DEFENCE NOTES

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 154, 25 March 1939, Page 8

DEFENCE NOTES

Artillery In Camp In Waiouru New Uniforms Issued (By Liaison.) The last of the Wellington batteries to go to camp in Waiouru this training year was the Nineteenth (Gin. Howitzer) Battery, which returned last week. The battery is commanded by Major A. V. Jenkins, other battery officers iu eamp being Captain L. I’. Turner and Lieutenant W. Turner. The Rev. \\ .. Searle, Napier, was attached as chaplain. This year's training iu Waiouru occupied two weeks, the first being devoted to a course of instruction for all ranks and the second to the annual practice camp. Attendances at both course aud camp were much better than since the Compulsory days. Of an authorizedpeace establishment of five officers and 51 other ranks the battery had three officers and -18 other ranks in camp: the three officers aud 30 of the other ranks also went through the preliminary week’s course. On reaching Waiouru 011 the Saturday evening they louud their brother unit, the Seventeenth Medium Battery, which had already completed a week's course. When they awoke at 6 a.m. on they found that another battery, the Fourth, from Auckland, had marched in during the night, arriving at about 12.45 a.m. Ou Monday work begau in earnest and section training was the order for the whole week. After this the Fourth aud Seventeenth Batteries left, and the Twen-ty-first Battery from Auckland came in. The following Monday was devoted 1.0 battery training in camp, when the signallers and specialists combined with the gunners for the first time. On the Tuesday tactical traiuiug started aud the battery moved out of camp to support an attack by our troops, a touch of realism being introduced by the firing of blank ammunition. Wednesday saw the beginning of the “war” in earnest and the battery was attached to the force to which was allotted the task of protecting Taihape from the- invasion of a force from Taupo. After the occupntin of a suitable position, live-shell practice was carried out. The' battery then "retired to a bivouac area (Waiouru Camp) while preparations were made to occupy a position by night. The survey party spent a busy hour fixing aud marking the positions to be occupied by the guns. As soon as darkness fell the guns were placed in position silently and with a minimum of lights, the torches of N.C.O.’s and of one officer being the only lights allowed. The guns were laid on a given line ready for a “dawn attack.” “Dawn” broke at 9 o'clock the next morning and the results of the night’s work were proved by shooting on the lines laid out by night. From this position an advance was made and the guns took up a forward position with an observation post further forward and well out to a flank. This made observation very difficult, but the gunners were now settling down very well and the re-; suits achieved were better than those of the previous day. At the end of the day’s shooting an exercise was carried out in the quick withdrawal of the battery from a position which had come under enemy shell-fire. The position was cleared in seven minutes—no mean feat with such heavy equipment (each howitzer weighs nearly four tons). A tribute is due to the drivers of file gun-lorries and of the battery staff vehicles for the way they handled their vehicles over the rough country which had to he crossed during the three days' “war.” Friday morning was devoted to further shooting, which wa<s witne«Sr?e<l by a party of members of Parliament who were visiting the camp. Further improvement was shown in all parts of the battery, the work at the guns being particularly good. Before returning to (•amp the whole battery was able to witness an anti-tank shoot with 18-pound-ers by the Twenty-first Buttery. The tanks, two scrim-covered frames, were towed on a zig-zag course and the two guns opened fire as soon as the gunners could see them. A number of direct, hits was scored.

Saturday morning’s reveille ushered in the only rainy day, but preparations for departure went on without a hitch and camp was cleared by 8.30 a.m. While in camp the battery was inspected by Majoi’-Gcneral J. E. Duigan, C. 8., D. 5.0., Chief of the General Staff, Colonel E. Puttick, D. 5.0.. A.D.C., officer commanding Central Military District, and Major G. B. Parkinson. R.N.Z.A., commander, Royal New Zealand Artillery. as well as by members of Parliament. Engineers in Bivouac. 4 convoy of railway buses, cars and army motor transports will convey members of the 2nd Field Company of New Zealand Engineers to Raumati beach. Paraparaumu, this morning, where they will be encamped for the weekend under the command of Major C. H. Beach, with Captain E. I. Hubbard second-in-com-mand, and Lieutenants Harris, Pemberton and V. F. Connolly. Transport has been arranged in the afternoon lor those unable to attend in the morning. The lines will be located at the motor camp. The training.scheme comprises extensive exercises in beach defence, with co-opera-tion from the air ; night exercises and tactical manoeuvres in combating the advance of hostile armoured lighting vehicles.

Last Monday evening the unit paraded for the first time in the recently-issued smart blue walking-out uniforms. Direction in the affixing of badges and titles was given, and later the unit was reorganized on an efficiency basis, with No. 1 ns senior section. Lieutenant Harris, assistant adjutant, gave a short talk on points of discipline both on parade and in camp; a discussion of the weekend camp concluded the evening. Wellington Regiment.

Last Sunday at Palmer Head the signal and intelligence sections of the Wellington Uegiment combined in an exercise to illustrate the use of signals in attack. For purposes of the scheme. Lieutenant Hutchens gave an excellent imitation of n battalion commanding officer endeavouring to recover gun-emplacements overrun by an invading force. Lieutenant Sinclair being in charge of signals, both line and visual. Following recapture and consolidation of the gun-emplacements, the movement was carried further forward to dispose of enemy posts on the coast road. The exercise was watched by the C.O. of the regiment, who commended all ranks on a worthy effort. Rumour whispers gleefully of one keen officer who secretly set forth to test the signallers’ organization by cutting their telephone wire, the only Haw in a shrewd move being his selection of a wire belonging to the fort. On Thursday the officers held their monthly mess meeting, when acclamation announced the arrival of the Jeelurer for the evening, the late adjutant, Captain L. W. Andrew, N.Z.S.C., V.C. His subject was that of administration, upon the efficiency of which the success of tactics and strategy ultimately depend. A few pointed asides by the lecturer reminded those present that sins of omission and commission were still under observation.

The resilient is dismayed to hear that it is to lose the services of Major Ross, appointed to command the newly-formed Scottish Battalion. All ranks retain the liveliest, memories of his brisk efficiency. The regiment, certainly feels that a happier choice of :i commanding officer for a new unit could not be made, and looks forward with some pleasure to seeing the Scotties "jump lo it.”