Jungle village realism DPR/TV/74

More than 300 hundred troops made a daylight raid on a mock native village near Holsworthy, NSW this week. The successful raid resulted in about 20 men representing communist terrorists being rounded up for interrogation after some were found hiding in underground tunnels and pits. The authentic village of 32 native-type huts made of jungle materials and mud walls was erected by members of the 1st Battalion Royal Australian Regiment. The raiding troops used tactics learnt in anti-terrorist campaigns in south East Asia. In the bush location complete with riverlet and bamboo bridges the village is designed to resemble the type found in delta areas of Asia. It will be used for training purposes for troops of Australia's field force. The first exercise in the village was watched by 53 officers from the Army's Staff College at Queenscliff Victoria. Among them were 21 officers from overseas countries. Commander of the 1st Division Major General I T Murdoch and his two deputies, Brigadiers A L Macdonald and C C Thomas watched the demonstration which was directed by the battalion commander Colonel C M I Pearson.