BATTLE CONDITIONS

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 30, 3 August 1940, Page 12

BATTLE CONDITIONS

MARCH IN AUSTRALIA

AIR FORCE TO ATTACK

VALUABLE EXERCISES

(By Trans-Tasman Air Mail, from "The Post's" Representative.) SYDNEY, July 31. Creating battle conditions, Royal Australian Air Force planes will "divebomb" and "strafe" nearly 5000 A.I.F. troops while on the projected march from Ingleburn to Bathurst. The troops will run for cover, and antiaircraft and machine-guns will (theoretically) try to beat off the "attacking" planes.

The R.A.A.F. will co-operate in exercise on a sectionof the route shortly after the troops leave the Ingleburn camp. Each detachment of troops as it passes through that sector will be subjected to "air raids." These exercises will give most valuable experience of battle conditions to the A.I.F. men, as well as to the Air Force. The value of the troops' effort at concealment from the air will be tested by photographs to be taken from the "raiding" planes, which will have the job first of locating the men. Anti-aircraft units, too, will benefit from sighting practice on modern dive-bombing technique.

AH communication facilities on the march will be arranged by. Army signal units—mainly by radio telephone, and dispatch riders. Individual units doing fields exercises will use lamps and flags. Medical and ambulance detachments will accompany each column.

It is expected that the whole contingent will arrive and occupy the new camp at Bathurst by the end of August. The first detachment will leave Ingleburn on August 12, and arrive at Bathurst.about August 23. For the next eight days, Mother detachments, about 1000 strong, will be arriving every couple of days.