MANAWATU “BATTLE”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 40, 18 February 1943, Page 4

MANAWATU “BATTLE”

TROOPS CROSS RIVER ON TANKS Demonstrating the adaptability of the tank in modern warfare, squadrons of General Stuarts ferried troops across the flooded and swift-flowing Otaki River. The river crossing was part of extensive manoeuvres in the southern Manawatu district which involve several thousand troops and a large amount of mechanised equipment.

It was the first time in this part of the Dominion that tanks have been used for the transport of infantry. Assuming that the opposite bank was held by the enemy, the New Zealand commander sent forward troons with tanks in support. Roaring, lurching, with madly-churning tracks tearing ud mud and gravel, the tanks moved nto the river-bed and lumbered forward under cover of an intense artillery barrage to where the infantry lay concealed. Fully-eo dipped men scrambled up the steel sides and. with turrets barely showing above gorse and lunin. the tanks swept for-A-ard toward the river.

Hitting the water with a great mlash, the tanks began a lumbering diagon. 1 passage across the 70-yard stream, sinking until only the unper structure shotted above the surface. Amid explosives bursting in the water to simulate shell-fire, the tanks emerged on the onnosite bank. Smoke candles were thrown to screen the position and the men leapt to the ground and ran for cover. Taking part in the exercise were battalions of the Taranaki. Hawke’s Wellin'd "i and Wellington-East Coast and Manawatu Mounted Rifles, field regiments pnd pnti-fank batteries of New Zealand artillery, field des of New Zealand Engineers and service companies of the New Zealand A.S.C. The mpnoeuv-'” concluded at the end of last week and divisional exercises are to In the second stage of the manoeuvres it was assumed that an enemy force had landed no r *h of Otaki River simultaneously with another Japanese landing further north. The objective of thn enemy was to establish a defensive line nn the Otaki River, thus protecting the southern flank of his force advanc?”'- op Palmerston North and at the same to provide-the spearhead for *a suh«eouent advance on Wellington. The New Zealand forme fn” this stage of the exercises were concentrated in Waikanae area and moved north to deal with the threat. The enemy’s first action was to seize and destroy bridges and commun'^ t 'n"s and nrepare for the destruction of the New ZeaHnd forces. An attempt bv the New Zealand force to cross the Otaki River at night failed and the commander found It necessarv to stage a fullscale batfl' on February 10. This was preceded by an air reconnaissance and an aerial

and the infantry, a battalion of lhe Taranaki Regiment, was fe-rjed across the river bv General Stuart tanks. The advance of the tanks comnelled the enemy, who had only light armour, to withdraw hastily, and the infantry of the New Zealand

forces moved in and consolidated their gains. Lurch) through the river, with infantrymen clinging to the upper structure of their strange steeds, and turrets pivoting to bring guns to bear on distant targets, the tanks made a spectacular picture of their dash through the stream. A tubular steel bridge was erected later engineers; and light motor transport was able to take up reinforcements and supplies to the advance forces. The troops taking part in these manoeuvres were those who participated in the previous week’s exercises, with the roles of attackers and defenders reversed. Illustrating the amount, of equipment in use, it may be said that all the motor transport on the move at once would occupy more than 100 miles of road space.