The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-08-25
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ARMY AND NAVY NEWS


Captain Exton, Twentieth Infantry,
successfully demonstrated on Thursday
last that the famous Waianae gap back
of Leiiehua cavalry post could be scaled
by supply and escort wagons without
removing the mules from the traces.
It was dangerous feat but SO certain
was Captain Exton that, with some
drivers of the Goth Infantry he knew
were dependable, the gap could be used
IS short cut for wagons, that he asked
permission to make the attempt Major
Cunning, commandment of Fort Shafter,
gave his consent, but it is presumed he
felt he was risking a lot Of govern
ment property when he did so.
Although many eavalrymen had gone
over the gap, both afoot and mounted,
yet when they heard that an infantry
man really dared to think of taking
loaded wagon over, they shook their
had they learned of Captain Exton IS
proposition. Waianae gap has long
been famous as short cut between
the Leilehua and Waianae sections, but
mainly for pedestrians and cowboys
with surefooted horses and mules.
There was a twofold purpose in as
certaining whether wagons, and loaded
wagons at that, could negotiate the
pass One was TO find out whether
supplies for troops could be passed
over The successful trip has demon
strated that if a hostile force lands
on the Waianae beach, howitzers and
small mountain guns can also be
brought up over the gap. Captain Ex-
ton demonstrated that both PROPOSE
tions are not only feasible but could
be put into practice.
An unloaded escort wagon was first
tried On the Leilehua side there was
no place for wagon s wheels and
soldiers shelved convenient gulches to
aid them. After much effort the wagon
was taken to the top and then the
descent began. The wheels were block
ed and gradually the wagon was taken
down. Then came the trial with load
ed wagons. This was far more DIFF
fcult proposition.
The shelving of the side hills for
| wheel bases was found to be imprac-
| ticable but one oldtime driver solved
| the problem.
'Make deep ruts, Captain he sug-
gested. "Don t run it out level; leave
! the ruts and let the wheels run along y
Captain Exton adopted the suggestion
and fore and aft wheel dropped into
rut channeled in the side of a steep
hill and that held the wagon. The
mules were not taken out of the traces
at any stage of the game.
| It is understood that the trip has
been made a part of the military rec
ords and will be forwarded to the
| division commander.
The scaling of the pass by Captain
Exton was made during practise
march of Companies E and G, TWEEN
tieth Infantry. The men left Fort
Shafter Monday morning, August 16,
and marched to a place midway be-
tween Shafter and Leilehua and had
lunch at noon. They rested for three
hours and had dinner, leaving camp at
4:30, arriving at Leilehua at p. M,
(, and went into camp at the foot of the
Waianae range. The troops remained
IN camp two days and broke camp at
| 7:30 in the morning and then marched
| over Waianae gap to Waianae, reach
ing the village about noon. They went
into camp about FIVE miles this side
| of the town and marched to Waipahu,
and arrived back at Fort Shafter
| Thursday evening.