1.
GV TANKS THROUGH WOODED COUNTRY.
0.09

2.
GV TANK THROUGH WOODS.
0.17

3.
MV SOLDIER TALKS ON WALKIE TALKIE.
0.20

4.
GV TANK.
0.25

5.
CV TANK CREW.
0.32

6.
GV TANK GUN FIRES.
0.44

7.
CV ONE OF TANK CREW.
0.42

8.
GV TANK FIRES AGAIN.
0.46

9.
GV BAZOOKA TEAM PREPARE FOR ACTION (2 SHOTS).
0.59

10.
GV U.S. AIRMAN TALKS ON MIKE.
1.07

11.
GV HELICOPTER FLIES OVER HEAD.
1.15



Initials JM/V/CR/LW


EDITORS PLEASE SEE PROD No. 8504/63 25TH OCT. '63 - "BIG LIFT TROOPS READY FOR ACTION".

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THE SECOND STAGE OF EXERCISE "BIG LIFT" - THE MASSIVE FIELD TRAINING EXERCISE IN WEST GERMANY, NORTH OF FRANKFURT, IS COMING TO AN END. FOR SEVEN DAYS, THE 15,000 MEN AND 6,500 VEHICLES OF THE U.S. ARMY'S "HELL ON WHEELS", 2ND. ARMOURED DIVISION, HAVE BEEN LOCKED IN MOCK BATTLE WITH THE "ENEMY" - THE RHINE BASED 3RD U.S. ARMOURED DIVISION.

TANKS MOVING INTO POSITION TO ATTACK THE ENEMY, IN HEAVILY WOODED COUNTRY NORTH OF FRANKFURT, ARE GUIDED FROM THE AIR BY RECONNAISSANCE HELICOPTERS. THIS CLOSE LIAISON BETWEEN AIR AND GROUND FORCES HAS BEEN A FEATURE OF THE EXERCISE.

THE COMPLETE "BIG LIFT" OPERATION - THE TRANS-ATLANTIC AIR LIFT OF 15,000 COMBAT READY TROOPS FROM TEXAS - AND THE SEVEN DAY EXERCISE WHICH FOLLOWED, HAS BEEN DESIGNED TO TEST THE ABILITY OF U.S. BASED STRATEGIC RESERVISTS TO SWING INTO ACTION IMMEDIATELY ON ARRIVING IN EUROPE.

(TONIGHT (MONDAY) ANOTHER FIELD TRAINING EXERCISE INVOLVING SEVERAL THOUSAND AMERICAN TROOPS, HAS BEEN POSTPONED FOR 24 HOURS, FOLLOWING TO-DAY'S SOVIET HOLD-UP OF A U.S. CONVOY ON THE AUTOBAHN TO BERLIN.)