MILITARY MANOEUVRES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 252, 23 October 1937, Page 8

MILITARY MANOEUVRES

DEFENCE OF WANGANUI “BATTLE” AT KAITOKE A “battle” at Kaitoke, in which light artillery and machine-guns will feature, is to be held during this week-end, when the Wanganui Defence Department is to hold a camp at the racecourse. The manoeuvres will take the form of tactical exercises, and one day is to be spent in weapon training. The activities are of interest to the layman, as they are identical to those which would be adopted by local troops in the case of war. The assumption will be that enemy troops which have landed near the mouth of the Wangachu River are advancing, and the brigade bivouaccct at Marton has failed to repulse the invaders. The enemy troops have a footing in the sandhils in the vicinly of Kaitoke boys’ camp, when the local regiment, forming part of the Wanganui defences and billeted at the racecourse, is communicated with by order by the commander of the Marton Brigade, requesting that an attack be made on the enemy's Hank. In response, the Wanganui Regiment proceeds by mechnicai transport to the banks of the Kaitoke Stream and attack in a southerly direction. Several three-inch mortars will be in action tiring against targets erected on the beach, which will represent enemy ammunition dumps. Both heavy and light machine-guns will be used and artillery lire will be assimilated by smoke candles. Ball ammunition will be used by all weapons. On Monday range work will be participated in, during which revolved exercises will be carried out. It is expected that a large number of men will take part, in the exercises, among whom will be some from Taihape and Marton.