Page
The end of a twelve-year jungle war
By GORDON HUNG
Our Correspondent in Malayo
Kuala Lumpur.
AN unofficial history of the Commonwealth
armies' major contribution to the suppression of the Malayan Communist terrorists is full of statistical facts about the various Commonwealth forces that served in Malaya,//their kills, casualties and actions.
But the compilers of this history have inter- spersed their 21-page document with interesting sidelights to the 12-year-old war which ended on July 31.
Some of the lactic, employed the jungi than any other TC- by the forces to ight the ter giment. rorists -would have madi? The 22nd Special Air Service generals at Whitehall wring Regiment developed
a new
-THE CHINA MAIL, FUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 1960.
ORTH WEST FRONTIE
CHAPTER FIVE
THE STORY SO FAR: Captain Scoff of the Indian Army and Catherine Wyatt, governess to five-year-old Prince Kishan, are trying to get the young prince to safety when rebels faunch on attack on the fortified city of Hacerabad in the North West' Frontier of India. A small party, with Scott in charge, mokas a hazardous journey in an antiquated train ocross rehof. Infested country, in company, with the wife of the governar af the province, a Civil Servant named Bridie, an arms" salesman named Peters) and a journalist named Van Leyden: They come to a bridge which has been partially blown up; It is then that Yan Loydon reveals he is out to murder the Bay prince. Scott risks his life to drive the train, from which passengers have disembarked, across the weakened bridge. NOW' READ' ON.......
As soon as Scott moved towards the
train,
Catherine Wyatt's anxiety showed itself. "Will it take the weight?" she asked, glancing at the rails that spanned the blown-up section of the line. "Are you sure?"
"Of course I'm sura," replied Scott cheerily. “I
their hands in horror, for in technique in tree parachuting often drive trains over blown-up bridges."
this nuclear age of modern wea- pons bows and shows were use for close in-lighting on a num- - ber of occasions.
which brought the war right to the terrorists' doorstep.
To fight the Communists with
"Oh, stop behaving like an overgrown school- boy," cried Catherine, irritated by this attempt at levity.
their own weapons, a force of local aborigines was formed There is much praise for the and called the Senci Praak. Gurkhas 3 in One action
They have now been moved us these intrepàt wen from the
to the front-line on the Mala- Himalayas became involved in -That border to break up a battle now known as the
the aborigine protective screen "Aght of the seven sick men,"
now shielding the Communists
He mid patiently: "How do here. This is the area where
you want me to behave? What right itself. remaining the majority of the to
000 terrorists are now holed up do you want me to say. No, the Malayan there m't a hope in hell? I've with about 90 on
got to do the job, side of the border.
This time it's my responalbility."
Scott stared at her. He found whole delicately polsed train her concern for him rather topple over. pleasant. It was not often people fussed over him.
The seven soldiers were re- turning through the jungle their base for medical treatment, Suddenly, the party was attack ed by four terrorists,
The Gurkhas, used to reacting quickly, worked round to the terrorists' rear and killed all of them.
Borneo
OCCASION
have
Inch by inch the wheels, grip- ning again, moved the train fr- ward: Gradually it began to Suddenly. with e quickened tempo, the engine was on an even keel. was over. Victoria, you know
tender and coach she pulled, was safely over the gap..
on to the footplate of Victoria. Gupta, was already there. He had refused to abandon his be- loved engine.
Scott glanced
át him
and
He grinned and turned away. leaving Catherine ashamed of Austers, of the 656 Light Air-her outburst. Scott climbed up craft Squadron, Anny Air Corps The four Gurkha regiments (formerly an RAF unit, but that were based in Malaya icok with army gunner pilots) has part in practically every opera- been the security forces' eyes in tion mounted during the 12- the sky. Flying at tree top
pilots year struggle, and in the process height, the army-
1,800 Red shrugged. He moved to the they killed over 1,000 Com- spotted more than munists, nearly 25 per cent of-camps and dropped over 150 controls, Slowly he get the old locomotive off on her travels the total number killed by million surrender leaflets.
again, And this time no one, security forces.
There was an occasion when least of all Scott, knew where The British Army is well- known for its hybrid composi- one of the pilots of the Squad- they would end.
The locomotive began 10 tion and out of this war against ron was on one such operation the Communists, another unique when he spotted eight terrorists move. It crept slowly along the it reached the force was formed the Sarawak crossing a river on a raft He track until Rangers comprised of civilised dived his Auster and converted damaged section.
The unsupported rails looked headhunters (Dyaks) it into a fighter plane by fring
for their his rifle at the terrorists, but he perilously thin to Scott as he was rather ineffective with his stared down at them-loo thin and fragile to bear the weight specially Trained 303 armament,
of the locomotive and the tender jungle team, which out-guéril- He buzzed the raft a number and coach that she pulled. leed the Communists many of times causing the terrorists to times, was the "Ferret Force." jump into the river. But when Led by former "Chindit" off the terrorists realised that his cers, il included British, Gurkha, "pea shooter" was liable to do Malays and Dyaks,
Tittle harm they climbed back onto the raft and calmly sumed fording the river. Always interested in stails- In desperation the pllat fired un- ties, the British Army docu- his Very pistol. This ment noted that the 1st Bn, the orthodox approach to the battle Suffolk Regiment, which killed shattered the terrorists who took. a number of top-ranking ter- to the water again, this time million. upsetting the raft and losing all rorists, covered two miles in patrols and in the pro- their equipment.
who have been used tracking skill in the jungle.
Another
STATISTICS
cess wore out 15,000 pairs of jungle bools,
Slowly
Scott dared not think of the drop to the river-but he had to look. The engine lurched ominously to one side as the rail, taking the weight of old Victoria, began to sag.
The train crept on...slowly. More weight was on the rails now. And they sagged even more. The Victoria was tilled to one side because one rail was The terrorists were later am-segging more than the other. bushed after the pilot had re. The whale bridge seemed to be A cavalry regiment, the 13th ported their position to security vibrating.
Royal Hussars (Queen forces.
Sweat poured from Scoll's Mary's Own) covered 35 mil- Initiative and originally have forehead, For once Gupta was Lon miles in south Malaya dur- been the keynote of the cam- not grinning. His face was stern ing its first tour and was in- paign
and set. He knew his engine knew what she could do. He
18th
volved in 140 incidents and, Five daring sappers took a escorted 4,000 separate convoys. page from the Canadian back-knew how much steam to give
It also escorted over 400 VIPS woods and got to their objective her and what speed she could do (including the Duchess of Kent by shooting the rapids in Perak and her son, the Duke of Kent) by "storm boars," without loss of civilian life, food Another unit cycled 20 miles or vehicle,
to capture another bandit in his lair,
A group from the 1st Bo.. the Royal Scots Fusiliers be- explorers during 1650
"The Devons rode to baille on train concealed in turpantin- when they conquered peaks in covered steel wagons.
came
Malayn that even the aborigines
Shirked while himting near the
Thal border for terrorists and
their cultivations
OBJECTIVE
An amateur archer, a captain
They penetrated into virgin in the 20 Field Regiment used
dumps
as
jungle and discovered and cultivations in an area brand as southern Scotland.
One surrendered terrorist claimed that men of the 1st Bn. the King's Own Scottish Bor- derers moved more silently in
JUST FANCY
THAT
bow and arrows
on several operations for close in-fighting in the jungle with deadly effect. The King's Own Scottish Borders went into battle by floating down river to their ob-
tyres, car tetive m rubber while the Queen's used clumsy aborigine dug-outs to go to battle.
More recently a captain In the 2nd Field Regiment, RAF, killed a terrorist with his heavy sporting gun while on leave.
Now under the terms of the Defence Agreement) with the Federation Government signed in 1957, there is stationed in Malays the Commonwealth Strategic Reserve, comprising British, Gurkha, Australian, NZ NE of the crew of an aid Sarawak, iroops,
ORA.F. Helicopter was
In North Malaya units of the 28 Commonwealth. Infantry Bri- fowered by winch-line to agude Group will continue to telephone kiosk the other assist police and the Federation day. Then he called up the Army in security patrols on the police and told them that Malayan-That border until the two men lost in a boat in last of the terrorists has beed
eliminated. the Humber were safe and needed no helps Buf why not radio the information back to the helicopter's---base Loconfield? Explained officer: ⠀⠀ "It's, quicker
Kone direct to the poll
(London-Hipreme Bar
-
It has been an unorthodox - war fought by taorthodox meant and apart from the fo digestius soldiers, troops from AUSTFRIENDS Alrican Britain, at FIJI, "Nepal, Newy. Zemləridi to Rhodesia and Serawak, have #served in Malaya, during, the 12-
The danger and the
The train pulled away from the danger point towards the waiting group of people at the end of the bridge.
Smiles
To help cheer up the occupants of the tiny train and also the injured Gupta (1. S. JOHAR), Scott (KENNETH
MORE) starts to sing the Eton Boating! Song-he gets the others to join in,
promised that he might do so jster.
Inside the
Catherine said: "Prince Kishan pose all our troubles are over is not going to walk in at that now." door. Long before he gets there He had no sooner said this coach the others I am going to scream. I am than, looking out of the window. were settling down to their cong to wam him. You're he saw that, the landscape was routine again. But there was afraid., aren't you. It can't be thick with tribesmeni on horse-,
And all one important difference - Vaas easy to kill a little boy in cold back.
of them had rifles.... Leyden was in the guard's van blood."
Scott long remembered that under arrest.
running battle, Becatee the old Empress of India was climbing a slight slope she was losing ground all the time to the horse- men, and besides that the engine seemed to be failing..
"I....I don't think of that Scott, his face covered with oil, grinned at Gupta, and Gupta
Bridle was trainidly sorry about child as a human being. He is grinned back. Catherine was this. He confessed that he a symbol. An outwcan tradition Lady Windham was ready to ery smiling all over her face and liked Van Leyden much to the that stands between my people That is why I amusement of Peters. Bridie and freedom. with relief. Only Van Leyden began to prepare tea.
He had must kill him." looked sourly at the occupants of to go into the van for a supply of the footplate as Victoria slid past water. them and stopped.
Fanatic
11
Shadow
tion platform of the coach. Scott was coming through with the
bag
"Don't come in...." Catherine shouted. "Don't....". ;
The Maxims were going full blast till one of them stuck, A soldier was killed. Scott took over the gun with Bridie to help hint
Still the horseman gained on them. They were overrunning the train and throwing flaming torches ito the carriage to try and set it aligh!.
Gupta hopped about, flinging them out again...
Vanished
Не opened the door-and Leyden into the guard's van with nea
'Senit's first act was to see Van found Vin Leyden at the busi
Van Leyden's face was work end of the Maxim gan. ing. A shadow fell on the glass the of the soldiers to guard him. The guard lay sprawling, an- door leading from the observa
moved sullenly consolong or dead. The journalist
way, glaring with hate at the man who had ordered his arrest.
Lady Windham
went up to Scott. She said: "I want you to know that I think you were
It seemed that Van Leyden perfectly right to....take pre- had gained the upper hand.... Van Leyden's hand was on the cautions with Mr Van Leyden. The gum avered the doorway. trigger of the Maxim. There The fonalical look was back in was a fraction of a second for "If I'm not I'm in the soup. Van Leyden's eyes. He was somebody to stop him. And in
In the end it was a tunnel ma'am." he replied wryly: The evidently bent
something that fraction Bridle's foot shot that saved the train. It vanish- noticed Catherine standing by pretty drastic.
forward and kicked the gun so ed into the darkness for a two- herself with set face at the rear, So it is true," breathed that it swivelled, spurting flame, mile twisting turning journey
Bridie 'softly. He stared at Van to one side.
that no horsemen could hope to of the train,
follow. Leyden who glared back,
And when the old train emerged at Isat into the fieres sunlight, they were inside the British lines-end SAFE,
1
"This is taking the celebrated dislike of soldiers too far," he told her.
"What do you mean?" "Looking so miserable because I uid not end up as mincemeat down there in the valley."
Suddenly, Catherine leaned forward and kissed him-there- by covering her face with the oil that she transferred from Scott's,
On
Lady Windham, Catherine and Peters turned to look into the guard's van. They took in the situation in an instant.
"Stand up, all of you," order- ed Van Leyden. He was sweat ing. "Stand up, I say.”
And Scott, taking in the situr
threw tion in a split second. Kishan to one side and was downs on his befly crawling towards Van Leyden.
He knew one thing Van Lez- den did not that the sights of the gun were high and that it could not be depressed law enough to hit Scott.
They all stood-slowly enough except Gupta, whom Van The two closed. They fought Leyden could not see anyway. in silent ferocity, Van Leyden He was in the end seat hidden by broke away. He dashed outside the wall of the compartment. on to the observation platform and climbed up the roof of the "And the boy." demanded coach. Van Leyden.
Scott, followed him, his revolver in hand. "The boy's engine."
over this dangerous can. And he was concentrating on the de- He laughed to relieve dhe tense licate job of "hursing" her to moment. Now look at you, you
Come on abandoned woman. safety..
Sleepers from the damaged I'll wash it for you."
When they set off again, Prince bridge fell away, and dropped lazily into the swiftly flowing Kishan had his long deferred river far below: Now the train wish he was allowed to ride on was at the lowest part of the sag the footplate though not difvé and struggling to climb the rail t He watched closely while to the bridge proper.
Scott moved the different com=” trols. He pleaded to be allowed' to drive the train, And Scott away
Scott dare not give too much throttle for fear of making the
=
"Call him in.”
out
the GC
"No," said Lady Windham. *If you think
Peters,
you can get
with this...." began
Van Leyden tried to kick his hand away. But Scott hung.on. He reached the roof. The two were locked in another desm perate fight..
Wrench
"I can and I will. And.
Van Leyden tried to wrench there won't be'any witnesses." Scott's gun from faim. They
The threat was clear, Vari fell.
They nearly slid' off the
Leyden meant to`matsnere: them roof of the swaying coach. |ell;
Call the boy
again.
ordered
Now Van Leyden had the up- ner hand. He grabbed the revolver, He took aim. Geoft was on his back, winded by a
"No," said Catherine..
All right. Don't call him. He blow. won't stay out there for ever." Catherine spoke again. It was not so much a question as a' statement,
Strange
You were schtrom the beginning....to do this?"
"Yes. You" And that strange? Like you I believe in. my country
**"You £re Dutch.!
But Yan Leyden' never fred. A shotḥrang nut and he dropped off the roof to go burtling down into the valley, and his death.
And on the observation plat- form Catherine, who had fired the shot that killed him, stood trembling, even now unable to belleve that she had shot and killed a fellow creature.
He
Scott clamberat down. facell her in silence. She was alck and limp. He took her in
am. Indina. My mother his arms and comforted her. was Duter: Tmn just da of them..........I'm all "right now.
| Balf Breeds" you (Chaplle: 57. I....didn't think I could do that
much
...for...anyote.","sho
Catherine, poddenly recognised They turned to join the others' that this mans,: fanatic though he in the coach Ledy Windham was had hir weakness...
#And what?dded kalingus all prove that you are fick hatt
was fursing over Bridie, who'hed a slight wound? Bridie asked where Van Leyden wes! But a moment" he could not take in
Team Miough tó són: the trains. Then he under- olie die there faithi zidod,
1964 El be Mcalern
he remarked, trying to
strice a che
Old Victoria, out of steam struggled into Kalapur station at
a snail's pace.
She just about made it before she save “Up, tired, but triumphant,
A fairly large and important reception party was there to welcome the prince and to give Lady Windham the news that her husband was safe:
A delegation' of high-ranking Indian oficials started to whi away the little prince. But he turned to face Scott with. grave dignity:
Moved
"Thank you,
Captain Scott,
for saving my life,"
He was clearly moved. "You are my friend?" "Yes, of course" said Scott, puzzled,
"But you are British?”** "Yes."
"will. I have to fight you? "Good heavens, no? Why should you?"
"My father said that one day
I must fight the British to make them go away.”
The Uttle boy turned gravely away followed by his respect- ful retinue.
"And that" mid Catherine in Scott's ear, "is all the thanks your ret,
-THE END
MEET: MR. CLOGGHEAD*
*CLOG; ANYTHing that hinDERS MOTION
OR: RENDER'S DIFFICULT.
50 got to know the Highway Code.
DO help faster traffic to overtake by hoping to the cf};
except when about to turn right or when you your self are overtaking.
DO make special allowance for children, old peopic, the -
blurid and the fame: