TOUGHENING UP

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 1, 2 January 1943, Page 2

TOUGHENING UP

IN WILDS OF N.Z. MARINES TRAINING To their journeyings around the globe from, as their hymn proclaims, ‘ t.hMialls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli,” the United States Marine Corps has added a trip into the rugged outback of New Zealand in the course of duty. Recently a combat unit of this famous fighting force, fully armed and equipped for active service, spent a period of intensive live ammunition firing over the primitive terrain lying beyond New Zealand's biggest inland camp. In weather which ranged from summer i eat to winter efld, through rain. sleet, mud and dust, the marines kept up a full pressure training schedule with tanks, field artillery, anti-tank guns and machine-guns under native service conditions. Dav and nigh’, the sound of firing could be heard over many miles of this vast snooting gallery. These were no polite biank cartridge exercises—live ammunition of varying calibres was used throughout —and the officers and men engaged agreed that they had never before been provided with such an unlimited scope of country for ret listic combat training, even on training areas in the United States. Spartan Living. During the exercises the mon lived the Spartan existence which will be their lot when they join their comrades in the firing line. They had two hot meals only a day—ai 6 a.m. and 5 p.m.—but the cooks saw to it that both were hot, despite the difficulties of working with field stoves in atrocious weather. Sleeping accommodation was limited io two-men bivouac tents (half carried by each man) about 2ft. 6in. high when erected and small enough to be heated by a candle, the marines assert. Personal gear was reduced to an absolute minimum, two blankets and a combination f round sheet and cloak being the beding issue. Shaving was one of the parade ground rituals which was not insisted upon. Yet, despite the severe weather conditions they had to face, the Marines showed no signs of wilting under them. One man only had to be evacuated for a day through sickness, and three accident cases were of a minor nature. Toughness the Key.

Toughness was the keynote. These men were being taught the lessons which the Marines have learned in the bitter university of jungle warfare. No insignia which would distinguish officers and n.c.o.’s from their men was worn; saluting was banned; used of ranks in addressing officers was discouraged. The wily Jap. has a habit of trying to disorganise operations by sniping leaders who can be distinguished from their men; of confusing his opponents by calling false orders under names he has overheard while lying concealed; of 'trapping the unwary into disclosing their locations at night by addressing them familiarly. The seeming informality cloaked real discipline based on mutu.f respect of all ranks for each other, and a common determination when called on to do so. This was noticeable when the Marines were handling their weapons. Men who just seemed to be standing about were suddenly in action at a command from another steel-helmeted figure indistinguishable from themselves. Officers and men know each other as individuals. They have no illusions about the sort of war they are going to, and realise that they must try and learn all the answers in advance. Men of Texas.

Men of the United States Marine Corps are all volunteers, drawn from most of the States of the Union, although the Marines tiiemselves note that Texas provides a much larger quota than any other State. The average age of the newer personnel engaged on these manoeuvres recently was 18 to 24 years, but a number of senior officers and n.c.o.’s have been on active service in many odd corners of the world. To the exercises in which they were engaged here the Marines brought not only tough and keen personnel, but also first-class weapons and equipment.

Weather conditions were not allowed to interfere with the shooting. One of the most spectacular firing practices with the field guns took place during a howling rain storm in the middle of the night, with the wind reaching gale force at times. During another daylight shoot the gunners were blowing pieces out of the distant hills with high explosive shells through a dirtain of sleet. The Marines reckoned they could put up with any kind of weather as long as they could continue to get such spectacular shooting. In co-operation with the New Zealand Army and Air Force, the Marines were also able to put in an afternoon of anti-aircraft shooting with both heavy and light machine-guns. An air force plane, operating from an auxiliary aerodrome, which is one of the facilities of this huge training area, made numerous runs across the line of machine-guns, towing a balloon target a quarter of a mile astern. Into this the machine-gunners poured tracer and ball ammuniton. At the entrance to one of the Marine section encampments there was displayed a rough sign:—"Los Angeles City Limits.” A jest, of course, but in the circumstances of time and place, also a symbol of the ever-widening frontiers of the United Nations in the war against the Axis. The time itself was significant, for these combat exercises by the United States Marine Corps in the heart of New Zealand were concluded on the eve of the first anniversary of Japan’s attack on Pear] Harbour—a portent of the strength being gathered to avenge that treachery during the coming year.