The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-10-28

narrow path which had to be trodden
1t was only at the end of this precarious
footing that a climbed fence let the men
into the enclosure where stood the tents
prepared for their entertainment. There
was little wanting when the men finally
arrived az their temporary homes, for
the squads which went out in advance
had the ground covered with clean dry
straw, the lights and fires going and a
great pot OF hot coffee ready for the
men whose tramping had tired them out
completely. There was no other ration
for the evening meal for the men did
not take kindly to hard bread at first
and some even grumbled against the
strength of the coffee
Once in quarters the men began to
enjoy themselves and they did not let
up until reveille. There were guitars
and taro patch fiddles, concertinass and
mouth organs, and all were going al
most as soon as the men had their belts
and guns in the corners of the tents
There was as much of comfort as was
possible in the mems quarters, and the
orders for all lights out was very late
in finding forced acquiescence. All the
night through with the driving of the
rain against the canvas and the hum
of the busy cooks, for there were ever
men who wanted something hot for
their good, there came sound of reveI-
ry, and the rules were not too closely
observed in this respect. for the men
were supposed to be out for enjoyment
1t did rain, for the site of the camp
was close to the head of the valley and
all night long the moonlight went out
as the sheets of wind-driVen water fell
against the tents. But there were few
men who got outside into the wet. and
they were usually provided with pom
chos
When the sound of reveille rang
through the camp it was to wake
sleepy and tired crowd of young men.
They had more than their stunt in the
hard muddy march, and they began
to feel it. II can't get EN- up" sound
ed up and down company streets, re-
echoed against the mountain sides and
then the private and the corporal who
is worse and even the captain, the
worst of ALL We're awakened and the
life of the day began soon after $50
in the morning.
1t was to be busy day and there
was a deal of preparation for it, In
almost every company there had been
an addition made to the ration, and the
scenes along the company streets were
interesting. Capt. Sam Johnson had
been claiming for the past two weeks
that he would give to his men treat
in the form of pancakes. So it was
that he sent out a polished plate of boil
er iron which was so arranged that
fire beneath it made it an ideal place
for the baking of hot cakes. There was
maple syrup too and the supply was
so ample that Capt Johnson did not
allow any of his friends to go without
breakfast, if his voice could reach them.
There was the usual getting together
for the morning battalion drill, and the
turnout here showed effectively. The
first battalion had 162 men and the sec
ond 1G5. This made a very. good show
ing as the men We're put through their
PAGES in field movements, little work with
the piece being brought in. This timber
ing up, which took place at about $50
o'clock, was the lowland entertainment
for the gathering audience for the later
naneuvers, while the more necessary
work, the setting of the targets, was go
ing on several hundred yards up the hill
side, squad being engaged in planting
the posts for the muslin. All was in
readiness when the hour of 10 o'clock ar
rived. and the men were sent out in the
line of battle.
The targets took the form of a line of
muslin which represented an entrenched
force thrown out from a biockhouse,
which was represented by a double
stretch of muslin four yards long and
two yards high. This was at the center
of the line, the target being placed right
in front of a huge rock which bore the
brunt OF the fighting. These were quite
a distance up the hill, and the range of
the fire was always elevated. Owing to
objections raised the field pieces of the
regiment We're not taken out to the camp
and so the engagement took the form of
an ordinary infantry attack upon an en-
trenched position. where the fire of the
enemy must be smothered to secure any
advance to the rifle pits.
The first rise of hill from the plain,
upon which was located the camp. gave
a distance of some 700 yards from the
targets, there being a second valley be-
fore the main ascent was reached. This
taken with the general contour of the
hills, gave an excellent opportunity for
a fanking movement, and this was the
plan decided upon. The extreme right
wing was given to Major Zeigler, WIEN
Companies F. Captain Johnson and r.
Captain Nahora Hipa. Major Camara,
with his battalion, composed of G Com
pany, Captain Wilcox. Company, Cap
tain Winant, and c. Company, Captain
Gonzalves. took care of the extreme left,
while the center was carried by Colonel
j. w. Jones with Company A, Captain
Klemme and H, under command of Lieu
tenant TravenS.
The assault was made from each side
at the same moment. the firing beginning
from the left, where the ascent of the
hill was made in company front extend
ed order, and the first firing was in vol
leys by companies. On the right the
same time the battle was on by the two
companies firing as battalion and there
was not one minute difference between
the time of the beginning of the fire all
along tie line Starting with volley fire.
the battalions would fire, rise and rush
ahead ten PAGES and fall fire again and
repeat the tactics of ADVANCE. This
was done TO test the firing at
the various ranges, the officers watch
ing the effect of the fire with glasses.
When the range had been cut down
from 700 yards to in the neighborhood OF
s~fy or will