“BATTLE OF MAIORO”

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 640, 17 April 1929, Page 7

“BATTLE OF MAIORO”

MOUNTEDS IN ACTION MESSAGES FROM AIRPLANE ' REALISM AT WAIUKU ( Sper'ial to THE $ UX) MAIURO BEACH FRONT, Tuesday. The staccato bursts of machinegun Are, the crackle of hundreds of rifles, khaki-clad figures rushing from cover, and above all the roar of a reconnoitring airplane, characterised the “Battle of Maioro,” in the Waiuku district yesterday. ''pHE armies o£ the North and South clashed in an endeavour to gain supremacy. The defending force of the Northern army held its ground and the invaders from the South of the Waikato River were compelled to withdraw its force. “Casualties” were heavy. Theoretically, the battle was a pronounced success, and passed off without a hitch. Unfortunately for the invading force an airplane of the New Zealand Air Force on reconnaissance duty discovered yesterday morning rha* the Northern army had forded the Waikato River near its estuary, apparently the previous day and was assembling for an attack on Waiuku primarily to destroy valuable military stores and supplies. The information was conveyed to headquarters in the village and the defending force was rushed by motortransport to Maioro to prevent the enemy from gaining the inner ridge of sandhills and subsequently the village.

EARLY START MADE Unfavourable weather conditions prevented the Southern army, which was represented by the Auckland Mounted Rifles Regiment from bivouacing in the sandhills on Monday night. However, in order to make the scheme more realistic the regiment left its billets at Waiuku about seven o’clock in the morning to take up its position in readiness for the advance and trekked to Maioro Gap. The defenders, a platoon of cadets supplemented by a troop of mounted rifles under Second Lieutenant W. Buttimore, assumed a defensive position on a ridge, armed with rifles and a machine-gun. The drone of one of the Auckland Aero Club’s Moth planes, piloted by Captain J. Seabrook, A.F.C., became louder, and as it descended from an altitude of about 4,000 ft to 1.500 ft It circled the sandhills to return to the defenders* headquarters on the eastern ridge. MESSAGES FROM PLANE

From the cockpit shot a bulletshaped cup, which was borne in a tiny canvas bag, and attached to which were vari-coloured streamers. The package containing a message dropp.ed within a few feet of the white ground mark, the nose embedding itself into the earth. Timed at 10.40 a.m.. the message from the pilot conveyed to the officer commanding the defence force the information that a force of enemy mounted troops had been located to the east of a small lake in the sandhills, deplaying in troops under cover and toward the northeast. Commands were hurriedly issued. and the Northern skeleton force assumed a defensive role.

Viewed from the air it was difficult to ascertain the dispositions of the mounted troops. The fresh hoofmarks in the dark-coloured sand gave the first indication, and later khaki figures on horseback were observed moving through scrub on the sanddunes. The bird’s-eye view gave a very realistic impression. The subsequent message from the plane at 11 a.m. gave additional information. namely, “Mounted infantry, r»ne troop moving along coast line. Three troops working across sanddunes and through ravines to west of headquarters.” INVADERS ADVANCE

In the meantime, the invaders were Advancing, two troops of “A” squadron under Second Lieutenant A. Birdsail. operating as advanced guard, one troop of “C” squadron, commanded by Second Lieutenant M. H. Aldred. acting as left flank guard, and a troop of “B” squadron as right flank guard. As the troops advanced rover of dead ground toward the objective the “rot-tot-tot” of four Vickers’ machine-guns, in charge of Lieutenant E. E. Tingey, M.C., X.Z.S.C.. told of their progress. The guns were well concealed in scrub on tactical features, and all that could be observed by the defenders were bursts of smoke as the endless belts of ammunition were being fed into the breeches

The rifle and machine-gun fire applied by the resisting Northern, army w as theoretically hampering the progress of the Southerners. Flags fluttered in the breeze and signallers hurriedly and accurately transcribed messages to paper which gallopers conv«yed to the commanding officer of the Southern army, Lieutenant-Colonel Aldred. Field telephones were laid to facilitate the rapid transmission of messages. TROOPS IN RAVINES

Two troops in ravines. Three troops in sand-dunes. Position: One to one and a-half miles south-west of headquarters. Formation: Troops in deployment. Direction of movement: endeavouring to outflank by moving along coast,’* read another message from the pilot and the observer in the airplane. ft was realised then that the flanks w*ere converging preparatory to launching the assault. The defenders became busy; while consolidating their section posts the advancing enemy were by this time dismounted. rh ® horses being held under covff by holders, were engaged by covering Are. The enemy threw in his supports and later his reserves. Rifles crackled with renewed vigour, machine-guns barked with a sharper ®°te and the advance continued •teadily in the face of a small barrage.

Casualties” became heavier on oth sides, the umpires indicating w hen individual men and units were incapacitated. The situation grew more tense, the defending men's morale being challenged by opposing groups moving forward to covered *Po?s by bounds. The climax came as operations were being suspended for ■’inch, for even troops must eat. The flank guard had outwitted and

taken a portion of the defenders by surprise. Operations were suspended and it was a good-humoured r|my that returned to its horses to trek to Muir’s Lake for lunch. Each force considered it had won the battle. And so the "Battle of Maioro” terminated. Command headquarters at Auckland was represented hv Major IT. C. Glendining, D. 5.0.. K.Z.S.C. There were many people gathered on vantage points to View operations