TREK OVER RIMUTAKAS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 May 1941, Page 7

TREK OVER RIMUTAKAS

TERRITORIAL MANOEUVRES CONTINUED.

PONTOON BRIDGE ACROSS WAINGAWA RIVER.

The outstanding feature of the Central Field Force manoeuvres yesterday was the. mechanised'movement of thousands of troops over the Rimutaka Range. It was on a scale not hitherto attempted in New Zealand. From the time the order was given to move from the Carterton area till the last vehicle was in its place in the upper and lower Hutt Valley, only 10 hours had elapsed. The varying grades of the Rimutaka highway provided a severe test for the drivers in keeping to the schedule laid down; special skill was called for with the vehicles having in tow gun trailers and mounted field pieces. An average speed for the trip would have. been 15 miles an hour. The army sent its own provost corps ahead to act as traffic officers at difficult points, while at Featherston, the Summit and the Brown Owl, Upper Hutt, there were Field Ambulance units to deal with any road or other casualties. The arrival of the troops in the Hutt Valley last night was the result of the skilful deployment of the forces engaged against the enemy forces, who were driven back earlier than was anticipated in the programme of the exercises. Every branch of the- field force got a real chance to show its worth under active service conditions. The engineers did a splendid job in .building pontoon bridges over the Waingawa River at Masterton, a course made necessary by the presumed destruction of the main bridge over this river by enemy forces.