WATCHERS IN THE DAWN

Auckland Star, Issue 38, 14 February 1929, Page 11

WATCHERS IN THE DAWN

SILENT NAVY AT WORK.

LANDING UNDER HEAVY FIRE

ARTILLERY ON THE HILLS

RECONNAISSANCE WORK BY

AEROPLANE

Coining events cast their shadows afar. All day yesterday there was a certain

liveliness evident in the vicinity of Orewa Beach and Red Beach, the latter a delightful stretch of smooth sand nestling 011 the seaward side of the Whangaparoa Peninsula. The Blue army, on whom the defence of Auckland liearths and homes had to depend, was weak numerically, but valiant at heart. Yet, theoretically, it was a large and determined force, and, with somewhat elastic rules for the occasion, one of Auckland's gallant Territorials might easily claim that he had greatness thrust upon him and that for the purpose of mimic warfare he represented at least a platoon. As it was, the Blue force consisted of two sections of artillery equipped with two 3.7 puns and other helpful details. The Red force comprised some five hundred men of the Ist Auckland Battalion. backed by the full might of the British naval forces in New Zealand waters. Of course, such a contest might to the uninitiated appear somewhat; unequal. Theoretically they were two wellniatched sides, and, under the "rules of the game" laid down for the particular occasion, it meant pretty even going. It is only stating an apparent truth to say that news travels quickly and afar. The fact that the Red force had sailed from Auckland 011 the cruisers on the previous evening, even the fact that many young Aucklanders used to feather beds and tea and toast before rising were spending a night with a blanket apiece 011 the hard deck of a warship, had been wafted even afar as Orewa. It is just as likely that the Red force had learned that the other colour scheme, the Blues, were making a vast amount of preparations. and. to pive them due credit, they did the job thoroughly. A comprehensive wireless plant had been erected, field telephones were strewn over a wide landscape, keen-eyed sentries kept a night vigil from posts of vantage, theoretically, and to some extent realistically, one of the most beautiful of the gulf beaches had been mined, and everything was ready to receive the Blues' early morning callers. It was a Wonderful setting for the Battle of Woofit, the most elabor-ately-philined nianouevres yet held in the Dominion. At this point it might be explained what "Woofit" means. Obviously it is a coigned word. Spelled out in its entirety, it will read, appropriately enough: "Wilford's Operation Orders for Intensive Training." Warships on the Move. In the hours of darkness the cruisers with the Reds on board made their way down the gulf with the sloops Laburnum and \ eronica in attendance. New Zealand's own, H.M.s. Wakakura, made tile trip in daylight in order to tow barges, and for the night lay off WaiWera.

All through the night the Blue army was on the qui vive, while lights were Hashing on the winding roads about Silveniale and Red vale —an unending procession of cars making for vantage points on the high land in the vicinity of the place where it was known the battle" would be staged. It was still dark when four lights climbed into the sky at the end of the Whangaparaoa Peninsula. Even in the hours of darkness keen eyes had sighted the long, lean cruisers in the offing, and by a quartet of flares the information was conveyed to the "Woofit" area to be ready and even more watchful.

tor battle practice —or even a night in the open—the conditions were ideal. It was clear starlight overhead, although dark shadows lay on the surface of the sea, and nothing was seen from the shore as the warships swept wide with all lights out to take up an anchorage off the battle-beach.

The zero hour was 4.30 a.m. At this time the ridge behind Red Bay was a continuous line of flashing light from motors, while off the bay the night lights °f a number of pleasure-craft twinkled. Yet of the attacking force there was "ever a sign, and not once did the naval forces betray their position. Through the darkness hundreds of keen eyes peered fro mthe shore, and as dawn began to grey the vigilance was redoubled. ■And then the enemy came, grey smudges on a greyer horizon, grey shapes which gradually took shape and' revealed themselves as warshijw' boats in tow of a fussy launch. With the best of intentions a band of defenders let off fireworks to imitate shell-fire, and bursting rockets lit up large sections of the sea. Maybe the attackers thought it was a and it was seen that several boats

wore going too far to leeward. One oflicer in hi-h suit amity -aid something a.bout his 'peri-aing aunt," and armed with a megaphone. rushed off to guide the wanderers. Simultaneously another landing party had pot a shade too far to windward. Several motor cars iu the military zone gave rather much away with their headlights at this stape, and the drivers were cliided in sultrv military language. "Put that light out!" \\as an incessant demand. One waving light in the background was singled out after brief search, and it was found that it was a farmer, carrying a lantern, i'ii search of his cows. " Ow can 1 find them without me light," lie demanded plaintively. But he° put tiie light nut and no doubt the success which should reward any early riser met him at sun-up. True to Tradition. The "battle" soon spread over a. wide area. Ships' boats grated 011 the sand. Territorials and naval ynits leaped over the sides and carried 011. The Red army had a definite object in the heights at the back of the bay, while the Navy— true to tradition, and with the total absence of fuss which characterises all their work—began to carry out a thousand and one odd and helpful jobs 011 the beach.

When full dayligjit came it was a very colourful" picture. Working parties had charge of the beach, while the Red army tramped through waving hillsides of danthonia and tea-tree clad spurs and valleys for the goal that lay beyond. Over a summer sea tow-boats and whalers flitted to and fro on multitudinous duties with a background of lean, sinister cruisers and sloops, all with steam up and light tendrils of smoke drifting from the funnels. The bold headline of Waiwera coast was cameo cut, but the outer gulf was veiled with haze, and even the familiar outline of Kuwait, comparatively close at hand, could not be discerned.

.lust before the dawn an aeroplane— a Bristol lighter—droneel an aerial way up from tlie south, and for several hours later kept a patrol over the Whangaparaoa Peninsula, occasionally

swooping with sun glinting 011 the wings over the military command headquarters to drop a weighted message with streamers attached.

Many valorous teats were performed during the battle. Territorials gamely discarded more garments than consistent with the canons of mixed bathing, and waded to their armpits to assist the multitude of landing operations. They collectively arrived at the opinion that the gulf waters were mightily refreshing at an early hour, but a shade cold for bathing.

Keally the most spectacular thing was a smoke cloud put lip by the warships. A number of smoke lloats were dropped in quick succession, a beautiful cumulus cloud spread swiftly 011 the sea surface and then spiralled into the sky. The Xav v had effaced itself in the course of a few moments. Tactically it meant that a smoke screen had been thrown up to screen the warships from artillery fire ashore. Just as all good things come to an end, so do wars. Somewhere in the vicinity of nine o'clock peace was proclaimed, naval and military officers fraternised ashore at breakfast, and although the menu was simple and confined to bread and butter and curried sausages with sausages uneurried as a return, they collectively sat back 011 their laurels and discussed the homeric strife which had raged. Praise for Territorials. Commodore Swabey lived up to Naval traditions by smiling sweetly and declining to offer any opinion on tile strategy of the conflict, but Major-Gen-eral R. Young, the Commandant of the New Zealand Forces, while declining to offer a considered opinion just then on the operations, said that it was only fair to state that the young soldiers had conducted themselves in a most praiseworthy way, and were deserving of the highest commendation for the way they had carried out their tfyork both afloat and ashore. In a spirilSof perfectly fair criticism he mentioned that there had been some minor delays after the landing force got ashore, but on the other hand he was enthusiastic at the results achieved. He singled out C Company, led by Lieut. Sidford, of Takapuna, who early in the fight rushed a machine gun position. Direction of Forces. The "battle" was attended by MajorGeneral R. Young, Commandant of the New Zealand military forces; BrigadierGeneral W. L. H. Sinclair-Burgess, chief of general staff; Colonel H. P. Potter, o . C rNorthern Command, with Col. J. E. Duigan, assistant director for the coverin" "force. The Navy was represented on sliore by Commodore Swabey, of H.MsDunedin. and-Commandant Morgan.

Far into the fastnesses of Red vale went the gallant Reds in pursuit of the enemv. With heads held high and shinin"- faces the battalion marched back beach. They were dusty and tired, but filled with intense satisfaction that

they had sought and achieved much. With swinging step they marched to the chorus of "Abe, Abe, Abe My Boy, What Arc You Waiting For Xow."

It was an appropriate Break fast awaited them near the beach.

Thus the lir-t, although perhaps not the la>t "Battle of Woofit" will pass il'iwn the corridors nf time. It was replete with incident, instructive, impressive, with nivHaionally a-leaven of humour to brighten things. One could cum.miserate with a Territorial who found that a barbed wire fence held toll while his comrades passed on, just as one could sympathise with a seagull which tolerated a battle on his pet beach until he winged his way to look for a better beach elsewhere. To the "war correspondents" who attended, the oflicer< of the respective forces were both kindly and helpful. Tt was a very highly placi-d military olticer who brewed a can of billy tea soon after the witching hour of midnight for their particular benefit, while another kindly service lie reliilered was to stir them out of bed bright and early in order that they might not miss anything.