1.
GV.COMMANDOS MARCHING
0.05

2.
SV.COMMANDOS COME TO HALT
0.07

3.
CV.PAN...SENIOR OFFICERS WATCHING
0.12

4.
SV.DRILL DISPLAY
0.17

5.
CV.SOLDIER OPERATES FOOT PUMP
0.21

6.
SV.MEN WITH INFLATABLE DINGHIES
0.26

7.
SV.MEN CARRY RAFT
0.33

8.
SV.CHILDREN APPLAUD
0.35

9.
SV.COMMANDOS CLIMB INTO DINGHIES AND DEMONSTRATE ROWING
0.42

10.
SV.COMMANDOS SET UP SMOKE SCREEN, PAN TO...MAN ON HIGH WIRE
0.47

11.
CV.SMOKE
0.49

12.
SV.COMMANDO CLIMBS DOWN ROPE DESCENT
0.56

13.
SV.COMMANDO SLIDES DOWN ROPE
1.01

14.
SV.COMMANDOS DEMONSTRATE ROPE DESCENT (2 SHOTS)
1.18

15.
SV.ARMY VEHICLE ONTO RAFT (2 SHOTS)
1.33

16.
SV.RAFT AND VEHICLE
1.38

17.
GV.CROWD APPLAUD
1.40

18.
SV.COMMANDOS VAULT OVER HORSE (2 SHOTS)
1.46



Initials RGH/VS/AS/JG



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: COMMANDOS WITH THE CONGOLESE NATIONAL ARMY WENT ON PARADE IN KINSHASA RECENTLY WITH A BIG DEMONSTRATION OF THEIR BATTLE TACTICS.

THE COMMANDOS, UNDER COLONEL BUMBA, WENT ON PARADE BEFORE GENERAL MASIALA, THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF DESIGNATE OF THE CONGOLESE NATIONAL ARMY.

FOR A FEW HOURS, ONE SQUARE OF CONGO-KINSHASA MIGHT WELL HAVE BEEN A BATTLEFIELD AS THE COMMANDOS DEMONSTRATED THEIR TECHNIQUES OF CROSSING RIVERS, OVERCAME VARIOUS OBSTACLES THAT MIGHT STAND IN A SOLDIER'S WAY AND GAVE A DISPLAY OF GYMNASTICS.

OF COURSE, MUCH OF THE BATTLE WAS SIMULATED -- ESPECIALLY THE RIVERS. FOR HIGH CLIFFS, THE COMMANDOS SUBSTITUTED A TALL BUILDING.

BUT IT WAS A DISPLAY OF TECHNIQUES THAT ARE USED BY ARMIES THE WORLD OVER.

SYNOPSIS: COMMANDOS MUST BE PREPARED TO GO ANYWHERE AND IN EQUATORIAL COUNTRY, RIVERS ARE INEVITABLE. INFLATABLE LIFE RAFTS ARE THE ANSWER, PARTICULARLY FOR A UNIT THAT MUST TRAVEL LIGHT.

THEN THE SIMULATED BATTLE REALLY TOOK SHAPE. IF THE RIVER'S TOO SWIFT FOR LIFE RAFTS, THIS IS HOW THESE COMMANDOS GET ACROSS.

DOWN A HIGH CLIFF REQUIRES A DIFFERENT TECHNIQUE. BUT, OF COURSE, THERE ARE NO HIGH CLIFFS IN KINSHASA SO THIS WAS A SUITABLE SUBSTITUTE.

EVEN JUNGLE-EQUIPPED COMMANDOS MUST HAVE LOGISTICS - SUPPLIES FOLLOWING UP BEHIND, SO VEHICLES ARE CALLED FOR. THEY, TOO, MUST CROSS RIVERS AND THIS IS HOW THE CONGOLESE NATIONAL ARMY DOES IT. OVERALL, IT WAS A DISPLAY OF TECHNIQUES THAT ARE USED BY ARMIES THE WORLD OVER.