The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1909-09-09
DIAMOND HEAD.
Uncle Sans Great Volcano Fortress
In the Pacific Ocean.

In the Pacific Ocean.
Since England Instituted her vast
and mysterious system Of defenses in
the great rock Of Gibraltar the world
has witnessed no project Of military
fertilization so important as that
which has been undertaken by the
United States In the island of Oahu
of the Hawaiian group.
In the belief that the Pacific ocean
is to be the theater Of the next great
international struggle for commercial
and territorial control, the American
government has entered upon project
which Is destined to give 1t an invinci-
BILE base and outpost In midocean at
Hawaii To that end it has begun to
fortify what is known as Diamond
head. which Is vast extinct volcano
In Oahu, on. which Honolulu is built.
and when the works are completed
the place will be justly entitled to be
called 1.-THE Gibraltar Of the Pacific"
Situated as 1t is at the lower ex-
tremity Of the island. with its northern
slope forming part of the city of Homo
lulu. says Edward 7. Irwin In the
World Today. Diamond head COM
mands the seward approach from all
directions to the city. and the fire Of
it's guns. combined with the cross fire
of the Pearl harbor Notifications seven
miles away on the other side of Homo
lulu, is sufficient to render the town
safe from attack.
The crater itself is comparatively
shallow, being only couple Of hum
dred feet deep. But the walls are
steep and rugged. and 1t would be
practically impossible for ship at
sea to drop a shell into the cavity.
This is being taken advantage OF to
form a safe shelter for the gunners
who are to man the battery.
The guns themselves, eight Pinch
mortars Of the newest and most pow
erful type. are not located in the era
ter itself. but are mounted on the
Leah slope. toward Kaimuki. behind
the mountain. Should there be occa-
sion to use them In time of war the
gunners would not see the vessel at
which they were firing. but would d.
rect their aim according to the tele-
phoned instructions OF the range find
ers stationed at various points on the
circumference Of the crater's rim.
Suchis modern gunnery. matter OF
mathematics rather than Of accuracy
OF vision. But 10 such degree OF per-
fectlon has 'he modern science Of gun
merry attained that the crews Of the
Diamond head battery would be able
70 drop on TO the deck OF battleship
miles distant ard completely. out Of
their range OF vision projectile which
would sink the vessel before ever II
had n chance 10 get close enough 10
the island 10 use Its own less powerful
guns.
Through the thick rock walls of the
VOLCANOES crater grimy workmen. I'm.
der the direction OF United States mil.
itary engineers. are driving tunnel
This Is 10 form passageway 70 and
from the batteries for the officers and
range finders and. should occasion
ever arise. for the crews OF the NOR.
tar battery
The sides of the volcano are very
steep aud cannot be scaled except In
n few places where narrow paths lead
up the precipifous heights. A few
riflemen and mschine guns could east
~ defend these passes against force
many times their number.
About the only way the volcanic
fortress could be captured would be
by starving the defenders out. Water
would be the most difficult thing for a
defending force 10 obtain. but Il will
be no insu?ernble task 20 provide q
plentiful supply.
When this is finished Hawaii will
have the NEST novel and at the same
time one Of the strongest fortresses In
the worId-a fortified volcano.