DEFENSIVE WAR EXERCISE

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27709, 13 July 1955, Page 9

DEFENSIVE WAR EXERCISE

MANOEUVRES BY N.Z. DIVISION SPECIAL AIR SQUADRON TO PARTICIPATE (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON. July 12. The special air service squadron now training in Waiouru Camp for operations in Malaya will provide a token “enemy” force for the New Zealand Division’s annual exercise in October. Details of the exercise were given today by the Chief of the General Staff (Major-General W. G. Gentry).

The exercise will be held in an area between Dannevirke and Waipukurau. From October 14 to October 16, 1500 officers and men will take part, and 300 vehicles will be employed/ General Gentry said the exercise would carry a stage further the study of atomic weapons initiated last year, when the Army conducted “Exercise Fission" to study the effects of the atomic bomb used in a tactical role.

TXis year’s exercise will take the form of a defensive battle, and is designed to train higher headquarters in their normal command and administrative functions in the field.

The principal participants will be Divisional Headquarters, the headquarters of the three infantry brigades. and the headquarters of the divisional artillery, all of which will be at full strength. The exercise will be of particular importance to the divisional signals regiment and the divisional provost company, both of which will be deployed at full strength to carry out their normal service to the division.

Other formations and units deployed in support of or in co-operation with the New Zealand Division will not in fact be present on the ground, but their activities will be simulated by means of a control staff consisting of regular officers. Air Force Co-operation Co-operation with the Royal, New Zealand Air Force will be an important element of the exercise, and aircraft from Ohakea will fly ground attack, reconnaissance, and supply missions in support of the division.

"The exercise will be held at the end of the annual training period of the higher headquarters of the so they should have settled down well to their duties before the start of the exercise proper,” said General Gentry. “We have not previously conducted a divisional exercise against the background of the threatened use of atomic weapons, and I am sure that important lessons will be learned.

“The • exercise is to be directed by my successor as Chief of the General Staff, Brigadier C. E. Weir, who will be assisted by the Quartermaster-General-elect, Brigadier L. W. Thornton, and a control and signals organisation provided mainly by regular officers and non-commissioned officers.

"The squadron now under training at Waiouru for operations in Malaya will provide a skeleton ‘enemy.’ Its tasks will include guerrilla attacks to test the local defences of formation headquarters in the field. It will also provide a number of ‘escapers’ and ‘prisoners of war’ to test interrogation and intelligence procedures within the division.” General Gentry said that farmers in the area selected for the exercise had willingly agreed to the use of their land. He was most appreciative of their ready co-operation.