DURING THE RECENT EUROPEAN WINTER SPECIALLY SELECTED UNITS WERE FORMED FROM THE A.I.F. IN SYRIA ...

DURING THE RECENT EUROPEAN WINTER SPECIALLY SELECTED UNITS WERE FORMED FROM THE A.I.F. IN SYRIA FOR TRAINING IN THE USE OF SKIS. THE SCHOOL WAS SITUATED HIGH IN THE LEBANON RANGES, AND ALTHOUGH, AS THIS SPLENDID SERIES OF PHOTOS INDICATE, THE WORK WAS CARRIED OUT IN A PICTURESQUE ENVIRONMENT, IT ENTAILED CONSIDERABLE HARDSHIP FOR MEN NOT FULLY ACCLIMATISED TO THE HARSH CONDITIONS. ONLY THOSE WHO WERE PHYSICALLY FIT WERE SELECTED FROM THE VOLUNTEERS. THE FORMATION OF RECONNAISSANCE AND FIGHTING PATROLS WAS THE OBJECTIVE, AND THE TRAINING COVERED BIVOUACKING ABOVE THE SNOW LINE, TACTICS IN OFFENSIVE AND PROTECTIVE PATROLS, SIGNALLING AND INTELLIGENCE DUTIES. HEAVY GOING.