From the S&S archives: SHAPE chief sees Pact forces in mock battle

BAD OEYNHAUSEN, British Zone, June 23 — Gen Matthew B. Ridgway, Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, watched the first maneuvers of his North Atlantic Treaty Organization troops today as British 6th Armd Div soldiers fought a mock battle for him.

With full realism for Ridgway's Korean-trained ears, 3,000 infantry, tank and artillery soldiers stepped off at the command "bash on."

Two squadrons of 20 Tactical Air Force jet Vampires disintegrated a designated target before Ridgway's eyes. British 20-pounders laid down a skillful creeping barrage as the soldiers advanced.

Ridgway arrived in a four-engined Constellation at Bueckeburg this morning and after a three-hour briefing at British Army of the Rhine Hq flew in a helicopter to the British maneuver area near Lueneburg.

With field glasses from a hilltop, Ridgway watched the skillfully coordinated live ammunition battle. Standing with the SHAPE chief were Gen Sir John Harding, BAOR commander; Air Marshal Sir Robert M. Foster, chief of the 2d Tactical Air Force and Maj Gen Victor Palmer, commander of the 6th Armd Div.

The 6th Armd is the latest British unit to arrive in Germany. Of the four British divisions here now, three are armored.

The field problem set up by the British for Ridgway was the elimination of a Rhine River bridgehead. Units of the 17th and 21st Lancers, the 3d Dragoon Guards and infantry of the Kings Own Royal Regt took part in the show.

At the conclusion of the one-hour show, Ridgway told the British commanders "well done."

Tonight Ridgway dined with Harding and stayed at his home at Costedt.

Tomorrow at 9 am the SHAPE commander will fly to the Lahr Airport near Baden-Baden for a 24-hour tour of the French Zone.

Wednesday he will visit troops in the U.S. Zone and Thursday fly back to his headquarters in Paris.

Earlier today Ridgway landed at the nearby Royal Air Force Bueckburg base to begin his three-day inspection tour of the troops under his Command in Germany.