The Hawaiian gazette., 1901-11-15
Boards Report on
Our Defenses
Complete.
(From Wednesdays Daiiy)

OR more than twenty miles the
kona coast OF the Island OF Ca
hu will be fortified In such
/ manner as to make the island practi-
cally impregnable. The report OF the
| Board OF Fortitications which has been
investigating the coast line for the pur-
pose of locating needed batteries was
completed and signed yesterday. Col.
iieuer president of the board, will take
IL with him in the Alameda today and
viii forward it to Washington at once.
The work Of the Board has been ac-
complished with remarkable rapidity
Arriving here Thursday morning last
the members despite rain and mud
spent that day covering the Waikiki
! district and without the least let up
pushed their task through to compile
ton. This involved the exploration OF
the coast from Koko Head to below
Pearl Harbor covering nearly thirty
possible locations for high power guns
inspecting the only available pass and
Punchbowl which has been suggested
as desirable site for a great fortifica-
ton Not only have some twelve loca-
tons been chosen for batteries, but ii
Is understood that one central artillery
camp or station has been surveyed and
the location will be recommended
The Board Is composed of two en-
gineer and two artillery officers. and the
result of their deliberations covers not
only number and location of fortified
points but also size of armament and
estimate of probable cost. Every mem
Der or the Board observes a degree of
secrecy as to all that has been accom-
plished and the full details of the work
will only be known when the Chief of
Engineers at Washington, after re-
view of the report, dscloses its pur-
port.
1t Is understood that the Board will
not recommend any turret batteries.
Instead of this system of defenses
which Is esteemed by many prominent
engineer officers to be still in an ex-
detrimental stage, the older and more
approved system of low fortifications
with disappearing carriages for the
high power rifles will be the general
type of defenses. The carriages of this
type are used to mount the eight, ten
and twelve Inch breech loading rifles |
now being manufactured for coast de- |
lenses 1t Is the belief of artillerists |
that with heavy walls the Notifications |
furnishing mounts for this type of rifle |
are the most advantageous and outclass |
the proposed turret, the chief advocates
OF which are naval officers.
While the principal batteries of the |
twelve or more. so far located on pa
per. Will be of this type there may be |
some of the larger guns. such as the |
great sixteen inch rifles now being con-
structed at Watervleit placed on COM
handing points, like the harbor mouth
and the Pearl Harbor entrance. These
guns are too heavy for the disappearing |.
carriage as developed up to this time
and they are always mounted In bar
bette. behind armored shields, which
furnish complete protection for ord
nance and artillerlst.
For the perfect protection OF the ISL
and and the government works, the |
chain of Notifications will embrace
emplacements for guns at Waialae bay, |
on Diamond Head, at Waikiki, at the
Harbor mouth, at Pearl Harbor and be-
You'd commanding Waianae bay. Ow-
Ing to the fact that the mountain
passes may be easily defended little
fear Is felt that any enemy will ever
menace the garrison from the rear or
on the flank.
There is an opinion held by many
army officers here that the proposed .
site for post Mt Kahaulki should be
abandoned az it would furnish target
distingulshable at long range and II Is
believed the present Board will rec
ommend a location ''~ser down to the
scashore.
>%>>%>> >>>%&>>>%>
shoulder.
He was taken to the Police Station
and given a sound lecture for staying
2 I,n- AZ Ton La LII