SHAM FIGHT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 175, 3 November 1910, Page 7

SHAM FIGHT.

AN ATTACK ON NEW PLYMOUTH. An instructional parade, following a course of lectures for the officers of No. 1 Battalion junior cadets, was held yesterday on the country between New Plymouth and Bell Block. An account of the operations is conveyed by the publication of the confidential instructions issued to the Red and Blue forces, and a general idea of the manoeuvres. General Idea.—The British Empire is at war with a foreign Power, and ou Monday a hostile raiding force (Red) landed near Bell Block and bivouacked in that locality on Monday and Tuesday nights. New Plymouth was defended on the east by a force (Blue) camped near the Waiv.akaiho river. The confidential instructions to the commander of the Blue force (Captain Bary) were that the hostile force at Bell Block consisted of 60 men (without artillery or mounted men) who could not be reinforced. The commander was instructed to move the force along the Bell Block road and defeat the enemy. The Red force, commanded by Captain Johnson, received orders to advance and capture New Plymouth, the information being given that approximately 120 men were camped for two nights on the banks of the Waiwakaiho. The troops moved forward at 1 o'clock to carry out these instructions, the area of the manoeuvres being restricted to the country between the railway at the sea. Excellent work was done by members of both sides, but it was the opinion of the umpires (Lieut.-Col. Okey, V.D., Major Bellringer and Major Sandford, V.D.) fliat "the Red force did not succeed in their attempt to raid the town." '