JUNGLE WARFARE

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 21, 20 October 1943, Page 4

JUNGLE WARFARE

Demonstration Of Training Methods BRITISH MISSION VISITS ARMY SCHOOL

“This is ti very live show, and a very valuable one,” Major-General J. S. Lethbridge, leader of tiie British military, naval, and air mission, which is studying warfare in tiie Pacific, told the chief instructor of the Forest and Jungle Warfare Wing.of the Army School of Instruction, Major F. Y’orex, N.Z.S.C., yesterday, after military members of the mission hail watched a class of military students being trained as instructors in jungle warfare. The members of the mission were obviously interested in all phases of the demonstration, which included patrol work in dense bush, the use of the most suitable light arms by patrol troops, lhe jungle uniforms and headdress, camouflaged to sink into the verdure, and the tree-elimbing devices for patrol scouts which have been developed from the irons used by kauri gum collectors. They were particularly impressed by the climbing irons, which thev considered were a great advance, both in lightness nnd simplicity, on anything at present in use by either tho British or United States armies. Another thing iu which considerable interest was shown was the cooking of food by the Maori hangi method, which, Major Yerex explained, permitted men to receive a hot meal after dark.. This, ho said, was otherwise impossible in jungle battle areas, because tires could hot be lighted except in daylight. Food cooked in the hangi was served at luncheon. Major-General Lethbridge is no stranger to jungle conditions. In addition to his recent visit to lhe Solomon Islands battle area, he has seen considerable service in India. He considered the training area highly suitable, for its purpose. and inquired what additional areas of the type were available, in the Dominion, no*doubt having in mind one of the tasks of tiie mission he mentioned in an interview the previous day. that of finding suitable training grounds for the British troops which will bo transferred to the Pacific war after the defeat of GerAmong those who received the mission on its arrival at tho wing were the commandant of the Army School of Instruction, Lieut.-Colonel J. N. Henry, N.Z.S C and the schools’ chief instructor. Major J. S. King, N.Z.S.C. The principal sections of the demonstration were carried out by members of the wing s instructional staff. . At the conclusion of the inspection the mission left by ear for the centre of the island, where other training installations will be inspected tomorrow.