MIMIC WARFARE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1033, 24 January 1911, Page 5

MIMIC WARFARE.

' BATTALION FIELD TACTICS. END OF THE CAMP. Gone are the bad old days of the sham fight, when ,tho attackers charged the defence with pomp and circumstance; when "the noise of the captains and the shouting," and the fusilade of blanks, wero the principal features of what was more or less a burlesque entertainment, highly, popular to the combatants", but of little educative value. A more.elegant phrase— "field tactics"—has disposed the old term "sham fight," and the change has brought with it new ideas in field trainng. Nowadays, all .field manoeuvres must have some rnison d'etre;. there must bo some suggestion upon which to frame a scheme or attack and defence. In other words, there must, in theory, Rj some warlike excuse of sending, say, a battalion of infantry swarming over the hillsides. That excuse is called a "general idea." Enter tho Foreign Fob. For tho rifle battalion field tactics at South Karori yesterday, this "general idea" presumed an invasion by the foreign foe. ■■ The invader ■ had landed at Oterangi Bay, and pushed an advance force as far as the Kornan Catholic Church at Slakara, as a preliminary to occupying the peaceful borough of Karori, this last with a view to menacing the capital. Having arranged the "general idea," tho battalion was divided for attack and .defence, the invaders' posi; tion being held by Major C. H. Turner, while the defensive position was entrusted to Major Mackinosh, who was very strongly posted near the crest of the Makara. Hill. Indeed, .so well posted was the ■ defence, • that the attacks never really solved tho: problem, of breaking'it down.. As the operations were confined to a specific area, and the defenders had the advantage of position, : with heavy reserves in support, tho invader certainly had a knotty problem. Distinguished Visitors. When the operations had been fairly well developed his Excellency the Governor (Lord Islington), Jlajor-General A. F. Godley, C.8., (Commandant of the Forces), and staff arrived on the scene, and inspected tho dispositions of the various units. Her' Excellency, lidy Islington, and Mrs., Godley. arrived Inter,, and Lady : Islington,.'who is Hon.'' Colonel of the. New' Zealand Army" Medical Corps, took a special interest in tho Wellington Field Ambulance Corps (Captains Harty and Elliott), and personally inspected the lines. The- operations ceased about half an hour before noon, in order to give the battalion a fair margin of time to get back over the rough country to camp, before striking tho tents,, cleaning up, and returning' to town.' Major-General Godley inspected the camp very closely before leaving for town. The men made short work of the striking of the camp, the baggage transport being made up with neatness and despatch. The march back to the city was the final episode of what has been a most successful encampment for all concerned. Field Gunners Return, D Battery returned to town per special i train from Featherston last evening, having completed their annual practice in shell fire at service targets.