DESERT TROOPS

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 April 1938, Page 8

DESERT TROOPS

SUPPLIED BY AIRCRAFT CAIRO, March 3. Experiments in bringing supplies to a large body of men by aircraft, which should materially facilitate desert operations, were made during three-day manoeuvres of the Cairo Cavalry Brigade. Each morning, nine Vickers Victorias of 216 Squadron R.A.F., in flights of three, left Heliopolis shortly before breakfast. Locating the Brigade about 50 miles in the desert to the west of the pyramids, they landed petrol sufficient for 50 miles, and food and water for one day for the whole Brigade. The operation was carried out with the greatest precision. Flying low to escape notice and to make it difficult for attacking ’planes to intercept them, the machines, each carrying two tons, discharged supplies within five to eight minutes of landing. The unloading was effected by platoons of the Ist Irish Guards. Gen. Sir George Weir, G.O.C. British- troops in Egypt, flew over on the first day to watch the manoeuvres. He said he was greatly satisfied with the manner in which the operations were conducted, and with the possh bilities in desert-warfare which they foreshadowed. The Cairo Cavalry Brigade is a mobile column, 2,500 strong, under the supreme command of Brig. A. L. I. Friend.