TERRITORIAL NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 563, 17 September 1932, Page 28 (Supplement)

TERRITORIAL NOTES.

| J (By “SAPPER SHOVEL.") ] the week there has been considerable | activity in military circles, the annual practical examinations for promotion having been held at various spots in the vicinity of Christchurch. Captain A. .1. Xicholl, C.Y.C., Captain E. T. Kensington, of the 16th Eight Battei y, Captains .1. AI. Mitchell and H. W. D. Blake of the 9th Field Battery and Captain T. H. Mitchell, of the Canterbury Regiment tical portion of their 1 examination for promotion to field rank. The written portion, comprising papers on tactics, discipline and law. organisation and administration together with a paper on their own arm of the service, was taken on Wednesday and Thursday. In the practical examination it was landed in Akaroa, and that the Christchurch field force had been mobilised with a view to defeating the enemy on his move to Christchurch. In the opening situation the enemy had reached the Summit Road and the local force had proceeded to Little River with a view to taking him in flank The force was protected by a flank guard consisting of the C.Y.C., two companies of the Canterbury Regiment, the 16th Light Battery and one section of the Cavalry Field Ambulance. Touch was gained with the enemy at Teddington and Gebbie's Pass, and the action continued towards the Sign of the Pack-Horse and Charteris Bay. Subalterns who sat for their practical examination and who were successful in passing were Lieutenants C. F. Croshie, F. A. Aldridge and M. A. Bull, of the Artillery, Lieutenant B. S. Smyth, of the Engineers, Lieutenants H. .1. Cummins. 11. C. Caldwell and F. C. Rainbow, of the Signals and Lieutenants D. S. Boyd and A. T. Hurley, of *he Canterbury Regiment. The written portion was taken at the barracks during the week. It is not anticipated that results will be received until November. The general idea governing the practical portion of the subalterns' examination also concerned the landing of an enemy force at Akaroa and of the local commander's efforts to thwart its designs enemy was met in the vicinity of Kai- ; tuna, and a very interesting vanguard situation developed at a spot known as •‘Twin Buttes”. The big lessons learned iin both practical examinations concerned the use of ground and the neces-

\ sity for a thorough preparation of the fire plan. Napoleon once said that it is “ lire that wins battles ", This dictum has more force to-day than ever before. Several candidates were forthcoming: for the practical portion of the examination of non-commissioned officers prior to first appointment to commissions. L.anee-Sergeant 1,. H. Veal, of the lOtli I Field Battery and W.0.l 1 A. A. Aris, J C.S.M. <l. IC. Taylor and Sergeant J. R. .1. Connolly, of the Canterbury Regiment, ' were all successful in passing this portion. and took thetr written subjects on I Wednesday. It has always been the , practice in New Zealand that officers of the combatant branches must first work their way through the ranks prior to sitting for their examination - for commissions. In this way only those > who prove their ability to handle men C can become the future leaders of our Territorial force. In the main this prinl ciple was adhered to in the expeditionary force, and time has proved the soundness of the system. 1 The Handling of a Mechanised Force. : In last weeks notes an account was 1 given of a method of attacking the artil--1 lery area by means of light tanks work--1 ing through on one flank while the medium tanks took the other flank or, : preferable, the rear of the guns. It 1 was stated that it was doubtful if the guns could turn in time to meet the I new menace once they had been trained 1 to meet the attack of the light tanks. Bocal gunner officers are unanimous that the guns could comfortably account 1 for the tanks under such circumstances. In the first place it is pointed out that ’ j the light tanks would necessarily have ' l to move through the area of the for- ■ ] ward infantry posts. Here they would ; have either to account for or to circuniI vent the infantry anti-tank guns, of * I which there are now four in each battalion. 1 J Apart from this point, however, it 2 may at least be assumed that the infantry would have time to inform the I 1 guns of the approaching menace, and i i there seems no doubt that the light . | tanks would not, therefore, penetrate * very far into the artillery area. Again, f jit is unlikely that all guns would be turned to meet the approach of the . light tanks. A proportion of guns - would be kept silent. and there - should be no reason why they should 1 not be available i<> deal with the ? *• massive medium tanks". Here again * complete surprise would l>e difficult. 2 Admitting that flanks will always exi^t -in mobile warfare, and that across i reasonable country speeds up to fifteen V’ to twenty miles an hour may be obtained, none the less the noise of the s approaching armoured fighting vehicles e should give at least three to five minil A standing gunner has more chance » J of hitting a moving tank than the tank 1 gunner has of registering on a field ■ | gun while his tank is travelling at titi- teen miles an hour.