Michael Sheil

F Spencer Chapman's tale of survival has been a primer for students of jungle warfare since it was written. The title sums up the positive attitude embodied in the writing and the lessons which are drawn from its reading. "The jungle is neutral" is a must read for anyone wishing to understand the basis of success and failure in combating an enemy in this or any other terrain. With little alteration the book could just as easily be titled "The desert is neutral" or "the mountains are neutral" and draw on the lessons of soldiering in those regions. Brilliantly capturing the specific hardships of jungle warfare and survival in the face of an experienced, well led, well trained and determined enemy, this tale, amongst others, was the basis of successful British and Commonwealth operations in Malaya against communist insurgents, and in Viet Nam against local irregular and regular forces in the long struggles against communist aggression and invasion in the Republic of Viet Nam.