MIMIC BATTLE.

Franklin Times, Volume XIX, Issue 38, 3 April 1929, Page 3

MIMIC BATTLE.

ON MAIORO SAND HILLS. HOSTILITIES ON APRIL 16. On Tuesday, April 16, it is expected that a desperate battle will be fought on the sand hills at the back of Mr J. Muir’s propery, near Waiuku. By that date a state of war will exist between “North” and “South,” the Waikato River being the boundary between the two hostile States, The General in command of the Southern army hears that valuable military stores and supplies have been collected at Waiuku and sends a regiment of Mounted Rifles to work round the Northern Army’s right flank and destroy these stores. On the afternoon of April I*s, this foroe is supposed to hare crossed the Waikato River near the Heads and, , after marching along the beach, bivouacs near the Maioro Gap, meaning to surprise the troops guarding Waiuku in the morning. Unfortunately for this plan an aeroplane patrolling for the Northern army discovers this force and warns the troops defending Waiuku in time to allow them to take up a position on he high ground towards Maioro. What really happen* is that the Auckland Mounted Rifle Regiment, which represents the invading- force, leaves camp on the Monday afternoon and bivouacs for the night in the vicinity of the Maioro Gap (if the weather is unsuitable for sleeping out the Regiment will leave camp early on Tuesday morning). Out-' posts are placed in position just as would happen on active service. An aeroplane really does come over on. Tuesday morning and discovers, and possibly bombs, the Regiment and then ; drops a message over Waiuku. The. Waiuku defence-force which consists of one troop of mounted cadets, and infantry and cadets in motor lorries, are rushed out towards Maioro to prevent the enemy gaining the level country near Waiuku. The two forces meet on the sand hills with the result that peaceful Maioro is disturbed by bursts of machine gun and rifle fire.

It is only to be hoped that there will not be too many casualties, that both sides will not treat prisoners captured with undue severity and that, above all, nothing will go wrong with the commissariat arrangements. It is at any rate confidently expected that all ranks will enter fully into the spirit of this mimic battle and that, as a result, much valuable experience will be gained. . . :