The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-10-24
TO FIGHT
IN MANOA
Sham Battle Will
Be Given in
Valley.
GRASSY SLOPES
ATTRACT SOLDIERS
Plowed Ground and Dense UUder-
brush Cause Abandonment
Of Moanalua Site.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Win eoh

a RTILLERYMEN will fight an i'm
~ aginary foe over the fields of the
Woodlawn Dairy, in Manoa Val
ley, Sunday. The change of the site
was made yesterday by board of
officers, after a visit to the first point
chosen, at Moanalua. The change was
due to consideration for the men of
the command, and the officers believe
the change viii be agreeable to those
who must do the work.
When the officers of the regiment.
Col. j. w Jones' Lieut.. Colonel c. j.
Mccarthy, Major Camara, Major Zieg-
Ter and Captain Johnson went to Mo
analua yesterday, they found that the
ground over which it had been pro-
posed to have the exercises had been
plowed. This drawback was further
accented by the fact that all the re-
mainder of the available ground was
covered by dense growths, rendering it
almost impossible for the men to
maintain open order in the skirmish
exercises with any degree of accurate
movement, thus defeating one of the
purposes of the drill.
What made it finally imperative that
change should be made in the loca-
ton of the field exercise camp, was the
fact that should it be pitched at the
Moanalua grounds, there would be alb
solutely no shade for the men, as the
camp would have to be pitched in the
open plowed field. This would make
the camp most unpleasant, and there
would be no chance for any enjoyment
after the work Of the drill.
The place chosen for the camp is the
open field of the dairy farm, about one
mile from the end of the electric car
line in Manoa Valley. The camp will
be reached by following the lower road
up the valley to a point above the
mango grove, where there is @ road
which leads to the higher slopes. This
was the place used by the men In their
drill of last Sunday, and they are IA
miliar with the roads and the lay of
the land, SO that they will be able TO
get all the enjoyment possible out OF
their stay in camp. There are several
fields along the hillside, the tract in
cluding some four hundred acres.
Along the upper side of the tract
there is now stone fence which forms
a natural entrenchment where the tar
gets proposed may be placed. There
may be had a range of from /, 200 to
1,500 yards here, which is sufficient to
show the value and work of the Hotch-
kiss guns, which are to be used by the
artillery section of the attacking force.
The principal argument in favor of
the Manoa Valley fields Is that the
rpr
through Of all the open movements
without any interruption other than
that which comes from the presence OF
the guaya trees, which dot the entire
hillside. These, however, viii furnish
shade for the men after the exercises,
and as well, fine shields for the tents
of the camp.
There will be an inspection of the
regiment Friday evening, preliminary
to the field exercises. The camp outfit
will be sent up to the site chosen on
that day, and the squads will place the
tents and lay out the company streets,
SO that the men will have little TO do
after their arrival. Col. ]. w. Jones,
in reference to the camp, said lass
evening:
"A week ago Saturday, when Colo
mel Mccarthy, Captain Ashley, Lieuten-
ant Hancock and myself went to Mo-
analua, we looked over the proposed
site for the field exercises from the
railroad train, and it appeared n ev-
cry way suitable. The klu on the hill
side, makai of the salt lake, appeared
very low and sufficiently scattered to
allow the men to go through with lit
tie or no difficulty.
''On closer inspection this morning,
going over the ground covered by klu.
we noticed that it was too high, and
grew too close together for men IL
penetrate readily, which would not per
nit the field exercises to be executed
in the manner desired; and If the men
forced their way through, 1t would be
ruinous to their uniforms.
Having been to Manoa Valley last
week and inspected the grounds, 1t was
seen that the site there was better
adapted to field exercises, being much
more open, with little or no brush on
that part which it would be necessary
to use.
We, therefore. after finishing the
inspection at Moanalua this morning.
came to the conclusion that the Held
exercises had better be held in Manoa:
The transportation facilities would q
course take US right to the camp at
MoanaIua, but the Rapid Transit
Company having completed a portion