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Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 56, 7 March 1942, Page 11

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THE necessity ror evacuating civi- . from the battle area was well illustrated during Home Guard night exercises in an Auckland suburb this week. One unit defending a certain area had taken up positions and disposed themselves behind the trees and hedges, which constituted the only effective cover available.

Unfortunately, the grounds were used as a short-cut by certain pedestrians, as one man was to learn to his humiliation before the "war" was over. Lying in the shadow of a young puriri tree, the scout kept f w^ a i cl lt ul eye in tne direction from wnicn the enemy was known to be . w Jl en he was considerably startled to hear two ladies comrJLi" 0 !? the L ear ._ of his Position. d °B? 0 ' n e hoped to escape 2, e a!S tl0 ?' But ! J» vain - for when within four or five paces one lady let out an unearthly scream and announced to the world (and the enemy): "There's a man under that tree! Look at him!" At this the J Jay'3y ' lo 9 K »ng much more grim and determined than any Japanese parachutist could ever be expected to took, advanced and demanded in a loud voice: "What the are you doing in there, you silly c °w? Come out at once!" Not wishing to alarm the ladies unduly the guardsman was about to offer explanations when one of them caught sight of his rifle, and, turning on her heel, said to her companion, in a relieved but somewhat s u ak & voice: " c °me on—it's only the Home Guard!"—l/5284.