BATTLE INOCULATION

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 257, 29 July 1942, Page 5

BATTLE INOCULATION

Australians’ “Noise Course” (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, July 23. Stern realism is the keynote of Australian Army training. Soldiers at northern stations have recently been engaged in the most thorough series of exercises yet devised to make them battle-con-scious. . The manoeuvres were called a ’noise course.” Troops moved through smoke and flame with artillery thundering and machinegun bullets whining sinisterly just a few feet above their heads. _ Army co-operation bombers played their part in the exercises and bombs uprooted giant trees only 600 yards from the advancing men. Bren carriers drove through the smoke, lending an additional air_ of _ realism where none was needed. Noise is one of the terrors of war, and the “noise course” is considered invaluable training for troops who have not yet received their baptism of fire. Veteran Australian troops back from the Middle East and now at battle stations are stated never to have been fitter than at the present time. Regular heavy route marches, often combined with largescale tactical exercises, are part of thejr continued training. At one station the general officer commanding lias offered a prize of £3O for the platoon which, carrying war equipment and rations, can cover the greatest distance in 14 hours, and finish with the largest percentage of the initial force. Best performance to date is that of no officer and 37 men who covered 48.2 miles with only three casualties. A smaller group of eight, with their officer, marched 51.2 miles in the 14 hours.