MIMIC WARFARE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 December 1939, Page 6

MIMIC WARFARE

TRAINING AT WAIOURU BIG DAY FOR RIFLE BATTALION. NIGHT MANOEUVRES IN HILL COUNTRY. WAIOURU TRAINING CAMP, - December 5. The thrills and hazards of night fighting were brought home to members of the 19th Wellington (Rifle) Battalion tonight when they had their first night manoeuvres in hill country, 3000 feet up and five miles from the camp. For three hours the hills and valleys echoed the fire of hundreds of men, and their shouts as they made sorties up crests and down into valleys. The night was ideal, still and dark, but starry overhead. The only relief from the blackness of the isolated country was the flare of Verey lights as they revealed groups of defenders crouched in the cover of tussocks and lit the way for bands of attacks as they made their vigorous charges. It was a big day for the battalion, which had the usual 6 a.m. reveille, moved oft' to mimic attacks near the camp at 8 a.m., lunched in the field, and continued exercises in the afternoon. After tea the troops went off for the night manoeuvres, which did not finish till 10.30 p.m., after which they had to march back to camp. Hot soup was served them before they retired, and next day’s rising was postponed 90 minutes. Because the special force members now at Waiouru will return to their respective camps on Sunday after a week’s training —not a fortnight, as originally scheduled —today’s and tonight’s work was of considerable importance for active service training. BACK TO TRENTHAM TROOPS LEAVING WAIOURU ON SUNDAY. TAIHAPE, December 6. A special train will leave Waiouru at 8 a.m. on Sunday for Wellington. The divisional cavalry from Ngaruawahia and the field engineers who are in camp will also depart on Sunday. The 1500 troops at Waiouru were told late last night that they would be returning to their respective mobilisation camps on Sunday. Their unanimous feeling on getting this information was of regret. They .state that they are enjoying their new camp and particularly the wider opportunities for advanced training. The bracing atmosphere has had its beneficial effect on them and, as one soldier put it, “Here you can get up at 6 a.m. without it taking you anothei’ hour to ‘wake up.’ ” For a new caipp ' the messing and. general arrangements have been really good, particularly meals, and even theweek's training which will hax'e been completed here by Sunday, instead of the fortnight originally planned, will have had all the benefit of a good holiday for the soldiers.