WAR MANOEUVRES

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 190, 9 May 1941, Page 8

WAR MANOEUVRES

“Enemy” Forces Pushed

Back Into Sea

MEN TRAIN ON OWN BATTLEGROUND (From The Dominion Cokhespondext with Central Field Force.) May 8. With an infantry brigade, artillery, engineers and supporting unitmoving down from the Wairarapa and a mounted rifles brigade pressing down the west coast from Otaki, the Central Field Force manoeuvres came to.a temporary halt tonight with the successful conclusion of this phase of the week’s activities, culminating with the driving of enemy forces into the sea at their presumed landing spots on the west coast beaches. This is the biggest manoeuvre yet carried out in New Zealand so far. A big feature was a mechanized transport move over the Riinutakas today, which was also the largest yet undertaken in this country.

The country in which these men are engaged is that in which they will be required to'do actual fighting should the need arise. This makes the exercises of absolute practical importance and necessity. Though this is only an exercise it is impossible for all ranks not to get swept away by tiie realism of 'he moves in which they are involved. For instance platoons of infantry went through swamp land up to the waist today iu their keenness to press onward and make contact with the enemy.

Among those who witnessed the manoeuvres today were the Minister of Defence, Mr. Jones, and Mr. Coates, M.P.. and Mr. Hamilton. M.P. of tiie War Cabinet.

FAST MOVEMENT

Troops Over Rimutakas

SUCCESSFUL ATTACK

(From The'Dominion Correspondent with Central Field Force.) May 8. The outstanding feature of the Central Field Force manoeuvres today was 1 the mechanized movement of thousands of troops over the Rimutaka Range. It was on a scale not hitherto attempted in New Zealand. From the time the order was given to move from the Carterton area till the last vehicle was in its place in the upper and lower Hutt Valley, only 10 hours had elapsed. Army vehicles do not move at miles per hour but at miles in an hour, m.i.h. The Riinutakas may not present much difficulty to the civilian motorist pursuing his single way, but the position with a tremendous convoy of army vehicles is another matter. Safety is a primary consideration. On this trek, all types of vehicles are engaged, all set to move at a given distance an hour, passing the cheek points at allotted times. The varying grades of, the Rimutaka highway provided a severe test for the drivers in keeping to the schedule laid down; special skill was called for with the vehicles having in tow gun trailers and mounted field pieces. An average speed for -the trip would have been 15 miles an hour. The army sent its own provost corps ahead to act its traffic officers at difficult points, while at Featherston, the Summit and the Brown Owl, Upper Hutt, there were Field Ambulance units to deal with any road or other casualties. * The big transport move went off well. The arrival of the troops in the Hutt Valley tonight was the result of the skilful deployment of the forces engaged against the enemy forces, who were driven back earlier than was anticipated in the programme of the exercises. Every branch of the field force got a real chance to show its worth under active service conditions. The engineers did a splendid job in building pontoon bridges over the Waingawa River at Masterton, a course made necessary by the presumed destruction of the main bridge over this river by enemy forces. An outstanding impression was the speed in which large bodies of troops can now be moved by means of mechanical transport. Not only can thev be moved rapidly but when they are at rest Mie presence of the vehicles can be well hidden by the use of natural cover and camouflage such as the placing of branches of foliage over the tops and round the side of trucks. The enemy in this phase of the manoeuvres was provided by a mechanized territorial regiment. Tonight the men' are well settled down in various bivouac areas iu Upper Hutt, Trenlham racecourse and Hutt Park.

COMPLAINT DENIED Question Of Hot Meals

A statement by Mr. W. M. Sexton at a meeting of tin- Palmerston North Chamber of Commerce that lie believed that Danncvirke troops on arrival at. Palmerston North had no hot meal waiting for them and had to obtain lea ami refreshments at the Y.M.C.A. was investigated yesterday. Inquiries from those responsible for tiiis side of Ihe army arratigemetils on the present manoeuvres brought a denial of Mr. Sexton's allegations and independent inquiries continued litis. Throughout tlie manoeuvres the men engaged have been given a hot morning and evening meal with tea with their midday meal in tlie field wherever it was at all possible to arrange this. The men themselves confirm that, the meal arrangements have been good, particularly so having in mind that the. manoeuvres are being carried out under active service conditions. As far as men going to the Y.M.C.A. for meals is concerned, it was staled that they could not be prevented from doing this. If some did go. it did not mean that, there wore not. good meals available for them at their own bivouac grounds. There was ,-r hot meal for everyone on tlm night referred to by Mr. Saxion. and on every other night.