UNITS AT WAIOURU

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23817, 19 November 1940, Page 8

UNITS AT WAIOURU

ARTILLERY TRAINING SCENE OF GREAT ACTIVITY LARGE SCALE MANOEUVRES [by TKLIEGRAPIf —SPK&AL IIKPpKTKIi] "WAIOUBU, Monday Tlie first units to enter the Waiouru military camp since the reconstruction and enlargement it has .-undergone in. recent months are now undergoing training there. They comprise chiefly territorial artillery units from various parts of the North Island which are completing their three months' intensive training with large scale manoeuvres and live shell practice in the tussock country between Waiouru and Mount Ruape.hu. In camp are the Ist Field Regiment and 7th Medium Battery, Now Zealand Artillery, from the northern military district, and tho 2nd Field Regiment and Bth Medium Battery, New Zealand Artillery, from the central military district, together with special artillery sections of the Ist and 2nd Signal Companies. Training will he on a very comprehensive scale, including co-opera-tion between artillery and aircraft. The Final Preparations Tho men now at,Waiouru have been training at Rotorua, Claudclands and Koxton, and since the week-end the camp has been a scene of great activity as the fully mechanised units with their guns moved in. Since then the guns have been receiving final attention in preparation for the shooting. Fire programmes have been worked out and reconnaissances undertaken. Ceremonial and usual parade ground work is Ijeing reduced to a minimum to permit the greatest opportunity being taken of the concentration of these units in tho area for advanced training. Among the troops there is evident an air of expectancy as they are looking forward to the most interesting phase of their training. Construction Still Proceeding Although the. camp is far from finished the situation offers great strategic possibilities and manoeuvre areas. Construction is still proceeding on a large scale. Completion of the administrative block is expected within a few days. Dozens of buildings are still being built, while mechanical shovels, bulldozers and other machinery are engaged in every direction preparing new parade grounds, vehicle parks and the like. The work causes clouds of dust, which is very trying to tho eyes in fine weather, but tar-sealing of parade grounds and roads is proceeding as rapidly as possible, and when it is completed the trouble will be much abated. The artillery units now in camp are envious of those who are to come after in view of the many up-to-date recreation huts and other facilities still being constructed. For the most part these are incomplete and makeshift arrangements are operating. The first ceremonial guard at the new camp was mounted this evening. It was provided by the Ist Field Regiment and was played on to the headquarters parade ground by the trumpet band of the 2nd Field Regiment. MOVE POSTPONED NORTHERN TERRITORIALS THE REGIMENT'S TRAINING [by telegraph—own correspondent] WHANGAREI, Monday The departure of the North Auckland Territorial Regiment from its camp at Whangarei has been postponed. The regiment was to have marched out of the Whangarei camp for Ngaruawahia on Wednesday, but these arrangements have now been cancelled and it is not known when the regiment will leave Whangarei. The regiment was to have carried out two months' training at Whangarei and then to have moved out for one month's brigade training at Waiouru. This order was cancelled a week ago and new arrangements made for the regiment to go to Ngaruawahia. On account of the camp being established on the Kensington Park racecourse at Whangarei the Whangarei Racing Club secured an alteration of tlie dates for its spring meeting from tlie first week in November to the first week in December. This was on the assurance of the Minister of Defence that the course would be clear by the end of November. The club has not been informed of any change and is proceeding with arrangements for tho meeting on December 6 and 7 at Kensington Park. It is believed that the outbreak of measles among the men in camp is responsible for the change of plans and that the regiment will be clear of the camp before the race days.