Lesson 7 Military Actions

SECTION 1

ACTIVE VOCABULARY

air-base air-craft air-strike bomber air-defence fighter anti-aircraft anti-missile arsenal artillery assault, attack breakdown breakthrough build up to cease fire army corps remand deployment disengagement dominance combat guard patrol firearm formation headquarters (HQ) to halt to jeopardize land-mine munitions navy picket pre-emptive raid reconnaissance guerrillas rebels shell target troops reduction

авиабаза самолет авиаудар бомбардировщик противовоздушная оборона штурмовик противовоздушный противоракетный арсенал, боезапас артиллерия атака потеря, распад прорыв наращивание прекращать боевые действия армейский корпус потребность развертывание выход из боя превосходство бой, сражение караул, дозор патруль огнестрельное оружие соединение штаб прекратить ставить под угрозу противопехотная мина военное имущество военно-морской флот дозор превентивный налет разведка партизаны повстанцы, боевики снаряд мишень, цель сокращение численности войск

Ex. 1 Translate the following sentences:

1. Interior troops soldiers were firing at rebel fighters from a certain position in the city.

2. The troops raged by rising losses, battle their way towards the centre of the city.

3. Snipers were firing from high-rises west and south-west of the square, while federal tanks blasted rebel positions from the south-east.

4. The President approved plans on Thursday to sharply increase the purchase of new weapons and equipment to modernize the army.

5. “While nuclear deterrent forces remain a priority, the state defence order will be increasingly directed toward purchasing weapons for conventional forces,” the Defence Minister said.

6. General Headquarters announces that the first strike was made by the rebels.

7. About three bombers and five fighters took part in the air fight.

8. The troops are dying at a far faster raid than official figures suggest, two commercial news organizations said on Monday.

9. “These actions can jeopardize the talk process possibility”, - military sources said on Tuesday.

10. The troops are fighting the rebels in the mountainous regions where fighters can take shelter.

SECTION 2

Participle II

Если в предложении встречается третья форма глагола, то необходимо помнить, что она необязательно входит в состав сказуемого. Такая форма может быть Participle II и выполнять следующие функции в предложении:

1. Обстоятельство. В таком случае она переводится придаточным предложением:

When asked about the disarmament situation, the UN Secretary said: “I don’t think there has been any marked progress.”

Когда Секретарю ООН был задан вопрос о ситуации в области разоружения, он ответил: "Я не думаю, что здесь прослеживается какой-либо заметный прогресс."

2. Определение. В таком случае переводится страдательным причастием.

The Russian – Polish agreement signed in Moscow was widely discussed in Poland.

Договор между Россией и Польшей, подписанный в Москве получил широкое обсуждение в Польше.

Ex. 1 Translate the following sentences paying attention to Participles.

1. Questioned at a press conference about the new European currency, the US President said: “ I don’t think it is a threat to our economy.”

2. A Russian delegation invited to make a tour of Italy will arrive in Rome tomorrow.

3. When asked if he proposed to invite the British Prime Minister to pay a return visit to India, the Indian Prime Minister replied: “Most certainly.”

4. Germany’s potential naval strength, which appeared so modest to the British government, assumed a different aspect when viewed from the Continent.

5. Blinded by this victory the government forgot economic and political laws.

6. Guided by a desire to promote mutual understanding, the two sides resolved to set up “round table”.

7. The reception given in the Kremlin in honour of the visiting delegation proceeded in a cordial atmosphere.

8. The two countries are developing economic cooperation within the framework of the long-term programme adopted three years ago.

9. Talks aimed at ending violence will begin tomorrow.

10. Having refused to accept the proposal put forward by the President, the Prime Minister suggested his own plan.

SECTION 3

Translate the following articles:

KEY SQUARE CAPTURED

Military forces pushed into a strategically key square in the capital of rebel region on Monday after more than a week of intense battles with rebel snipers firing from high-rise buildings, Military officials said.

“After taking this square, I can say that we can totally control the city,” a commander said on the TV channel. The square is adjacent to several of main roads and could be a starting point or a drive into the centre.

The advance toward the square came under withering sniper fire from rebels in high-rise buildings along the approach streets, sometimes bringing the troops to a standstill. Rebels elsewhere of the city have put up fierce resistance and the rebel command shows no sign of backing down.

The spokesman for the Government said on Monday that about 140 guerrillas had surrendered in recent days, but the figure was questioned by many newspapers’ reporters.

TROOPS STRUGGLE TO REACH KEY CITIES

Rebel snipers in high-rise buildings and trenches held off the government troops trying to advance on the centre of the city on Thursday, while a rain of bombs and rockets blanketed the capital in thick smoke.

International pressure was building on the Government to end the war, with UN Secretary-General saying that he wants the conflict to end as soon as possible. The Council of Europe’s parliamentary assembly called for the country to open cease-fire talks and to hold attacks on civilians.

The Government officials vowed that neither the military’s aims nor its tactics would change.

“A concrete combat task has been set for the troops and they will fulfil it, regardless of how certain countries feel about it,” presidential aid told at a news conference.

The Defence Minister claimed that the operation “ is approaching a breakthrough”, the news agencies reported.

DISSIDENTS STORM THAI HOSPITAL

Thailand, - Heavily armed guerrillas from God’s Army, a rebel group opposed to military government stormed a Thai hospital on Monday and took hundreds of patients and staff hostage.

Sixteen fighters from the ethnic militia, aged between 14 and 30 swarmed into the hospital in the early morning from the hijacked bus.

By late Monday, the hostage takers had released 100 people but between 500 and 600 others were still inside, military sources told AP.

The gunmen demanded two helicopters to help them flee to the jungle hide out on the border and pledged to leave one of their number behind in return, the sources said.

SECTION 4

Give Russian equivalents for the following word combinations:

1. army arsenal

2. to build up military activity

3. a cease-fire order

4. duty- guard

5. to hold the attack

6. all kinds of weapons

7. land-based launcher

8. war machine

9. machine gun

10. massive strike

11. a defence line

12. prisoner of war (POW)

13. military preparedness

14. strategic potential

15. redeployment

16. region of combat operations

17. regrouping

18. relocation

19. hot point

20. hostages

21. fighter

22. strategic warning

23. war theatre

24. troop transport

25. commando