DESPITE THE ABSENCE OF MILITARY ACTIVITY IN THE MALAYSIAN THEATRE DURING THE PAST FEW DAYS, THE BUILD-UP OF BRITISH FORCES IN THE FEDERATION IS CONTINUING AT AN EVEN PACE. FOCUS OF ACTIVITY AT THE MOMENT IS ALONG THE 900 MILES BORDER BETWEEN SARAWAK AND INDONESIAN BORNEO, WHERE BRITISH TROOPS ARE SETTING UP DEFENSIVE POSITIONS.

REINFORCEMENTS SENT TO MALAYSIA DURING THE PAST FEW WEEKS HAVE BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO THE HUMID CONDITIONS OF THE JUNGLE AND HAVE TAKEN THEIR PLACES IN THE LINE. AMONG THE UNITS ON DUTY IS THE FIRST BATTALION, SCOTS GUARDS, WHICH HAS DUG INTO A 700 FOOT HIGH HILL LESS THAN A MILE FROM THE BORDER. FROM THE PEAK, OBSERVERS WATCH CLOSELY FOR MOVEMENTS OVER THE BORDER.

NEXT TO THE GUARDS, A FEW MILES AWAY, IS A BRITISH ARTILLERY UNIT. THE GUNNERS HAVE BEEN IN SARAWAK FOR TWO WEEKS, AND AS YET THEY HAVE NOT BEEN IN ACTION. NEVERTHELESS, THEY ARE KEEPING THEIR GUNS, INCLUDING HOWITZERS, AT THE READY -- SOMETHING WHICH DEMANDS CONSTANT CLEANING AND OILING IN THE JUNGLE'S CORROSIVE ATMOSPHERE.

THE MEN, TOO, ARE BEING KEPT FIT WITH MANUAL WORK. THEY SPEND PART OF THE DAY BUILDING SANDBAG EMPLACEMENTS FOR THEIR WEAPONS.

FOR THE BRITISH TROOPS IN MALAYSIA IT IS A TIME OF CONSTANT VIGIL AND PREPAREDNESS, AT LEAST FOR AS LONG AS THE DANGER OF CONFLICT BETWEEN MALAYSIA AND INDONESIA EXISTS.