BIG CONCENTRATION

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 128, 1 May 1941, Page 6

BIG CONCENTRATION

TERRITORIAL FORCE. LONG TEANSFOIIT COLUMN Thousands ol Territorials arrived at the various camps in and around PalmI erston North to-day with the concentration of the force which is to carry out manoeuvres lrom Monday next until May ]2 on both sides of the ranges and ending in the area about Paekakariki and Titahi Bay. The exercises will he the biggest carried out in the Central Military District since the Great AVar. Hundreds of motor-lorries of various types and other vehicles have conic by the train-load to Palmerston North in the last few days, and this number was augmented this afternoon by a a transport column lo miles Jong from AVellington and another, about six miles long, from Dannevirkc. Ihe vehicles arriving by train, drawn in the main from the lower half oi the North Island, are handled by the Army’s transport section and. alter being examined and overhauled by light aid detachments, are allocated to the various units for the transport of personnel and equipment, according to their needs. Kor tlio last fortnight the transport vehicles have been steadily assembled and taken to the camps at the Showgrounds, the Awapuni racecourse. the Ashhurst racecourse, and the Hokowhitu rifle range. ( For the two transport columns from AA’ellington and from Dannevirke the Army operates its own traffic control, and sufficient space is left between the vehicles so that, in the event oi passage over a one-way bridge, civilian vehicles may cross between those of 'the-Army. Intersections of importance arc manned, and from the approaches to the city to the destinations a complete system of guidance, through the traffic control system, is designed to operate. Tt is expected that little interference will l>e caused with civilian traffic through the Manawatu Gorge and that, over all, (here will be a minimum of delay. A r erv considerable supplies of meat and bread have been arranged for locally for the feeding of the troops. Fresh milk is not used, as service conditions apply, tinned milk being issued. Other items in the rations, such as sugar, flour, biscuits and other such supplies, are drawn through the Army supply system. Bases are established at various points for the supply of perishable foods, and requirements of these can be forecast two days ahead, so that these bases are drawn on for supplies as the occasion demands. Several trains bearing Territorial troops arrived in the city early this afternoon. On Monday the force will move from Palmerston North and Foxton (where the 2nd Mounted Rifles Brigade is encamped) to the Mastcrton and Levin areas respectively.