STAFF REFRESHER

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 637, 13 April 1929, Page 16

STAFF REFRESHER

DEFENCE OFFICERS’ CAMP CONCLUDES LANDING LARGE FORCE Senior - staff officers of the New Zealand Defence Forces from all parts of the Dominion have just concluded an interesting refresher course in camp at Waiwera. Major-General R. Young, general officer commanding, was in charge of the course, other officers who attended being Colonel W. L. H. Sin-clair-Burgess, chief of staff; Brigadier H. R. Potter, officer in charge of the Northern Command; and LieutenantColonel J. E. Duigan, also of Auckland. The time was spent in discussion of staff problems and the study of many of the difficulties in the handling of large bodies of troops. Somewhat on the lines of the recent battle at Waiwera, an imaginary expeditionary force was dispatched from these shores and landed on the shores of a foreign country. However, the two engagements were different in some respects, as the problem was considered from the staff point of View and the force to be transported consisted of a whole division, instead of merely a battalion. The co-operation of the Army, Navy and Air Force was taken as the basis of the attack, and every aspect of the embarkation and landing of troops was considered. .The landing was supposed to take place 28 days after the sailing of the transports, and this gave rise to other problems, such as the provision of transport and of supplies on landing. In the planning of the movement, strict attention was paid to what could actually be done in modern warfare. After landing the forces were moved further inland, and this presented certain tactical problems to be solved. However, the whole matter was discussed in all particulars, and was planned to the last detail, the embarkation orders alone filling many sheets of typewritten foolscap. As an example of the thoroughness with which the scheme was tackled, it may be mentioned that it was even decided how much ammunition each man should carry in addition to the usual service equipment.