Evening star., 1943-03-25

ping IN on an airport, as parachut
troops, dropped from low altitude
preceded them in theoretical captur
of the field, and an artillery show
staged by an entire regiment o
paratroopers.
Eden Praises Troops.
Mr.. Eden made this statement:
Il regret very much that tim
has not allowed me to see and speal
to the officers, on-commissionet
officers and men who have takel
part in the most realistic and in
teresting exercise which We hay
witnessed this afternoons.
"I realize that such demonstra
tons can only be carried out by mel
who are not only thoroughly fit ant
we'll trained but are Of high courage
Field Marshal Dill and I havt
been greatly impressed and inspired
by all that we have seen, and we ar
deeply grateful to every one who hai
worked so hard and so intelligently
Our sincere good wishes go to al
ranks at Fort Bragg
The usual Army precision marked
the progress of the show. When the
Army says the gliders are due in a
so many minutes past the hour they
come in at that time. When the
dive bombers are due they appear
at the specified time So it hap
pened here, but the visitors got one
thrill when a dive bomber pulled out
of his dive with only few feet te
spare above the top OF a hanger
For sheer realism that stunt couldn't
be beaten.
Many Units Participate.
In addition to a parachute in
fantry outfit, which did the jumping
participating units included the
Troop Carrier Command under Brig
Gen. F. S. Borum, with headquarters
in Indiana. Air-borne infantry under
Mai. Gems, NJ. B -Ridgeway and Will
liam c. Lee Attending Air-borns
officers included Col. Edison Raft OF
North African Parachute Infantry
fame, Brig. Gen. D. F. Pratt, Gen
r. M. Webster and Col, H. L, CLARK
of Troop Carrier Command.
Observers included Maj. Gen. v. L
Peterson, Maj. Gen, William Dryden
commanding the 4th Service Com
mand; Mai. Gen. D. B. Cubbison
commanding the Field Artillery Re-
placement Training Center; Brig
Gen. P. E. Brown and Brig. Gen
J. T. Kennedy.
Roaring down from 10000 feet
two dive-bomber groups preceded
the parachute infantry. The dive
bombers swept over the visitors and
dropped simulated bombs on a field
behind the official stand as an officer
explained the procedure over the
public address system. Then the
parachute infantry came over il
waves, the silk hillowing out at a
few hundred feet in one of the most
impressive exhibitions of such battle
tactics ever seen in this country.
A few minutes later. as the party
motored to the nearby airfleld, II
came the gliders. flying low over
the hills and pines of this Caro-
lima country. Swiftly the troop.
carrying gliders were cut loose, anc
with absolute precision and ma
chine like regularity they dropped
down on the airfeld TO discharge
their loads of weapon carrying sol
diers. Meanwhile, few para
chute infsntrymen, dropped on tn
field from the first wave Of planes
scattered to the surrounding coun
try, keeping up q cracking fir
10 simulate attacks on defending
units.
Show on Artillery Range.
Then the party moved over T.
the artillery range, where the air
borne troops put on another i'm
pressive show. an attack by a larg
number Of men under simulated ga
and smoke, with heavy artiller
blasting the way for the para
troopers, Artillery was commando
by Brig. Gen L. Spalding
On their arrival at the sirfiel
and before they stepped aooar
the Washington bound plane, tn
visitors were greeted by two l9-gu
salutes Elaborate security meas
uTes were invoked by the Army t
protect the distinguished guest.
Civilians were barred from man
parts Of the area. and along muC
Cf the route travelled by the guest
the paratroopers stood few pace
apart their weapons at attention
Here a. Fort Bragg. an air con
sci0gs post headquarters for man
7lr-borne units, the show was a SUI
prise n men used To tactical ma
reuVcrs Of the air-bOrue command
The air borne units and the Troo
Carrier Command are known As III
Paul Revere team. The parachut
ana glider troops are the riders. c
trs Paul BeYercs. and the pilots an
crew members Of transport plane
and gIders the horses.
NOT often has this post seen sic
an impressive display Of alr-gr0un
strength. the same sort Of strenEt
which already has proven It's wort
on fighting fronts of the world i
many areas where American trooE
are In action
Also in the party from Washing
ton were 1t Col Frank McCartte
assistant secretary to the eener
staff Capt Reginald VIM. aide
Sir John Dill. and Ma +. NJ PasCo
aide 70 Gen Marshall