ATTACK ON STRATFORD.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 71, 7 November 1911, Page 8

ATTACK ON STRATFORD.

OFFICERS’ MIMIC WARFARE

Tho voluntary fortnightly class of instruction was eld in Stratford on Saturday evening by the officers of tiro litli Regiment, under the i.residency of Lieut-Col. Malone. A tactical problem was set involving the mobilisation and encampment of a force, and a. march of the lorce on which advance, flank and rear guards were put in use. The force were marc led out to the vicinity of Solo and Climic Roads, where tho enemy were lodged in a position. Tho enemy warn dislodged and tho home force pursued him, but meeting a vastly superior force of the enemy they were compelled in turn to retreat along Climic Road, keeping up a continuous rearguard action. Then tho home force took up a defensive position, straddling the Opnnako Road about half a mile from its junction with the Climic and YCangongoro Roads. This pc si tioa was attacked by the enemy’s mounted brigade, which, however, is totally routed by a large body of reinforcements, which have just arrived from Wellington via Opnnako. ahe local force, with the reinforcements from Opnnako, then proceed io deal with the enemy’s infantry brigade, which in the meantime had been attnking Stratford, the town being protected hy reinforcements from Auckland via New Plymouth. The combined force is a hie to capture tho whole of the enemy’s infantry and tho unbroken remainder of bis mounted men.

A plan of the particular piece of country over which these imaginary tactics took place, together with its topographical features, was “blackhoarded,” so that the officers were able to solve the problem as well as if they had been actually on the ground. A most instructive time was spent, end the officer.! present, the bulk cf whom are sitting for examination in about a fortnight’s time, were greatly benefited by the operations carried out.