Territorials Train for Mimic Battle

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 585, 11 February 1929, Page 1

Territorials Train for Mimic Battle

ASSAULT ON RED BEACH

CAMP AT NARROW NECK When 500 Territorials piunge into the sea at Red Beach before daybreak on Thursday morning they may console themselves with the thought that they are taking part, for the first time in the history of the Dominion. in combined naval, military and air force manoeuvres. Plans have been completed for an elaborate mock battle at this quiet beach, some 25 miles north of Auckland. The ground has been inspected thoroughly, and charts studied frequently by the staff officers in charge. The “Red,” or attacking, army, will be drawn from the Ist Battalion, the Auckland Regiment, now in camp at Narrow Neck. They will be taken north by the four warships stationed in Auckland, and landed in the ships’ boats in face of fire by artillery sections and a skeleton army composed mainly of machine-gunners. Supplies will be lahded over a bridge built by the Engineers. A Bristol Fighter airplane, piloted by Major L. M. Isitt, has arrived from Sockburn Airdrome, and will scout overhead. The attackers are exacted to penetrate one and a-haif u.les inland to the base of the hills *■ .'ich will already have been shelied by the warships. When the ' Cease fire” has sounded, both parties of belligerents will join in an attack on the breakfast thoughtfully provided by the defending “Blue" army.

Although most of the action will take place under cover of darkness, the landing being timed for 4.30 a.m., both officers and men are expected to learn much in the art of attack. On Friday officers and non-commissioned officers combined in preparations on NarrowNeck beach. Small squads representing platoons dashed from the water's edge, where they were supposed to have just landed, over the roadway and into the rough country on the other side. To-morrow afternoon the whole battalion will march to Calliope Dock to rehearse the embarkation on the warships. Field kitchens have arrived at the camp and will be taken to Red Beach in a day or two.

The men themselves have been busy. Ceremonial drill occupies second place in this camp, and for the most part the Territorials are engaged in actual field -work. Special attention is being paid to instruction in the use of machine-guns.