MOCK INVASION

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24540, 24 March 1943, Page 4

MOCK INVASION

* EXERCISE IN BRITAIN PLANES AND TROOPS VALUABLE LESSONS CO-OPERATION OF ARMS By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Special Correspondent) LONDON, March 22 One-third of England has recently been the battleground for British troops in the biggest exercise ever held in this country. The purpose of the exercise was to see whether a force invading the south coast could reach an objective in Huntingdonshire. After a battle lasting nearly a fortnight, it is stated, the exercise was entirely successful. Although the winners did not enter their objective—a town —they cleared the way for doing so by the time the "war" was declared ended. There were many interesting facets of this mock battle, which was carried out realistically. One was that lessons learned in Libya and the experience gained by General Montgomery and Air-Marshal Coningham were put into practice. Air Composite Group The most important of these was the formation of the air composite group. This group was composed of fighters, bombers and reconnnaissanco planes, which worked in the closest possible touch with the Army. Army and Air Force personnel lived and worked side by side and it was the R.A.F.'s aim to supply everything asked from them by the Army. The group had two headquarters, advanced headquarters, with a minimum administrative staff, and rear headquarters. Advanced headquarters was mobile and it moved up as the troops advanced, laying down new aerodromes in a matter of a few hours, and it controlled operations. Rear headquarters was immobile and responsible for administration. There were mixed forces of bombers and fighters under one air officer commanding. They were able to take off immediately for the target, thus cutting out liaison between bomber and fighter forces. New Zealanders Take Part The composite group was for purposes of exercise and experimental organisation, and it proved valuable. One general, stating that it was a great success, said it was interesting to note that a New Zealander was second in command of this group and that many New Zealand airmen also took part in the exercise. Another interesting aspect of the exercise was the use of wireless. It has been recognised for some time that an army may be entirely dependent on wireless for its signalling system and that wireless silence is a debatable issue. Wireless was used generally during tho exercise, and many useful lessons were learned. The exercise also provided an important test for the bridge builddrs. The invaders found the majority of bridges blown up. and they had to build pontoon bridges under aircraft attacks, which gave useful lessons in bridge building and anti-aircraft defences. One set of bridge builders had a whole regiment of guns defending them. Fortnight's Operations For nearly a fortnight troops of both the "British" and the "German" armies worked by day and night. Armoured vehicles clanked through hundreds of towns and villages and infantry clumped along the roads. They were often attacked by aircraft flying at tree-top height. When the forces clashed, they simulated the noise of battle with blanks and thunder flashes. General Alan McNaughton, General Officer Commanding the First Canadian Army, led a mixed Canadian and British force with an army tank brigade and other armoured units, including a Guards division, that was assumed to have landed in "Southland" and established a bridgehead on the line Salisbury - Winchester - Guilford. Their aim was to capture the capital (Huntingdon) of the army, led by Lieu-tenant-General J. A. H. Gammel, General Officer Commanding the Eastern Command, who also had armoured forces at his disposal. Latest Types o! Planes Among the many aircraft taking part in the exercises were some of Britain's latest types. Venturas and Mitchells were employed as light bombers by one side and the well-tried Boston occupied the same role for the other. Spitfires were used'by both sides and Mustangs looked after the reconnaissance work during the exercise. The Air Secretary, Sir Archibald Sinclair, made a tour of the battlefronts. The highlight for the correspondents was a short talk by General Sir Bernard C. T. Paget, Commander-in-Chief of the Home Forces, who said that considerable progress had been made with the air-composite group. General Paget added that the system of battle drill was to teach those in the ranks what goes on in battle and how to play an intelligent part in it. This had proved most successful. In this respect both forces were aided by small daily newspapers, published in the field, which were widely distributed and gave all ranks a good general idea of the trend of the exercise. General Paget said: "The battle has shown good value, indicating that we will be all right when the time comes." NO STEEL HELMETS SHRAPNEL NOT USED NOW (Reed. 5.35 p.m.) LONDON. March 22 The tin hat is no longer needed, says a special correspondent of the Times who attended the manoeuvres. He says all officers and men are agreed on this. The steel helmet, which the French introduced in the last war, was invaluable against shrapnel, which is not used nowadays. Nobody ever saw General Montgomery wearing a tin hat, the correspondent says. It is also believed that no request has been received from tho Eighth Army for tho replacement of tin hats since the beginning of the El Alamein offensive. Steel helmets are needed today on'.v against the anti-aircraft barrage. They cause a sick headache in action or manoeuvres. LATE CARDINAL HINSLEY (Recrl. G.HS p.m.) LONDON, March 22 The funeral of Cardinal Hinsley is not being held to-morrow, as arranged. Instead, the coffin, after Requiem Mass. will rest in the Chapel of Ifoly Souls, Westminster Cathedral, until the tomb is ready