JUNGLE WARFARE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25304, 14 August 1943, Page 4

JUNGLE WARFARE

NEW DOMINION SCHOOL TRAINING SCHEME MODIFIED (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 13. “What was formerly the bush and mountain warfare wing of the Army School of Instruction is in operation again after a recess of three months, but in a new location and under a new name,” said the Minister of Defence, Mr F. Jones, in a statement tonight. “ The new Gaining area covers the foothills of the Tararua Range, in the Masterton-Carterton area, and the new name is the Forest and Jungle Warfare Wing of the Army School. The name has been changed because the syllabus has been modified to fit the training more closely to the conditions in the Pacific, “Introduced as an experiment in October last, the scheme of Bush and mountain warfare training, combined with deer destruction, showed such significant results that it was at once extended throughout the forces in New Zealand,” the Minister said. “This was during the period of large-scale mobilisation against a possible attack on these shores, and while the value of the new training for troops possibly destined to fight in the Pacific was fully realised, the main aim of the original scheme was to toughen the territorial fighting troops and train them to fight and live in the bush and mountains of their own country. Training for Pacific Forces

“ When the threat to New Zealand lessened, and the decision was made -to transfer a division from this country to the Pacific, the general bush and mountain warfare training scheme was discontinued, but a new wing of the Army School of Instruction was established to train commissioned and non-commis-sioned officers from units serving or about to serve in the Pacific. Incidentally, the facilities provided in the new wing were made available to Allied personnel training in the Dominion, and many of them attended the course. “ While the wing was in recess, the chief instructor and an assistant instructor were sent on an observation tour to parts of the Pacific battle-front. They spent several weeks in forward positions, and closely studied all phases of the fighting, equipment, and supply in tropic island jungles. From their firsthand observations they were able to recommend modifications of the jungle training syllabus in New Zealand, and these have been embodied in the scheme.

"Instruction is given in every phase of fighting that is influenced by jungle conditions. For instance, the employment of infantry weapons in the jungle involves problems not encountered in open country, and troops destined for jungle operations should know the answers to those problems. Jungle-craft and jungle navigation (how to move through dense jungle without losing direction) are other important subjects in the syllabus. # Camp in Tararua Foothills

" The headquarters of the Forest and Jungle Warfare Wing has been established in a small but well-equipped camp in the Tararua foothills. Buildings from camps no longer occupied have been transferred to the new site.

“ From the training point of view,” the Minister concluded, “ the camp is excellently situated. A large area of mountainous bush country is available, and much of it rivals tropical jungle in denseness. A course for senior officers, principally seconds-in-command, has just ended, and a course for junior officers and n.c.o.’s began this week.”