RHODESIA: MOCK ARMY EXERCISE AGAINST "TERRORISTS" IN NORTH

Record ID: 352056

  • Title: RHODESIA: MOCK ARMY EXERCISE AGAINST "TERRORISTS" IN NORTH
  • Date: 27th August 1965
  • Summary: TROOPS AND ARMY VEHICLES IN EXERCISE, A "PRISONER" MARCHED INTO CAMP, AND MR. IAN SMITH, THE PRIME MINISTER, ARRIVING BY HELICOPTER. Initials RM/S/WH/JG Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 11th September 1965 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: SINDIA AREA, RHODESIA
  • Country: Zimbabwe
  • Reuters ID: LVAE87TK5XA4APJVD5RVV2CQILJF
  • Story Text: SEVERAL THOUSAND RHODESIAN TROOPS ARE TAKING PART IN A MOCK EXERCISE AGAINST "TERRORISTS" IN THE NORTHERN REGION OF RHODESIA, BORDERING ZAMBIA. THE EXERCISE, WHICH ALSO INCLUDES UNITS OF THE AIR FORCE, BEGAN LAST MONDAY AND WILL CONTINUE FOR TWO WEEKS.

    FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE EXERCISE, IT'S BEEN ASSUMED THAT A LARGE BAND OF INSURGENTS HAVE MASSED IN THE NORTHERN AREA ARMED WITH RIFLES, AUTOMATIC WEAPONS, AND BOWS AND ARROWS, AND UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF "A FORMER ANGLO-INDIAN BRIGADIER."
    THE SITUATION, SAYS AN ARMY PRESS RELEASE, "HAS BUILT UP FROM LOCAL POLITICAL INCIDENTS TO OUTRIGHT DEFIANCE TO CIVIL AUTHORITIES AND USE OF VIOLENCE." ORDERS TO THE TROOPS TAKING PART IN THE MOCK EXERCISE ARE TO CAPTURE INSURGENTS, WHERE POSSIBLE, TO "ASSIST OUR SOURCES OF INFORMATION" BUT TO "SHOOT TO KILL, AS NECESSARY."
    THE ARMY IS SUPPORTED IN THE OPERATION BY AIR FORCE HELICOPTERS AND FIGHTER RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT. MR. IAN SMITH THE RHODESIAN PRIME MINISTER, VISITED THE MOCK EXERCISE AREA YESTERDAY (THURSDAY) TO REVIEW THE TROOPS.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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