. They can no longer "live on.the country," and indeed no force could "live on the country" in the Khaisora Valley, for there is nothing to live on. ,

Food, ammunition, baggage, medical stores, field, hospitals—to .mention only a-few items —have all to be supplied to the troops to enable them to' carryout- their task efficiently. The administrative problem may be greater than the tactical. Thus when the troops moved on to Jaler Camp they were followed closely by some hundred lorries. These, thanks to the splendid work of the R.I.A.S.C. drivers, all reached camp and returned without mishap.

As so often happens in operations on the North-west Frontier, the problem of water supply was a difficult one. So water had also to be carried forward. Since then springs hav,e been found in the Jaler Algad which have been developed by the sappers and miners. So this administrative difficulty has Been wiped off the slate. PROTECTING THE ROAD-MAKERS.

Our general daily procedure is simple. Each day an' adequate force goes out to protect troops on road construction. The advanced guard moves out through the camp piquets in the grey dawn, but ■as they move the light increases. The advanced guard commander begins to piquet the route for the day—that is, to place protective detachments to prevent the enemy from interfering with the troops on road construction.

The ;whole operation is carried out with, the ordered precision ■of the parade ground. Each man knows his task and what to do. Behind are the guns and'machine-guns ready to support the piquets. The advanced guard commander calls an officer and gives him details as to the position to be occupied by the piquet and .its strength. The gunner and the ma-chine-gun officer note the details and arrange for support. In a few minutes the piquet moves off.

They cross the low ground' at the double and begin to climb the spur. From many points field glasses are trained on them and on their objective. Guns and machine-guns are waiting and watching. The piquet moves upwards, the size of the men dwindling to the eye as they climb. They near the position and halt. They are fixing bayonets.

Suddenly they rise and move swiftly to their position. For an instant they stand out against the sky, with flashes of light from their bayonets. Then they are down. In a short time comes the signal "Piquet established." The watching officers close their glasses with a sigh of relief.

. "Stand by! We are going on! Prepare to move," and so the force moves on.

MAN IN THE GREEN BLAZER.

For the rest we have our own jokes and quips, many provided involuntarily. One of our jokes is the facial expression of the gentleman in the green blazer who drives a device like a great mechanical plough which aids our road-making. This plough is known as ""the Monster." The presiding .■ genius of this hits a rock, but never turns a hair. On the contrary, he draws back his complicated machine and returns to the assault. No rock in the Khaisora Valley can withstand three buffets from "the Monster." dur friend of the green blazer will go down to history. A great man!

All normal operations had to cease when it was necessary to inform everyone that Don Bradman was out for a "duck." The Test match was far more important than the Fakir of Ipi (leader of the rebel tribesmen).

In conclusion, just a word about "back areas." I had an opportunity to visit our hospitals. The skill and attention which have been given to our casualties are beyond all praise. In the Army we know what our doctors do for us, and we are deeply grateful to them.

And one word about the K.A.F., who are; by no means "back area." They shepherd us out of camp and ,back again. Always above us are the drone of their engines, the flash and sparkle of their silver wings, and we know that a watcher is there ready to give information or to dive to our support. As the aeroplanes circle above us, when the rain permits we take off. pur-J3at&4c*=thenv ■<