535-03 Page 126'Invasion' Shatter
S Morning Quiet were camped in a Held halt mile south of the v
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By JOHN RATCLIFFE
Free Press Staff Reporter
MOUNT ELGIN—A thin haze of red and blue smoke fell
,over the deserted streets here early yesterday while In pastures
on either side of Highway 19 the sound of gunfire shattered
Vie peaceful morning quiet.
Civilians Watch
Sk:hool children and parer t One resident, Mrs. Fred Free.
stood In pyjamas on their door- man• was unperturbed. She
steps to watch their little town bundled up three of her chil-
being invaded by creeping me- dren, slipped into a coat, greb-
muders in the white battle garb bed a tiny camera and calmly
f the Royal Canr.dian Regi- snapped pictures while all
•nt. around her soldiers, guns blast-
ment. The army said the I
Ing continued action to take fending force and another 100 objective of the exercise
over a barn owned by Charles men from Bravo company, a Ingtogether to accustom the
as small
Smith. parachute company, were the known as tent -groups.
'Operation Slelghbell' invaders. While gunshots reverbe
The invasion of Mount Elgin The Bravo troops supposedly through the village, the at
at 8:13a.m. was part of "Oper- parachuted Into Tillaonbur 8 Ing forces really had little
ous opposition. While -1
ation Sleighbell," an exercise Airport, about three miles north company had the area wei
conducted by 2RCR leading up of here. Poor weather condi- fended, with platoons entr<
to the annual week-long winter tions made an actual jump im- ed in strategic positions
exercise "Operation Coldspear" possible, but the men camped around Mount Elgin, its
to be held at Petawawa later in the vicinity of theairportall in the exercise was as "a
this month. right and struck out for Mount trolled enemy." After se'
An estimated 100 men from Elgin about 6:30 a.m, minutes of gunfire they
Delta Company acted as the de- The Delta troops, meanwhile, "captured" by the Bravo tri