1.
GV PAN TROOPS DRAWN UP AT AIR FORCE BASE
0.04

2.
LV PAN HELICOPTER PAN TO TROOPS ON PARADE
0.08

3.
SV PAN SIR ROY WELENSKY ARRIVES
0.12

4.
SV SIR ROY WELENSKY LEAVES CAR GREETED
0.16

5.
LV SIR ROY WELENSKY INSPECTS TROOPS
0.19

6.
SV PAN DITTO
0.24

7.
GROUND TO AIR DAKOTAS FLY OVER SALUTING BASE
0.30

8.
LV SIR ROY PRESENTS WINGS TO TRAINEES
0.35

9.
SCU DITTO
0.40

10.
SV PAN TROOPS MARCH PAST
0.45

11.
LV DITTO, SIR ROY ON DAIS
0.49

12.
LV TROOPS MARCH PAST
0.52

13.
SV DITTO
0.55

14.
LV MEMBERS OF PUBLIC SEATED
0.58

15.
LV TROOPS MARCH PAST
1.05



Initials KJ/S/WS/FW



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: SIR ROY WELENSKY, PRIME MINISTER OF THE RHODESIA FEDERATION, FLEW IN ONE OF THE NEW RHODESIAN AIR FORCE HELICOPTERS FROM SALISBURY TO NEARBY NEW SARUM, MAY 2, TO REVIEW THE FINAL PASSING-OUT PARADE OF THE SPECIAL AIR SERVICE ??? AT THE ROYAL RHODESIAN AIR FORCE PARACHUTE TRAINING SCHOOL.

AFTER A FLY-PAST OF DAKOTAS, SIR ROY PRESENTED THE MEN ??? THEIR "WINGS" - THE INSIGNIA PARATROOPERS RECEIVE UPON COMPLETION OF THEIR BASIC TRAINING - AND TOOK THE SALUTE AT A MARCH PAST.

THE MEN WILL STILL HAVE TO LEARN THE TECHNIQUES OF LONG-RANGE PATROLLING, WHICH EMPHASIZES THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE SPECIAL AIR SERVICE AND CONVENTIONAL AIRBORNE TROOPS. THEY MUST BE OPERATIONAL IN THE DESERT, MOUNTAINS AND LANE COUNTRY, FAMILIAR WITH SPECIALISED VEHICLES AND WELL VERSED IN INTELLIGENCE WORK.

ADDRESSING THE PASSING-OUT PARADE, SIR ROY ANNOUNCED THAT THE NEXT DEFENCE BUDGET WOULD BE ABOUT 68 MILLION - GBP800,000 MORE THAN THE PRESENT ONE, DEFENCE WOULD BE A CONSIDERABLE BURDEN ON TAXPAYERS, BUT IT WOULD BE FOOLISH TO BE UNEQUIPPED IN THE FACE OF THE THREATS THAT HAD DEVELOPED IN RECENT YEARS.

AN IMPORTANT LESSON HAD TO BE LEARNT, ESPECIALLY FROM KENYA AND ANGOLA: THAT SMALL, WELL-TRAINED AND SELF-SUFFICIENT UNITS WITH CONSIDERABLE STRIKING FORCE HAD A MAJOR ROLE TO PLAY IN AFRICA.