British Infantry Get Mock Battle Training

Chronicle (Levin), 21 December 1949, Page 5

British Infantry Get Mock Battle Training

Received Tuesdav, 7 p.m. LONDON, Dec. 20. A 48-bour mock ImtlJe for Tripoli was recently completed by the British First Infantry Division. Some 10,000 men took part and the objeet was to test command eontrol and communications over long supply routes. The role of Field-Marshal Montgoniery 's forces which raced to capture Tripoii seven years ago, was reversed and Tripoli was lefended against an 'enemy attack" which lamled 75 iniles east of Tripoli. tt was (lefended by the First Guards Brigade- -group against the Fourth.Seveuth Dragoon Guards, Royal Artillery anrl Royal Kngineers with the R.A.F. also taking a hand. The attack was routed in tori'ential rain. The proportion of inexperieneed national ■seivicemen taking part was not high. Tripolitania has now been the seene of two great exercises. Last year it was the terrain for the first British combined operations to be held sinee •the war. Air and naval units and army elements from England, Egypt, Malta and Cyrenaica, then joined local troops to perform, with live ammunition, a big amphibions operation. This year's exercises though less grandiose, embraced many more of the local forces and helped to consolidate the training ■ oi the past 18 months.