AUCKLAND ATTACKED

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 23, 28 January 1928, Page 11

AUCKLAND ATTACKED

NAVAL MANOEUVRES DEFENDERS SURRENDER (By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post") ' AUCKLAND, This Day. The New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy continued its manoeuvres in the Hauraki Gulf on Wednesday night and Thursday, when an attack was launched by the whole division against a party of marines defending Waiwera and its communications. The special idea of operation was that a red force-desired to capture Auckland, a blue base known to be strongly defended against attack from the sea. The red commander-in-chief decided to seize Waiwera, where blue infantry and mounteds were concentrated, and use it as a base for advance on Auckland. The capture of Waiwera was purely a naval operation carried out with the resources of the division. "Zero hour" was 3.45 yesterday morning. Punctually at that time the Wakakura steamed from the anchorage at Horahora Island to a point three miles south of Waiwera, known as "X" beach. Here a force of machine-gun sections and demolition parties landed in whaleboats and cutters. The Diomede landed another red force at the Puhoi Biver. The force split into two sections, one scaling the Waiwera bluff, while the other worked eastward, severing the blue communications between Warkworth and Waiwera. The section on the bluff erected a portable field wireless outfit, and within a quarter of an hour established communications with the division. Meanwhile the red force advanced from "X" beach, south of Waiwera, and Eng, westward to proceed along the Helensville road into Waiwera. A demolition party also advanced along the cliffs from "X" beach into Waiwera. The whole of the red land forces were supported by gunfire from the division anchored off Waiwera bridges. Roads and other essential communications iv the blue defence were subjected to constant barrages. The „two red sections, equipped with rifles and Lewis guns, advancing along the Warkworth and Helensville roads, concentrated on a strong blue defence at the bridge over the Puhoi Biver, about one mile from Waiwera. After a sharp engagement the blue forces, completely outnumbered, were overcome and compelled to surrender. At 8 o'clock, one hour ahead of the operations schedule, the red land forces advanced into and occupied Waiwera. The division then landed more forces, ammunition, and stores on Waiwera beach. From the moment the division moved off at zero hour the manoeuvres proceeded in silence and with impressive clock-like .precision. The bombardment of Waiwera disturbed the whole village, and tourists and residents were showu realistically how the Navy works. The concussion of the guns during the bombardment caused windows and doors and crockery in houses to rattle.