MOCK BATTLE OVER NAPIER

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 146, 16 March 1939, Page 13

MOCK BATTLE OVER NAPIER

Planes v. Anti-Aircraft Battery

HAWKE'S BAY UNITS ALSO TAKE PART

Dominion Special Service.

NAPIER, March 15. A large crowd of onlookers assemble! in Awatoto, just south of Napier, today to watch further firing practice by members of the Twenty-second Anti-Airerait Battery of Fort Dorset. Wellington. Th<‘ target on this occasion was a Fairey oh biplane with Pilot Officer Quill at the controls. Though, of course, the accuracy ot the fire did not depend ou the ability ol the gunners to hit the target, "short burst’’ shells were fired which exploded a considerable distance below the machine, but it was possible exactly to compute the effectiveness of the fire. Red flashes and white woolly puffs of smoke from the bursting shells were clearly visible to watchers, a noticeable feature being the length of time before the report was heard following the appearance of tlie snell burst. This evening a mass parade and demonstration were staged on Marine Parade. Napier, and were keenly followed b.v a crowd of approximately 7090. 'The Twen-ty-second Anti-Aircraft Battery is the first of its type to visit the district and no opportunity had before been offered the people of Hawke's Bay of witnessing local military units during night operations. Parade and Salute. The batteries paraded at the Artillery Barracks. Napier, the'Anti-Aircraft Battery under Captain J. 11. Dunn and the Field-Battery under Major W. D. Corbett, and marched to Clive Square, there to be joined b.v units of the Hawke’s Bay Regiment under the command of Lieutenant Duglcby, the machinc-gun section under Lieutenant Johansen ami.A Company. Second Field Ambulance, in charge of Staff-Sergeant B. R. Wakelin. The salute was taken by the officer commanding the anti-aircraft unit, Major R. S. Park. R.N.Z.A.. the adjutant of the Second Com posite Infantrv Battalion. Captain G. M. McCaskill. N.Z.S.C., and the mayor, of Napier, Mr. T. W. Hercock, on Marine Parade. Thereafter the units of the force settled down to serious defence practice. The display was most spectacular, searchlights and sound locators working in conjunction tojoeatc aircraft. Verey lights, tracer Tiullet-cquipped machine guns and field guns combining in a realistic mock battle which gave the onlookers an excellent idea of the methods used in dealing with invading aircraft. “Wounded” received attention from the ambulance corps, adding a touch of extreme realism to the scene. One effect of the display has been to create in the minds of local residents an enthusiasm for defence measures and it should certainly make citizens conscious of their duties in this respect. Seagull in the Spotlight. A humorous touch was added to the proceedings when a seagull soaring placidly by found itself the focus of attention and of a powerful spotlight operated by an amateur enthusiast among tlie crowd. The puzzled manner in which it peered down at tlie light focused on it drew roars of laughter.

Proceedings on the Parade terminated with the firing of brilliant. Verey lights and a fusillade of machine-gun tracer bullets seaward, hut “spotting” practice with searchlights on aircraft was carried ou for some time.