Territorials on Wheels

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 108, 8 May 1941, Page 8

Territorials on Wheels

SUCCESSFUL TREK TO LINE OF ATTACK Some thousands of troops in the Central Military District went into action on Tuesday when the first phase of the field manoeuvres to give training in service to counter an invasion was 1 carried out most successfully. The majority of the troops moved up to war

stations on wheels, but one formation, the 2nd. Mounted Rifles Brigade, made their move on horseback. Infantry, artillery, engineers, signals and other

units travelled from Palmerston North to Wairarapa under the direct control of the field force commander, who is in command of the whole force, and con-

sequently in touch with the movements of the right wing in Manawatu, the 2nd. ! Mounted Rifles Brigade. Field force i headquarters moved by bounds as the trek was in progress and was able to keep contact with all units throughout the day.

! The* trek involved an enormous amount of organisation, in which every unit of the Territorial Army had to play

a part, but there was no hitch, and the forces moved into their overnight positions at Masterton on schedule. Although, many of the men had little to do except enjoy a pleasant ride through a green countryside, bright in warm sunshine, many others and all officers and N.C.O’s. had an ideal opportunity to gain first-hand knowledge of and ex-

cellent training in active service conditions. Every member of the force had tho advantage of the experience of how such a mass move would be conducted to counter an invasion and learned how the Provost Company can direct traffic en masse, how the Army Servico Corps can supply an army in tho field- —both men and machines —and how" their own unit organisations work while on the move. Lunch, on Roadside At lunch time there was quite a picnic atmosphere, and as the long columns of vehicles travelling over the two routes toward Masterton were spread for miles along the roads many of tho men were able to add to their rations by purchases made at the centres through which they were passing when the halt was made. Those halted in the country enjoyed themselves no less, however. ( As the afternoon approached the ; cooks and mess-houße fatigues made ready for the evening meal. Potatoes were peeled as the trucks rolled along, and field kitchens smoked and stcanipd Avhilo trailing through tho countryside, j Narrow bridges might have caused temporary delays to the iong column, but there wero clear runs between where they could * ‘take up the slack,” and tho busy Signals always kept field head- t quarters supplied with an accurate pic- ( Due of the position of tho various units. Intelligence was also busy along tho route and checked up on “war cor res-I pondents,” “war photographers” and other “suspicious” individuals who ( might have been active enemy agents or ‘ ‘ fifth columnists. ’ ’ One Route Unusable. The field force had originally intended to bring the forces passing through Wairarapa over three routes, but the third route was made impassable by the week-end storm. The plan of the trek was quickly altered, however, and the limit of two routes did not hamper the manoeuvre in any way. The third route would have called for the building of a

pontoon bridge by the Engineers, but the alteration did not rob them of this experience. Tho advance ngainst tho outposts of tho “enemy” called for a river crossing, and there was also watei* logged ground that had to be made ready for artillery and vehicles. | In spite of their trying experience under wretched weather conditions during their concentration at Palmerston North, the men were all in excellent spirits and showed great, keenness and interest. They all realised that they had reached au important phase of their 'training and obviously took a pride in showing their commanding officers that Ifhey could do the job they had been trained for. They showed the proper ‘soldier’s capacity for getting the most 'out of army life and carried out their duties in tho manner expected of them. Memories of the last war wore recalled by slogans chalked on trucks and by unusual souvenirs being mingled with the greenery used to camouflage the vehicles.