Hard Jungle Training

JUNGLE training is being under gone in New Guinea by CMF members of the Papua-New Guinea Volunteer Rifles. The first exercise was carried out early in February by the Port Moresby unit in heavy jungle country around the Laloki River, about 12 miles from the town. Regular Army men of headquarters staff took over the role of bandits, and all eight were “killed” by the time the patrol ended. “Bandit” Colonel Maddern was just congratulating himself on getting clear away after a single handed surprise attack on the patrol post, when he discovered too late that he was being stalked by a CMF lad. But just then the stalker was stalked by another bandit, and “Bandit” Maddern had a further short spell of freedom.

The Laloki country and the wet season did their share in making the jungle exercise realistic, and certain houseboys had a lot of hard scrubbing and scrubbing on Monday morning when boots and uniforms were turned in for cleaning.

Lae’s “A” Company was next in action, carrying out their exercise

the following week-end. Twenty five of Lae’s PNGVR stalwarts dul; rounded up three elusive enenr customers’ and came through th patrol with a tactics record as gooi as that of Port Moresby.

Rabaul is next on the list. Thes jungle exercises are based on th training given British Army troop in Malaya for action against bandits bandits.

Mr. C. D. Bates has returned t( his old command at Madang, NG after a spell at District Servid Headquarters in Moresby as Firs Assistant Dorector. He is again Dis trict Commissioner for Madang.

Mr. John Paul McGrath, aged 56 of Townsville, died from injurie he received early in March, whei he fell from a job on which he wa employed as a carpenter, 30 feel onto a concrete floor. Mr. McGrath discharged from the AIF afte World War I, went to New Guinei in 1921, and managed a copn plantation. He was there unti 1943, when the family was drivei out by the Jap invasion. He i survived by his widow, one daughte (Mrs. F. Snell) and a son (Briai McGrath).