The Hawaiian gazette., 1911-06-13
RedOubts May Circle Oahu
With Rings Of
Steel.
LOCATIONS MAPPED
Waikiki Shore Line May
Be Taken Up by War
Department.
tFrom Sundays Advertiser,


Some publicity has just been given
to the plans for the next step to be
taken by the war department in the
terrifying of this island, the plans to
be carried out just as soon as congress
votes the money.
What is being done in the way of
coast protection with mortar batteries
at Diamond Head, big guns at Wal
Xxi, direct fire guns at the harbor en-
trance, more big guns at Pearl Harbor
and more mortar batteries to back
these up, is only starter on the gen
eral plan.
Oahu is to. be encircled with ring
of steel. The plans now outlined in
clude battery of direct-6re guns ON
Koko Head and a series of redoubts
around the island from Koko Head to
Waianae to complete the chain of de-
lenses.
When the army engineer companies
traversed this island from shore to
mountain ridges and up and down val
leys n military map was completed
which is the most complete survey of
Oahu ever made, and Upon that map
have been located places possible of
fertilization, which Notifications, when
constructed, will provide veritable
circlet OF steel and make the island
absolutely impregnable against both
Smelling from sea and from land at
tacks
The additional Notifications will
l,
ton of emplacements for big guns at
Koko Head, continuing with smaller
redoubts along the entire wndward
coast, which will be designed for at
least one gun, and in some instances,
two of small caliber, largely intended
to be used for warding off attacks by
landing parties. These redoubts will
be constructed at intervals until they
have circled the island, ending at Wal
amaze, which will be adjacent to the big
guns at Pearl Harb0r. 1t is also in
tended. if the recommendations of
General Murray are carried o1t, to
erect heavy gun Notifications on the
Eva side of the Pearl Harbor channel.
Take In Entire Shore.
Behind the remarks made by General
Macomb at the Commercial Club last
scheme for utilizing considerable area
of the swamp lands of KewalO and
Kakaako for a great park and boule-
wards, where the military and naval
forces stationed in and about Homo
lulu and the crews of foreign war
ships might have a drilling ground,
there is said to loom a possibility OF
the entire shore line from Honolulu
harbor to the Seaside Hotel being tax
en- over for war department purposes
The department began by taking
over the Along property at Waikiki
and then taking over properties on
either side and then extending both to
ward Diamond Head and town, where
Fort De Rlssy was eventually estab
hshed for the big gun batteries. Al
the present time condemnation proceed
ings are in the courts to acquire add
tional lands.
Macombs Ambitious Plans
General Macomb recommends that
the war department acquire lands IN Ke
walo and Kakaako, where army bar
racks may be established for quarter
ing several thousand infantry troops
He proposes seawall along the shor'
to include tide lands and hopes tha
the Ala Moana will be made into one
of the finest boulevards in the world
From army sources it is learned tina
the war department has figured on &C
quiring title to the entire shore linz
closing up all gaps so that there will
be a continuous war department strip
Inquiries have been made by army of
fieers concerning properties at the foo
of Diamond Head and there is som
likelihood that land in that section vii
also be acquired by the government
A seawall is shortly to be built alolI
the Fort De R.issy frontage which vii
give the reservation solid section .
ground from Kalakaua avenue to tn
shore. The army authorities are ais
preparing to cover the coral which wa
used to fill in swamp lands on the re
servatiOn with rich loan so that tn
entire tract may be grassed over. Tn
grounds will then be prepared for til
construction of barracks for the coas
artillery troops, and be one of Hon
lulu 8 show places.
Extension Of Fort shafter.
At Forst ShafteF, where extension
are also proposed when the force a
Leilehua Is diminished, the reservatio
limits may be extended to include som
OF the upper Damon lands When Fol
Shafter was first established and I'll
reservation lines established, Maize
Davis, surgeon, recommended that a
the upper Damon lands be included .
he believed then that the lands wO II
be needed when Fort shafter was mad
larger post than originally plannei
Major Winslow, of the Corps Of II
gineefs, stated few months before
left here for Panama, that the vi
nnrln .I.uanI Id nnl.. .anna.L.a IL. -.