TANK BATTLE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 6 December 1924, Page 12

TANK BATTLE.

FIGHTING IN FUTURE WARS. ALDERSHOT DEMONSTRATION. An important demonstration of the tactical use of fast tanks was carried out at Aldershot recently. Three features of land warfare have .been developed beyond recognition since the “Old Contemptibles” were assembling in France, just It) years ago, before the historic retreat from Mons. The first of these, the co-operation of improved aircraft with armies, was much jn evidence when four air squadrons co-operated with the four regular divisions in the New Forest, in Dorsetshire and at Aldershot. The second feature is a great development in the speed and armaments of tanks. It is quite possible to learn useful tactical lessons from operations on a small scale conducted on suitable Government ground. In the opinion of many spectators the recent sham battle conducted on these lines marked the dawn of a new era in the chronicles of land warfare—if, as seems to be the case, the nations intend to turh a deaf ear to the advocates of avoiding war by the simple process of simultaneous disarmament in forces adapted to offensive use.

Westland is fighting Eastland. Let us call their armies Blue and Red for short. Now for the battle.

Punctually at 10.45 the Red infantry opened the attack in cloudy weather after heavy rainstorms in the night, the water still lying in pools on parts of the ground over which the tanks were expected to advance. Blue, holding the line Look-out HillHangman’s Hill, at once opened fire with his guns. The fire of two of his 18-pounders, placed under cover between Look-out Hill and Grown Prince Wood, was held in reserve to give the expected tanks a warm reception. By 11.15 the Devon men of the Red force, steady and well handled in their advance, had made good the lower slopes of Hangman’s and Scragley Hills, the Foresters doing equally well over the low ground of Longhill Bottom.

Further advance up the. slopes swept by the rifle and machine-gun fire from the Blue defensive position (Queen’s Royal Regiment) was out of the question, but the defenders’ position had by this time been discovered, and Lookout Hill was recognised as the key. For infantry to attempt its assault iii broad daylight, taken in flank from the Crown Prince Spur, which Blue still held, was not a practical proposition. Now came the opportunity for Red’s fast tanks to show their mettle. The Red commander was holding them in reserve near Henley Park Lalce/behind the woods. At 12.21 .they were visible to the spectators. (Here it is necessary to impose a note that smoke-screens which would: doubtless have been msed in real warfare, were barred for the sake of the lookers-on.) The new Vickers tank, four of which were visible coming at full speed through the gap between the woods, have discarded the batrachian appearance of the old (Mark V.’s, with which we are all familiar. They are smaller, a.nd they carry a small circular erection, a cross between a conning-tower and a turret on their “decks.” This contains a gun, apparently capable of sweeping the whole way round the horizon.

The speed along a road, is tremendous. Tbe speed across a difficult country _ with deep little trenches, covered with bracken, and here and there nasty boggy patches, may be judged from the fact that from their first appearance to the moment when they topped Lookout Hill, a distance of about 2000 yards, was timed by the spectators at about 10 minutes.

The demonstration was admirably run, and the arrangements for spectators were excellent. They were left with much food for thought about the future of land warfare.