NAVAL MAWŒUVRES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20318, 28 January 1928, Page 5

NAVAL MAWŒUVRES.

MIMIC ATTACK ON AUCKLAND. OPERATIONS WELL CARRIED OUT. | (Special to Daily Times.) AUCKLAND, January 27. The New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy continued its manoeuvres in the Hauraki Gulf on Wednesday night and yesterday, when an attack was launched by the whole division against a party of marines defending Waiwera, and its communications. The special idea of the opera tions was that a Red force desired to capture Auckland, a Blue base, known to be strongly defended against attack. The Red commander-in chief decided to seize Waiwera, where the Blue infantry and the mounteds were concentrated, and use it as a base for an advance on Auckland. The capture of Waiwera was purely a naval operation, carried out with the resources of a division. The hour for the commencement of trie attack was 5.45 yesterday morning. Punctually at that time, Ehe Wakakura steamed from the at Horahora Island to a point three miles south of Waiwera, known as “ X " Beach. Here a force of machine gun sections and demolition parties were landed in whale boats, and cutters. The Diomede landed a further force of Reds at the Puhoi River. The force split into two sections, one scaling the Waiwera Bluff, while the other worked westward, severing the Blue communications between Warkworth and Waiwera. The section on the bluff erected a field portable wireless outfit, and within a quarter of an hour established communications with the division. Meanwhile the Red force advanced from “X ” ceach, south of Waiwera, and swung westward to proceed along the Helensville road into Waiwera. A demolition party also advanced along the cliffs from “X ” Beach into Waiwera. The whole of the Red land forces, were supported by gunfire from the division anchored off Waiwera. Bridges, roada, and other essential communications in the Blue defence were subjected to constant barrages. The two Red sections, equipped with rifles and Lewis guns, advancing along the Warkworth and Helensville roads, concentrated on a strong Blue defence at the bridge over the Puhoi River, about one mile from Waiwera. After a sharp engagement the Blue forces, completely outnumbered, were overcome and compelled to surrender. At 8 o’clock, one hour ahead of the operations schedule, the Red land forces advanced into and occupied Waiwera. The division then landed more forces, ammunition, and stores on Waiwera Beach. The whole of the operation was carried out in typical navy fashion. From the moment the division moved off the manoeuvres proceeded in deathly silence, and with impressive clocklike precision. The bombardment of Waiwera disturbed the whole village, and tourists and residents were shown realistically how the silent navy works. The concussion of the guns during the bombardment caused windows, doors, and crockery in houses to rattle and vibrate.