CMF officers visit PNG DPR/TV/739

Ten Citizen Military Forces officers are at present visiting Papua New Guinea on an orientation tour. Coming from all states of Australia, the officers are taking part in active patrols through jungle country around the Moem Barrack headquarters of the 2nd Battalion, Pacific Islands Regiment, near Wewak. After a short briefing by the commanding officer of the battalion, Lieutenant-Colonel Donald Ramsay, the officers were taken by truck to Sassura 40 miles inland for the first patrol through a tropical area. Acting as both guide and interpreter for the officers, a company sergeant-major of the battalion led the patrol along a route through the Alexander Mountains, a range between Wewak, on the coast, and Maprik, inland. The going was made difficult by heavy rain which put an oily surface on the narrow jungle track and swelled streams. Two-day's walking through jungle country, studded with open patches of Kunai grass, brought the patrol tpo a governament post at Yangoru. The patrol passed through many villages in the area, which is one of the most densley populated in the territory. The local people extended a warm welcome to the visiting officers particularly one young native boy whose hospitality included scurrying-up a coconut tree to gather nuts for them. The officers appreciated the hospitality the drink before they moved on. From the outpost, the patrol took a more direct route to bring them back to Wewak in less than a day's walk. The group is the first of two make orientation visits to Papua- New Guinea this year to familiarise officers with the problems of tropical operations. The second group will arrive early in December.