The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1904-06-14
GREAT SHAM BATTLE
ON KA|MUK| HEIGHTS
Regulars Unite With Militia in Useful War
DriII...Decision of Honors is Dependent
on Hypothetical Points.

| were 0eau, escaped INTO tne Dusn. lHel
Capt. Berndt led his company in close
formation clear into the open road
way and was met by a succession OF
volleys from both sides of the road. The
distance from Zeiglers position was
not more than $50 yards. 1t. Col
Zeigler cried out, They're all dead"
1t was admitted on Major Walls side
that Berndt's loss should have been
40 per cent. Another company follow
ing close behind did not expose itself
so badly though some did, and
then four companies few minutes
later encountered the Hilo men in the
woods. After some sharp firing in the
cover, the attacking companies emerg-
| ed in full view of the road at an ele-
walton of fully 100 feet above Zeigler' s
central position. There they made a
beautiful formation of oval shape in
skirmishing order. They poured down
| a blighting fire upon the Hilo compa-
| ny, which was hotly returned. This
contest was maintained for some min
utes, when Zeigler gave the order to
| his men to cease firing. The advantage
at this point was claimed by both
sides. On the part of Zeigler it was
contended that, after the direct fire
from ambush the attacking party sus-
tained on the roadway, it would have
been impossible for it to have carried
out its maneuver upon the slopes. On
, the part of Wall, it was held that the
rugged and wooded character of the
ground there was sufficient cover to
have made the movement feasible even
with the admitted heavy loss below.
THE RIGHT ATTACKED.
Meantime some sharp firing of the
regulars on Zeiglers right showed
something doing in that quarter. Zeig-
Ter strengthened the line in that di-
rection. His outposts were seen re-
firing and the cause quickly became
apparent in lively skirmish fire some
400 yards below Leahi Hospital. When
the first contact of the main bodies on
the road took place, Co. c under COM
mand of Capt. Coyne and Co. A led
by Lit Santos had deployed to the left.
Avoiding the roads for the most part,
as being conspicuous from the heights,
they broke through the lantana thick
ct for 2OOO or 5000 yards and emerg-
ing near Mrs. Hendricks house, ad-
vanced steadily to attack Zeigler's
struck the lane in front of the hospital,
on the line of Zeigler's breastworks,
an outpost of five men began popping
at them from the southwest corner of
the stone wall enclosing the hospital
grounds. Coyne paid no attention to
this diversion, neither did he notice a
company under Capt. Nahora Hipa ad
vancing up the lane from the road.
When he came to the front entrance of
the hospital enclosure he took the
grounds with a double quick rush, the
two companies firing as they advanced
past the buildings. 1t was noticed that
the firing from Zeigler's extreme right
was light in the face of Coynes as
sault, as If the defense was employed
in improving its position. AS the eX-
change of volleys grew fiercer Captain
Hipa's company scaled the hospital
wall and poured hot fire into the flank
of the assailants. They in fact got
quite mixed up with each other and all
at once the bugles sounded cease firing. |
Capt. Coyne explained that he had /
ignored the attack of Capt. Hipa be- /
cause Hipa's men We're at that stage |
out of the fight, having been disposed
of in the fight at the left of the position. |
If not dead" they We're necessary to |
the defense of the principal fort. 1t |
Col. Zeigler contests this proposition !
and If points must be judged evidence !
will be required to settle it. If Hipa's (
men We're live" then Coyne and San
tos by taking the hospital only got into
a trap.
ALL GOOD-NATURED.
There We're no hard feelings on either /
side over such problematic questions. /
As one officer of high rank put it, there |
will always be disputes over sham bat
ties because volunteers never know /
when they are Killed"
After the fight at the hospital both .
sides mingled i'm irregular retirement
to the main road, laughing and joking
over their strenuous experiences upon
the rugged field and in the hot sun.
Having rested at ease few minutes,
with studied attention to the water
both sides We're formed in
line aud marched down TO the camp
NOTES.
Lieut. Trotter commanded the 2Sth
of Coast Artillery, which
joined In the movement To surround the
llilo boys, iie saved his men by bring
Ing them up In skrmish order
Lieut. w, W, X, Hamilton, u, :, A.
the olheer detailed 10 instruct the mile
tla n camp had joint command with
Major Wall nf the "Dmys" taking gem
1Tal supervision nf ihe attack
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