Hide Article Text (OCR)
TN The Australasian of last week I * wrote of a military camp somewhere in Northern Australia, in which activities were devoted to a complete training in jungle warfare. There was rather too much to encompass in just a few hours, but what I didn't see was graphically described to me by the CO and some of his officers.All training methods are practically red hot from New Guinea, and the country in parts not being altogether dissimilar lends itself admirably to the practising of jungle stunts. Fording and swimming rivers in full baitl* dress is an important item in train ing. and it is remarkable how non-swimmers manage the hazardous crossing. With the aid of long bamboo poles, which keep them afloat, they simply kick their feet and propel themselves across to the opposite bank.Numerous exercises have to be practised regarding river crossings, the transport of wounded, supplies, ammunition. gear of every kind. Improvisation at a moment’s notice is a keynote. The ingenuity of engineers is taxed to the utmost, and it is marvellous how they can throw a bridge across, be it pontoon or aerial, just as3uickly as a clever housewife can pro-uce a batch of scones suddenly if the occasion arises.Please realise that these are trained-to-the-minute men. 100'; fit, just awaiting a signal to go flat out into battle. They don’t turn a hair or Dlink an eyelid at anything. They’re just ready, and God help any subject of the Mikado or Little Wax Flower, whatever he Ls called, if they see him first.However. I wish to pen a word or so about camouflage. The earnest endeavours of the A IF on a deadly cold afternoon impressed me a lot. They’ve practically got nature subdued and down under.Feeling slightly fatigued after a walk over a rough, dusty road, I sat down in the grateful shade of a sapling. A polite cough jolted me to my* feet. I was reclining in the shade ofV k a sniper. What a chance he had!lt;\ . ■- \ Point-blank range, or a crack on thebo|co tbe butt end °* ride-| ^ Really these jungle tactics chaps have^ Illy brought the technique of camouflage\ s ^ to affine **1- And the-v do il soIf you will read on I’ll describe theySnrH waits in ambush, while another partyi r tries t0 spot them. They are in heavily\ | 1 timbered bush country, with a lavishfeSrLfoXjfi' JMnlL \*s jack once told me was the correct term\ 10 use- also fire-blackened tree stumpsuRll ’'N and logs are lying about. CoverTjU abounds, and many are the devicesemployed by these They areVt V ^, astute people. listened|1 A words lt;f wisdom from others who^ \TW j ^ have met the Japs in the islands.• I t Often covered with undergrowth and| VOA lying perfectly still, it is impossible to•Si WlK detect the proximity of a sniper. Also*Jfl ifrv \ I FtA ill positions behind a tree, up a tree, or| j11|\ n || in a hollow log are deadly vantage^VV Jb i * j J I was asked to “spot a fellow in I fl /t: fairly open country. I couldn't. HeWJ^K' BRI K/ nilj ’ wa*s »f?ainst the blackened stump of a^ li/Jjry tree. His hands and face were also? T, black from charcoal rubbed on. It'sI // a horrible game, like being stabbed inS tbe back or shot at in tbo darkThe Japanese mastersjungle tactics, but I’m confident now that our chaps can beat 'em at theirown game. I think the ambusher^ has the thick end of the stick. The* ambushee” certainly needs to be\ V \Argus-eyed to the extent of the whole •• \ 2 v hundred!V* The tree dweller is a most un- - pleasant customer. It is simple tostraddle a branch and use the trunk as a back support, and there is abundance of foliage to make doubly sureof concealment. As a rule most people walk straight ahead, eye level being their focal point. They rarely look up or down. This is largely caused through congested streets and fast-moving traffic. It’s a case of the quick or the dead.In one of these manoeuvres a sniper climbed a young stringy-bark and settled himself aloft. He was spotted through his clumsy climbing. In his efforts to reach some branches to cling on to he had stripped long shreds of bark from the tree trunk with his hobnailed boots. This unusual sight in virgin scrub caught the eye of an observant enemy.” who got his man.One of the first principles of this game drilled into the minds of combatants is to remain perfectly motionless and silent. On still days (and the jungle is usually still) a sneeze, a cough, or even a merry little hiccough would be fatal. The wholeBEATING THE JAP AT HIS OWN. GAME:Something About Jungle CamouflageWritten ond lllustroted by HAROLD B. HERBERT, Who Hos Just Returned from o Tour of the North os on Accredited Wor Correspondent
Newspaper Details
Melbourne Australasian
Melbourne, Victoria, AU
Sat, Jul 24, 1943
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Gary Y.
CO, USA 02 Dec 2019
Other Publications Near Melbourne, Victoria
Melbourne Record
Melbourne Punch Thu
Melbourne Public Opinion
Melbourne Norden
Melbourne Herald
