VALUE OF TANKS

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 85, 7 October 1933, Page 9

VALUE OF TANKS

WORK [WITH INFANTRY

BRITISH DEMONSTRATION

A demonstration to show the organi-1 sation and capabilities of a tank battalion and to practise infantry ia cooperation with tanks occupied the Third Infantry Brigade—the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, Inniskillings, Devons, and Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Eegiments—and the 3rd Battalion of the Koyal Tank Corps for twenty-four hours, says the "Manchester Guardian." The working out of the scheme undoubtedly emphasised tho increasing demand for armour-protected vehicles in actual futuro warfare aud_ tho increased possibility of ■ success in an attack where tanks are utilised to crush a defensive organisation so as to allow tho! infantry to penetrate, tako over, and consolidate pending a further advanco. It was the second ptirt of the lesson—co-operation between the two branches—that was taught during the demonstration. The work of the tanks was accomplished most effectively. First cams the / midgets—quaint, turreted, swift-moving vehicles that made a thorough search of the ground'for concealed machine-gun .nests and artillery positions. Then the more un-wieldy-looking but powerful 12-tonners rolled into action, and dealt with the opposition so effectively that waves of infantry were able to sweep across and take. possession of tho "captured" land. There was not a great deal of firing, but the occasional staccato bark of machine-guns and the boom of artillery, added to the droning of aeroplanes, gave a realistic touch to the proceedings. PRAISE FOB INFANTRY. A' word of high praise was earned by the infantry. In spite of a long inarch followed by a night in the open, they were alert and businesslike and showed intelligence in tho task allotted to them. The Devons were particularly to bo co#ninended for tho celerity with which they followed up the tanks, their rate of progress being unusually fast in view of tho exhaustive task they had previously undergone. Ia tho scheme under review it was assumed that the Northland wcro actively engaged in erecting their main defensive position to tho north of the Biver "Wey. Southland's chance oi! success depended on their frustrating those efforts, which could only bo accomplished by a continued advance northwards. A battalion, of tanks was placed under tho command of tho Third Infantry Brigado for tho purposo of enabling a divisional advance leading to the smashing of the defences. The weather, as is almost invariably the case when manoeuvres are in progress, continued in fickle mood. During activities on the first day the heat became so oppressive that the soldiers were permitted to tako off their tunics and to "fight" in shirt-sleoves. During the night they were glad not only to wear full uniform but also to put on great-coats. Brilliant sunshine flooded tho Thursley Common area a few minutes before the tanks and infantry united in their joint action, but later tho sky clouded over and rain fell rather heavily. ATTACK CALLED OFF. A counter-attack was about to develop when tho directing staff gave the signal for the engagement to end. About tho samo time the First Guards' Brigade were bringing to an end a long-drawn-out struggle which had proved both exciting and exhausting. There had been attacks and counterattacks in which on tho one . side splendid work was performed by the Third Grenadier Guards and tho Second ■, Queen's Regiment, and on the other by tho Irish, Guards and tho "Green Howards." In the initial attack by Northland the previous day, considerable progress was made, but partly owing to the mist a gradually widening gap developed between the two Northland divisions engaged. The Grenadiers and the Queen's, aided by a light battery, were detailed to step into the breach, and this they managed to do. Heavy fighting took place ,and the action had been in progress nearly twenty-four hours when hostilities terminated. The military authorities are pleased with tho patriotic spirit shown by the farmers over whoso lands tho exercises aro taking place. A special order was circulated to tho troops urging them not to causo annoyance or to do unnecessary damage.