ATTACK PHASE OF WAR AS TERRITORIAL STUDY

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29265, 25 July 1960, Page 17

ATTACK PHASE OF WAR AS TERRITORIAL STUDY

The attack phase of warfare was studied by about 100 officers from South Island Territorial Army units in their annual exercise at Burnham Military Camp at the week-end.

The exercise, “Operation 5 Hot,” was based on the use of the new pentropic divisions. Methods of overcoming insurgency in underdeveloped countries along with conventional forms of attack were studied.

Instruction on the principles of attack was by simple but practical one-act plays—a method favoured by the army as being a better form of instruction than lectures. After each play the officers were shown a map of a specific area, given all relevant information on weather, topography, and strength of the available forces and told to formulate a detailed attack plan under the given conditions. Divided into groups of about 10 the officers were then given an hour or two to discuss and solve the problem. Each group was arranged to include where possible, an engineer, an infantryman, a gunner and a signaller. At the end of the prescribed time the officers reassempled to debate the rights and wrongs of each group’s particular solution. The instructing officers, directed by Brigadier T. B. Morten, then showed the territorials what was considered to be the solution to the problem. Problems studied on Saturday were a conventional attack on enemy forces which had occupied the mythical island of “Paradiso,” and the occupation of a tropical province which was under the control of insurgents. Topographical Maps

Topographical maps of the South Island region were used in the exercise against “Paradisian” forces, and in the insurgency exercise mafis of an undefined inland Asian province were used. Hie importance of gaining the trust and confidence of the civilian copulation was emphasised in the insurgency exercise. Officers were told that it was their duty to restore the province to its original

state and eradicate the infiltrating forces by the most peaceful means. Major-General Sar Stephen Weir, Chief of the General Staff, arrived at the camp on Saturday evening to pay a farewell visit to the South Island territorial officers. He spent Saturday evening at the camp and addressed the officers on Sunday morning. Representatives of the Returned Services’ Association, the Royal New Zealand Air Force, the Royal New Zealand Navy, the New Zealand Broadcasting Service and the Canterbury Territorial Association attended the exercise as guests.