BATTLE PRACTICE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 February 1941, Page 6

BATTLE PRACTICE

NEW ZEALAND TROOPS IN EGYPT l REALISTIC EXERCISES. DEFENCE AGAINST BOMBERS. (Received 'l'fiis Day. 12.35 p.m.) •.From, the Official War Correspondent with the N Z.E.F in Egypt, i CAIRO. February 3. Training in resistance to dive-bomb-ing and tank attacks, and night operations, were features of further realistic battle exercises just completed by a full infantry brigade, in a day's march of seventeen miles across rough desert country. Three battalions were subjected to mock attacks from lowflying R.A.F machines, putting their Knowledge of defensive measures to the test. Next day the brigade marched a further eight toiles to a point whence they effected a night capture of a supposed port, which two battalions took after carrying all their fighting equipment and dragging antitank guns by hand across a wide stretch of desert. A third battalion fought its way along an imaginary coastline, through an intercepting enemy force consisting of light tanks and Bren carriers of a cavalry regiment. C’ontintially harassed by the "enemy." the brigade marched home by night.