DESERT EXERCISES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 24 October 1941, Page 5

DESERT EXERCISES

N.Z.E.F. IN MOCK BATTLES d.\ki\(; and \<;<;im;ssivi TACTICS TIIOROI (ill TRAININ'!; S( 111 Ml (Official War Correspondent N.Z.E.F.* Western Desert, Oct. 22 During and aggressive tactics have been tried out in mock battles ( fought deep in the desert wilderness by Neu Zealand formations. The force has reached a high state of desert-worthiness by constant -> practice in long motorised ticks by j night and day and realistic tactical >' Though tlic nows of the major lj N Z.E.F. activities in the periods bo--I ol that phras'-, "tactical exercise.;. 1 their importance cannot, be over-rated. . B they are to win victories with nmi j* 1 ties, our fighting troops must learn to * j master the desert as an apprentice t j masters a trade. . I By repeated experience they must } | learn how to bridge its immense chs- , lances and how to meet the dangers Jo! its open spaces. By prolonged test | they must harden themselves to light I j such natural enemies as dust, thirst . ! and exposure to heat and cold. Their » i (.'Ulcers must be able to read its I j apathetic face like an open book. IM MY ACTIVITY , ; When all these safeguards and ’ j teachings approach the point of being , i second nature, the troops must eon- , j aider the extent to which the enemy , himself has mastered the desert. What man-made barriers has he raised to reinforce its own defences.' What faith has he pul in concrete, wire and stone? How strongly with guns, tanks i and planes does he dominate the apI proaches? How will be strike if he strikes first? The answers to such questions may j only be given in the linal test, but I constant practice and experiment may swing them in our favour. Training for desert warfare is like cooking camelmeat stew—it takes a lot of over-doing. Since it was brought up to strength live months ago, after the Balkans campaign, the New Zealand force has been cooking its stew with patience and determination to be ; thorough. Whenever 1 ask the com- ; ivanding officers how their new maj terial is shaping, I get the invariable | answer, “Splendidly.” Newcomers to the battalions and regiments are helpi eri by a wholesome ambition to be ! worthy of their unit's traditions. CONQUEST OF EAST AFRICA