THREE-SIDED ATTACK

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 62, 8 June 1942, Page 5

THREE-SIDED ATTACK

WHAKATANE INVESTED

ENEMY ADVANCES THROUGH

TOWN

HOME GUARD MANOEUVRES

Following the 'blitz' of last Saturday, Whakatane suffered 1

even worse fate yesterday when true to accepted military tactics, the arial attack of the follbwing week proved but a forerunner of a full scale enemy attack from three side's. According to theory the town was taken block by block and the defenders, many of whom held the Mokorua heights and the James Street end were strategically retired step by step to the mustering base at the show grounds. Here the whole manoeuvres werebriefly reviewed by the chief umpire, Major Hauesler before a combined parade. The field day constituted the second of its kind staged by the Home Guard, and though on a considerably larger scale than the previous event, provided a further good indication of the weaknesses which must be overcome in order to make for'better co-ordination in future. The whole of the defence fabric was based on the plan which "would be put into operation in the ■event of real hostilities. The Whakatane battalion held roughly the whole of the hilly plateau between Ohope and the plains including the Borough. All approaches to this piece of county were adequately protected and it was significant that the hostile Mounted section were unable to cross the bridge. The Infantry however had the resource to "make the crossing in boats at an unexpected spot and, a careful ad-< vance along James and Stewart Streets. Over Ohope Hills But the main scenes of action oc- • curred on the Ohope hills where the largest body of the enemyi was concentrated. From this: sector a constant stream of prisoners were sent . to the base, including one who l Avas not searched and informed the commander that he had. a couple of bombs in his pockets to blow up headquarters with. Good strategy had been employed, and it Avas noteworthy for the feint ; attack over the wide gully facing the Ohope Road immediately behind ~ Hillcrest, while the major movement developed oil tho heights a little south, which the attackers ; gained via the Native Land schemes .turnip fields. A Bird's Eye View . From a point at the junction of •the Gorge and Ohopei Roads it was jjossible to keep a comprehensive ■eye upon the whole of the operations. To the doughty Waimana men fell the task of holding, ridge and shortly after 11 a.m. contact ■with the enemy was. made. Breathless runners carried the tidings to platoon headquarters and -the strategical withdrawal of the front line troops Avas commenced to the main ridge. It was- fascinat-' "ing to Avatch the retirement of infantrymen down the mile-distant .slopes. Like so many ants, they fell back taking advantage of cover, as they came. The actual appearance of the -enemy did not however develop until over an hour later, and with the -whole of the ambulance organisation .'impatiently awaiting casualties and headquarters bursting to give the scheduled orders the strain Avas: terrific to say the least. Enemy Appears! HoAveA T cr a few faint black ob-1 ijects on the broAv of the hill Avere recognisable (through glasses) as the | first signs of the deA r eloping attack. "The # heads of the enemy Avere plainly visible and so a burst or two oi( machine gun fire Avas pumped across the gully. Down the slopes they •came at last—scampering! like so many rabbits across the uneven ground. These tiny figures might very well have been actual foemcn.

Trench mortars went into action more of the enemy were to be seen filtering along the lace of an intervening pine hedge. The blue flag of a machine gun post showed plainly down the gully, but the defenders definitely had the* advantage of the formation 4>f the land. In spite of decimating machine 1 gun fire the redoubtable Rangitaikis swept across the countryside and stormed the Avell screened positions.

We have' a hunch that the utter recklessness of their attack would "have in ordinary events wiped them (Continued in next column)

out but on tlie other hand the experience was well wo'-th while and everybody was satisfied.

The actual result of the day's work wil] have to be decided later at a meeting of commanders and umpires but on the wbo'e it can be considered m d ; sHnet advance on the previous trial.