NEW ZEALANDERS IN MANOEUVRES

Southland Times, Issue 24755, 28 May 1942, Page 5

NEW ZEALANDERS IN MANOEUVRES

(Official War Correspondent) BEIRUT, May 22.

With packs, guns, mortars and Brencarriers, New Zealanders representing German mountain troops today attacked the New Zealand defences somewhere in the hills of Syria in the first mountain manoeuvres the division has undertaken overseas. The umpires awarded the day to the defenders, a Hawke’s Bay company. Dark clouds were rolling over the peaks and icy winds swept drifts of rain down the slopes as the attackers, in shirts, shorts and greatcoats, moved into position ready to advance. The mules of an Indian mountain battery stood quietly under the stunted cedars and the infantry crouched between rocks for shelter.

The attack orders were given by an Auckland colonel in sight of the defenders’ lines and were quickly passed on. The mule teams ran forward and two minutes later the guns were registering on the targets. Scouting carriers shot up defending patrols and preceded the infantry across the scrub and tussock covered hillsides. Forward radios reported weakly-held points and as the infantry sections thrust up gullies and over saddles the mortars in carriers went into action and the mountain guns moved up closer to support. With machine-gun fire and sharp rushes the defenders were forced from their outposts and fell back on the main defences. The attackers swept on and cleared these also, but the umpires ruled that they' had been wiped out and the day ended with the defences intact.