EASTER MANOEUVRES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 148, 17 March 1908, Page 9

EASTER MANOEUVRES.

THE DEFENCE OF -WELLINGTON.

. A RAIDING FORCE. ' Easter ! is.'; well .in' .'sight, ,arid it' is now ,' possible to'obtain', a. furly. comprehensive idoa of. the ; general: plan..of tho military manoeuvres i which '.will, take.; place-, during, thoap>/reaching holidays. I.ri ' tho Wellington" military: ''district "the general idea is basod on an attack, on Well- - ington;by. n>rniding,force. Tho. invaders aro . to; be .engaged, . driven ; back,-, and lgnomini-.-v ously.vrouted;.••■•For- tlio; purposes .of- tho'

: ; [: :'mtthffluyresj;'.thp'; troops 'in - tho 'district ' will •■1» divided into two. separate forces, bluo (in- ' lers) .and. red (dofendors). . ' . Similar , inanasuyros. will be carried "out .in ea throughout .the Dominion; the puieral idea for tlio wholo. being that* a raid- ■ lng/foroe..(blue), .oscortodi by cruisers, has '- evaded onr. naval squadrons/'and is: expectod to: arrive within striking, distanco-of any of •-' th ports in the countryabout 5. p.m. on • ' ■i i y>.. , -Apnl/:l7i :1903.;'-'Ac<SrdmG;ly,-'-mobi- ■; ~;.lisation,« .transport,' and ; skirmishing,; oporations ;Will ( take , place! throughout ■ Now Zea- ; -,f.v..'*•■"• '■'■■ -■''■■■ - .Sp: taj, m Wellington is -concerned tho vanof ;vulncrsbility 'will bo ■guarded. . y.Tne'.raiders'will-in all/probability:,endeavour, vt to effect a landing somewhero in, tho ncighpf; PaokaKliriki,"* from'-, whichpoirit' . an Wellington will -bo attem'Having 'attacking .force, ; ; - - the'bscprtirigjoruisers will Ithen: endeavour to' " on'' tho 1 hsrKour 1 itself,; past''the .forts at'.the .-y.;l or . tho purpose 'bf. repelling any- attacks ■ on the city > the,-Red force -will mobilise-onj ' Thursday. ;evenirigV;'Aisril-^6, :i Ca.nd ''transport; aid ibiyouac . operations will' take -place on that evening; and. the follow,ing morning, .the troops proccKlinrj to thfl b.tse r.t Johnsonvillc, ' , wbilo the forts,in the harbour will bo'man- . ... ncd,-i : a,nd ; .probably,, about ,sip:m.ji a. "sur' . pnsn ,, ; ,alarm,itill- ' a .preparatory v/ ; oiorcise/. ' ;. : As •; to ■' the special to bo .followed, that; of course;, will bo for tho . officers commanding : , their. ,respecti ve divi.si°nv'>'to| .elaborate'.;.;.' ' Only-'.the .'general idea - v .. is common>to -bdth-'sides. ; ■ GARRISON ARTILLERY: MANOEUVRES/. ■ Captain ! Richardson, Director of - Artillery,'. ..', I; ; vh4s '::;completed'ivhis]i arrangemerits;^V,forV-tlio manccuvres to'ibe carried; out'at- the fortified ports.:-' '.'. :'s ■ r V*"- : f..'-vi;. " M " Tn'''a' 'circular : 1 memorandum.- 'to ■ district-

ofßcera' ! cpminaridiiig,"'.''it: .is-,"-stated/;;:among ' other thirissj that - V-'-*' - " • / • l; 1 Tho -Garrison -Artillery.. -Division. (R.'N: 1 ; : V;' Z.A. and Volunteers) at each. defended port. : : will. be: mobilised as for: war, and all coast ■. ; ■ defences . will be % maintained; 'in «ja.-."state .of , roadmess .to ;re3ist L ,attack from' : Thuraday . evening l; :iintil , .tho . termination • ofthe . .y manteuvres.'f/ fArrangemeut'si arc ;tb; bo'; made, with ~ tho. looal . harbour authonties-'to". put into practico( tho '"Regulation .of . TraiEc in Time of War " , ; REGULATION , OF HARBOUR TRAFFIC. ■ .The / following. extract ' is - - from "N.Z. Kautical Al4ianao, 1008 "• — ;; V: ; . < which . it ■ might .be; neccs3arj;' on'account-, of [periodical : :exercises,';mancouvres, or.(otherwise, to forbid . . nil; entrance to the naval "ports .-at nights i This, give. .notice that on, approaching" i the shores of Great .Britain, or any British . Dependency, if searchlights are observed-to -vvr;;.;-^'iii.%]irtwt^oi^ti6bi; , the!Jninrti.jharb6afs! should bo. approached with great caution, ; * it. may,be.; approhended that, .obstructions mpy exist outside, the port, or that the entrance . may, bo, altogether ■ closed; ■ and the examination sorvice 1 may .be in force. /In .the,;event ",of the relations teepming strained : between this .conntry and any naval Power . an. examination. servieo will come into, force- , at all thp ports in the United Kingdom and /H:M., : 'pof|3eMi6n's j abroad/^mentionedat!'- thij.' i- !• ! }, > ; . dto " attisSripHfigffe;j fSny J2J6 f;'these ■ ; poHs.;'they ..must/: .in ' : their-".'; 7 6wn given .to! them. • by the vessels which will bo charged swith the , of«VQyaminingl.,ships _ desiring to enter; .tho^poKts,.and po3itiqns :in, il "n"lii,ch , the i ships...sjiall anchor.", - In', case of-• fqs. ■ they ( ,*•■ should on no account attem'pt.Jto entcrr before! ' receiving ■ .'permission « f rom..;.the V; examining officer.,, 'The. institution..of.- ai) .examination service,.at!: any;- port ! will,, never ;be' publicly! : : : .advertised;ibut, rela-. , tions, of,. Great (Britain with foreign' Powers' > arp. known to ,bo m a state of tension, special : sare . should; bo • taken in approaching tho . porta;/by ; day.,or~ by >nigl)t," to .keep a sharp. i look-out for-.the. oxamming steamer, and to ' bo ready to "bring.to" at once when liailed ; .by, her or. warned by lief-firing a gun. : If ~van'-"^entrance:'t'a a {port' is' closed, three' red' lights, balls by Will bo exhibited in somo eoiispicuous v ■ . position in or* near to its' approach;;and," as i far as possible,; notico of tills'fact will 'bo' . given by look-out .'.' vossels ;in the offing ,■ If the examination service'is. in foreo the > examining-, steamer.'.Tnll ba distinguished by . . night (a),.when a the.; port is closed, wby threo red lights, vertical. (M nhen tho port is

j open, by three whitor lights, vertical . :Tho ..:. pilots attached to tho iports :;.- willit ; ; bo': : ; ae-'- , : .-: qnaintcd with tho. regulations to bo followed.' ... •/ .- - ;. ; . ■- . • and localities referred-to in Now Zealand are •—. Auckland 36 50 S 174-45 E Otago ' 45-50 S 170-10 E. Poi t Lyttelton " 43-35 S 172-43 E . 7 Wellington , 41-15 S 174-45 E * : ' : ®>«- : scqret. instructionsdealing with this p;-: subject .aro to be read by Coast .Defence ' - Oommanders.- : ; ; DIARY OF CABRIBON ARTILLERY. - MANOEUVRES. N.B;—The .following diary will riot' rieces- ■'. sanly bo^adheted-to.: -THURSDAY; APRIL 16. ' 'VPr^autionary-Stago',' ..declared', owing, tci. v ,-■■'• possibilities.of attaek by a hostile • . •-. naval foroo.. . ■■.i * 7-p.m.pGarrisoa: troops.mobilised. •i'Gonerai" ■ ' V ./- and l '' Special Ideas " read-to men/ 3-p.m.—Forts manned. One electric -light : . • put in act-ion, remaining, lights' ready to switeh on at a.momont'K ■ notice. E.L. reliefs arranged. . D.li.Fi instruments • put. in posi- • ; - : :Y: .. Won- : Groups all prepared for.actual../hostilities;: ' ...• " depoU. arranged.. Expense stores filledl. Mobile , i armament-'' and Maxim guns placed in .'position, ; 9 'p.m.—Men' drilled ;'on 'guns .for. half hour, : ; \and- eTery , man. made acquainted :.; , ; . : : with.:-his position -arid duties on '; v "Alarm" . being '■ given.- . F.C. v -: 1 ;' ■.■•.V- .-tested.';.:.'. Signallers - posted; ; , Q.F. - - guns reloaded;'.-. Q.F.,; details ar- . . ranged to sleep close to their gunsT. .' . . '-Look-ouL-i post-ed/'and officers. de- , ■ tailed fpr : ' watch duty'-.and'..super-, : viso, thoVchanging of reliefs, etc; v ' :Alarm signal arranged.: Infantry :■> details'for patrolling duties posted;- . 'Examination: vessel put on duty. ' - O.B'J p.m.—Men .dismissed -(except-details on - .' . duty), after report :j lias been made ...... .• ;to, the. F.C.,'and-porriiission given ;.- v.;. ... to;.do; 'so. .Ofßcers, assemble, at . ..,- headquarters when O.C. Division, ...J '- by moans of, map and coloured ,4 a S 3 . indicates^position ' of; tho ~. ' so?my'. as far as is known, also ; position ot our oirn forces; Ex- : ; ; / . plains _ kis "'.Appreciation of ' the . 'Situatioa," ' and' - issues " Operation Orders..!' O.C. companies v.isauo. routine orders. i : . /.- 10.30-p.m.—Coait Defence Commander com- > : munioote«-:. vith ■ Fortress , Com- : mander command is ready -■.' r for action. V - ! FRIDAY, APRIL 17. '■ fi'.SO a.m.—"Surpriso'"alarm," tdi'test.ability, of defenders in rapidity of opening . firo—blank used. Noto. —Every : f,-. ..'inorning- bofore tho./. guns .'- . 'v-.i wor.e'nianned;by: one-relief;to avoid - .i ..surprise. : . . '■ . 9 practico (long, range bombard- •• • >- -'iiient). • . • . • ;'■■■■ ' 9 p.m.-rII.N.Z.A. clkss-finng-practico (Volunteer officers acting as recorders, range'bfßcers, : ind' assistant um- : • ■ "'pires)..-Q.F. guns fired and tested . ttrr error of day. ■ •

7 p.m.—"Alarm 1 ' 1 torpedo boat attack—blank to be used. , 8 p.m.—Ofhcers assemblo at Divisional Head- ; quarters ; t« '- hear ."appreciation of tho situation" by C.D.C., and discuss fthG''day's work, hand in ■ their _ reports, hear criticism of i shooting, etc. Officers play war • ■ game| based on • scheme', for. man- ■ vopuvres.' Narratiro of dajr's opera- < , j '•;>>. .tions typed and .copiesyissued to all concerned.,.' Men assemble for ~ a few minutes- and progress. of ' . ' ■ manoeuvres explained to them. 1 . SATURDAY, APRIL .18. ' 2 a.m.—"Alarm" attack - by" torpedo boats oei'vico," (battle) practieo ' from allQ.l'\ -guns." - ' 1 ■ 9 a.m.—Long - rango! bombardment; .' Battle practioo,; followed by. apK attempt to land. Conclusion of ikN.Z.A. ... class-firing. ~. Companies drilled from 11 to 12 a.m. at musketry, : 2 .p.m.—Field firing, at.'terget-j 'representing:. # kndinc'fcroa. Q.F. guna' and '•Maxim cum also employed to re- .. ; " sist the attack. ' 8, p.m.'-rOfficers assemble at headquarters., 10 i).m.rr"A'lai-m", night attack by torpedo-; jboats,..' .Battle practice', from Gin. : . B.L.\and .Q.F. guns. i SUNDAY APRIL 19. Armistice'till midnight. 'Officers not oniduty : ' ~ 1 : to- 'camp of "Red. Force"; in ! :.Xorder to'study the situation. , ■ ' MONDAY, APRIL 20 1 a.m:—Alarm. Q.F. practice. ; 6 a.m;-^Aiarm. : ,-Battle practico.:' '; V"' ; ' ' .10 :a!.m.-^-Field' firing'to. resist attack by landing foroe. '. \ 2 "p' t m.-—lnspection ;;bf . details. 1 Deinobilisa- . * tion. ' ,y--

: ,Th6;'following-vessels will: be used .by tho 'defence Janio Seddon,- oil- launch;'- and fivo. cutters. ■-