EVENTS IN N.Z.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2274, 7 October 1914, Page 6

EVENTS IN N.Z.

MOCK.BATTLEATffIRAMAR INFANTRY TACTICS. BIG MARCH-OUT ON SATURDAY. CONCENTRATION AT HUTT PARK. Two battalions of infantrymen from tho Expeditionary Force carried out useful operations yesterday. The geueral idea was an attack by a raiding party consisting of one- infantry battalion, 1000 strong, their object being to destroy tho wireless stations at the General Post Office and on the Tinakori Hills. To repel this attack another infantry battalion was launched from their war station, at Newt-own Park. Tho forces met on the Miramar golf links shortly before one o'clock, and a battle raged for three-quarters of an hour. The umpires then ordered the'"cense tire." Insofar as tho attackers had failed in their object, they were defeated, but apparently they had the better of the engagement. The invading force, Blue, was composed of the Otago Infantry Battalion, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel T. W; M'Donald. Fort Dorset having been put .out of action by a hostile cruiser, the enemy landed at Worser Bay at break of day, and immediately commenced to. advance on Wellington, via. Kilbirnio. News of tho landing was conveyed to Defence .Headquarters by telephone message. The Wellington Infantry Battalion, at Newtowm Park, undet'command of Lieut.-Colonel W. G. Malone, was at once ordered to advance and attack the enemy wherever met. To Stop tho invasion. Colonel Malono's object was to prevent tho destruction of the wireless stations. He therefore had tho alternative of waiting on the Kilbirnio Heights and smashing the enemy when they approached, or else of going out and seeking them. Ho elected to pursue that courso, and came to grips at Miramiir. It was generally supposed that the battle would be'fought there, and spectators were numerous. With Colonel M'Donald, commanding .tho raiding force, time was tho chief point. He moved his force round tho southern slope of Beacon Hill, which enabled him to make a concerted approach. Valuable, time- was lost by tlus movement, but that was of small consequence, to the comparative slowness of the Red movement.

The Blue commander gained an important position in tho outset by sending three platoons to occupy a high 'ridge overlooking the Miramar golf course This was successfully accomplished without tho Reds becoming awaro of tho move. The'remainder of the battalion then worked round to the south, and were' well concealed by several buildings 911 the outskirts of the golf course. The'land to the" north of tho tramway line was out of bounds, so the force ■ had little room to manoeuvre. Tho First Shot, The first shot was fired at 12.35..p.m., at a. range.of about 1000 yards. The enemy stationed on the spur overlooking the golf course could see the approach of tho defenders, ■ but wore not aware then that this was only an advance guard company. The invaders made good uso of the undulating country, and. the battalion pushed across the links and' took cover- behind a ditch running right through the ground. Tho Rode were at this time well.covered by sand-dunes, and by a clump of fir trees adjacent to the road. The hottest firing soon concentrated at this point. Undoubtedly tho invaders were more exposod as they came across the open links, and many suffered from the fire of the Reds. Short sharp rushes got the Blues to a better cover behind another ditch, and soon on' this wing (the enemy's right) there was but a couple of hundred yards between the opposing forces. The Blue commander continued to direct his main attack on this wing, and the Reds were pushed back a short distance. They were in inferior numbers, for a portion of the force was late in arriving.

An Outflanking Movement. - While the battle raged on the right, tilt observers could notice several companies of (he enemy well hidden on the left wing. Their fire had been held, and apparently the Red commander was not aware' of their approach. Assisted by three advance platoons who had! taken the first spur, this body of the enemy attempted to creep round the right (lank of the Blue force. They were afforded plenty of cover by clumps of flax-bushes, and wisely held _ theii fire, When apparently in a position ta gain the action, a scout of the Reds got into touch, and escaped to tho main body of his troops. A hot fire was raging all this time in the centre, and to have weakened the line would have courted disaster for the Reds. A small body attempted to stop the flanking movement, and. succeeded in driving the outposts back. This sxiccess was shortlived, for the enemy's right wing sprang to 'tie charge in .much stronger numbers, and tho honour of the engagement was theirs. Colonel Malone attempted a counter-attack with a good strength which had been in cover in irfio_ hills, out of tho firing line, but the arrival of these reinforcements was somewhat late. Whether ho could have, swing around sufficient troops to carry his counter-attack to a snccessfnl issue was hard to say. ' He may have been able to do so, for the defending force had the invaders hold everywhere else along th 6 line, and the enemy was -fully engaged. There was no hope for reinforcements, as to have taken troops from anywhere along the enemy's front would have weakened the whole line. It was at this stage, 1.15 p.m., that the bugle souuded "Cease fire."

Short, Sharp Aotlon. The action lind boon short and sharp, and almost every man engaged used his twenty rounds of ammunition. When "Cease, fire" sounded the invaders were occupying the ditch traversing the golf Hnics. On their right wing they wero held by n, force of Reds, sheltered in the bush adjacent to tho road. The Blue centre was powerless to advanco against the Reds, as the latter were afforded excellent protection behind the Lyall Bay cement sewer, which formed a strong trench. It was on the enemy's left that the crux of the position apparently rested. Even had they been successful in forcing tho Reds back there, the whole lino could bnvo been withdrawn to a low ridgo of hills at the back, from which point tho Reds could have stopped tho attack on the- wireless stations.

Operations for Instructional- Purposes,

The operations wero purely for instructional purposes. Colouol E. W. C. Chaytor, AdjutanfcGoneral of the Expeditionary Forces, and Colonel W. G. Braithwaite, General Staff Officer with tho Expeditionary Force, watched the battle, but Major-General Sir Alexander Godley was unable to bo present, owing to an attack of influenza. Tho umpire tor the Blues was Major A. C. Tempcrley, Brigade Major, Infantry Brigade, Expeditionary .Forco, and tho umpire for the Reds was Colonel F. E. Johnston, commanding th« Infantry Brigade. In addition, Colonel Gibbon, Chief of tho General' Staff, New Zealand

Defence Forces, was an observing umpire, and had associated with him j Colonel Pilkington, Adjutant General New Zealand Defence Forces, and Major J. G. Hughes, Assistant Military Secretary to General Godley. At the conclusion of the operations a conference was held, when Colonel Ohaytor, as senior officer present, addressed the officers. The commanders of the Red and Blue forces described what their respective ordors were, and the Red and Blue umpires then told what they had noticed. Naturally, there were mistakes on both sides, but useful information ■ had been gained. Colonel Braithwaite enumerated the points he had noticed, and Colonel Chaytor again summed up. To-day's Manoeuvres. Tho main operations to be earned out to-day will takp place at Trentham, where a mounted rifle scheme, arranged by Colonel A. H. Russell, Commander of the Wellington Mounted Rifles Brigade, will be worked out. Officers of the Headquarters Staff will motor out at 10 a.m. The operations will be in tho country beyend Trentham Station, which lends itself admirablj for mounted work. Battle at Karorl. ■At Karori to-morrow two infantry battalions will indulge in another mock battle, on somewhat similar lines to that of yesterday. The disposition of the forces has not been made known, for obvious reasons, but tho public will be able to watch the "battle," which will be in tho vicinity of the breakwind at Karori Park and near the Parkvale Road. The ongagement will commence about 12.30 p.m. • The Canterbury Battalion was yesterday engaged in musketry practice at Treiitham.

Saturday's Big Concentration. A concentration of all arms of the Expeditionary Force at present in Wellington will be held at Lower Hutt on Saturday. This will be the best opportunity the public will get of seeing the troops ready assembled for active service, and it is expected that the parade will be watched with interest by a large number of the public. An operation order issued by, Major-General Sir Alexander Godley in respect of this concentration states that all units of the Expeditionary Force (less tho battalion detailed for musketry at Trentham), either in transports, or in camp about Wellington, Lyall Bay, Miramar. Sealoun, Trentham, Lower Hutt, and Alexandra Barracks, will attend a concentration on the old racecourse, Lower Hutt, on Saturday.' The unite of the Mounted Rifles Brigade encamped at Trentham will march to the concentration at Lower Hutt, under the orders of the Officer Commanding the Mounted Rifles Brigado, in time to be formed up in brigade by 1 p.m. The Field Artillery Brigade will be ready formed up on the left of the Mounted Rifles Brigade by I pm. '. Order of March. The troops ex transports, Alexandra Barracks, and the camps' at Lyall Bay, Miramar, and Seatoun will march to Lower Hutt as detailed below, and will pass the starting point, the Thorndon Esplanade Baths, at tho hours stated:— Headquarters, 10 .a.m.; one squadron •Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment, 10 a.m.'; Otago Mounted Rifles Regiment, 10.3 a.m.; Field Troop 'Engineers, 10.10 a.m.; New Zealand Infantry Brigado(lesa two' battalions and «.ne platoon). 10.13 a.m.; New Zealand Mounted Field Ambulance, 10.24 a.m.; train (baggage section m order of units), 10.28 a.m. Rearguard—One platoon Infantry Brigade. The troops will not use Lambton , Quay to reach the starting point. From that point the route of march will be Hutt Road and. Petone. Tho dress will bq full marching order, . and troops will carry n. haversack lunch per man, and one feed per horse will be carried. Every available man and horse will attend this concentration parade. The absolute minimum is to be left behind in camps and on transports for guards, fatigues, etc. Staff officers , will compare watches at the starting point at 9.45 a.m. Brigade majors of Mounted Rifles and Infantry Brigades, Adjutant Field Artillery Brigade, and an officer from each divisional unit will meet tho General Staff' Officer on the concentration ground at 12.40 p.m. AH transport animals, both first line and train, are to accompany, the force, and will take" their places in the column as if they were harnessed to their respective vehicles, or carrying machine guns, ammunition and tools. Machine guns (represented by their pack animals), and the pack animals for ammunition, tools, etc., will march with their units. A nominal roll will be furnished to Headquarters by Brigadiers and Officers Commanding Divisional Troops, immediately on the return of the Force, showing the number of men who fell out_ during the march stating the. reaeon in each case. Units will always halt for the last ten minutes of-'every clock hour, irrespective of the hour of starting; There will be no closing up to remedy distances. The procedure to be adopted for a halt is as follows: The O.C. column blows 'his whistle, which is repeated by all Brigadiers and O.C.'s units, as a caution. Hβ then blows his whistle again, on which all Company Commanders 'simultaneously give . the command to their men to halt (dismount, if mounted), fall out on the left of the Toad, and take off their packs. At the expiration of the ten minutes, tho O.C. Troops Mows his whistle, on which the men immediately put on their packs and fall in. -When completed tho O.C. Troops repeats the whistle which is taken up by Brigadiers and O.C. units', and then the etc. commanders immediately givo the order to advance. From the nature of the orders it will be seen that the troops will be marched just as if on a route "march during active service:

MILITARY CONCERT.

To-night at 8 o'clock the much-looked-for concert will be held in the Grand Opera House, under tho patronage of their Excellencies Lord and Lady Liverpool. Tho first part of tlio programme will be a camp fire scene, The fire burns .with a dull glow, tho soldiers .lying beside it are resting their weary limbs, tho patrol arrives, announcing all safe; patriotic songs are sungj all joining in tlie chorus —a real camp fire concert; then the presentation of sports prizes. In the second part a programme of vocal and instrumental items will be gon« ■through. Another very successful concert was held in U Shed last evening; when a party of entertainers, ■ under the directorship of Mr. James Dykes, put on an excellent programme for tho soldiers of jfow Zealand's Expeditionary Force. Tho' large shed was well filled by an enthusiastic audience, which appeared to appreciate every item. A feature of the evening's entertainment was tho singing of "It's a Long, Long Way to Tipnorary" by the performers and audience. Tho proceedings wero opened, by a song and chorus by Dr. Norman Hales and company. Other contributors were Misses Lissack, Thelma Aitken, Sullivan, Mario Fix, Messrs. Ernest Luks, 8.. Russell, Norman Aitken, and Dr. Hales. At tho Hutt Park Camp last evening a programme of songs, etc., was supplied by a parEy from Lower Hutt. There was a capital attendance, and tho entertainment was much enjoyed by the troops. The Mayor of Lower Hutt (Mr H. Baldwin) presided, and also, contributed an item to tho programme. AT THE Y.M.C.A. ■ Tho Board of Directors of tho Y.M.C.A. cordially invites every man m tho Expeditionary Force and the Navy to visit tho Y.M.C.A. building in .Willis Street. Already maw hundreds!

of men are taking ; advantage of the facilities provided for recreation, cor r resppudence, etc. Arrangements are being mado to open the gymnasium to the men on Thursdays (6.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.), Saturdays (6 p.m. to 9 p.m.), and Mondays (G. 30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.). Gymnasium shoos should bo worn. Tho miniature rifle range is also thrown open to tho mon each evening from , 7 p.m. Coffee and biscuits are being provided by the ladies each evening from 7.30. Tile- Y.M.O.A. senior "soccer" team is i endeavouring to arrange a match with a team from tho 'Expeditionary Force for Saturday nest. All men who aro interested in basket ball should endeavour to-be at the rooms on Wednosday evening next, when eshibitior games will bo played. The Association is arranging a men's meeting for Sunday afternoon -nest, and in tho evening will conduct a service in U Shod. Further announcements will be mado later. Tho Y.M.C.A. marquee for recreative and social purposes at the Lower Hutt is being well patronised by the men. Mr. B. M. Ryan is in charge of this branch of the work.