TROPIC SERVICE
A.I.F. LEADS WORLD
MELBOURNE, Dec. 20.
Australia leads the world in scientific research into difficulties encountered by troops on tropical service, said an Army spokesman. Most of the problems caused by rust and rot in New Guinea had been solved. New protective measures had added appreciably to the cost of equipping iungl e troops, but in the long run, thev saved material, man hours, and lives. Quoting instances of how the life of tropic-proofed equipment had been increased many times, the spokesman mentioned radio equipment, which early in the war had a short life because the moisture and fungus growths caused short circuits. Special materials are now used to prevent this short circuiting. Tent canvas rotted rapidly until a new chemical bath treatment was devised. Boots fell apart because the steel nails rusted. Brass studs are now being used. Metals on nonprecision surfaces, such as the bodies of cars tanks, and bridge girders are protected from corroding by a special paint. Special grease is used for precision parts.
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Bibliographic details
Grey River Argus, 22 December 1943, Page 6
Word Count
170TROPIC SERVICE Grey River Argus, 22 December 1943, Page 6
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