Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-02-24
Great Crowd Sees Defenders of
Oahu in Thrilling Three-Hour
Program at kapiolani Park

O0ttu III lHu HtHt9 lHhOO3tySet
Program at kapiolani Park
To the booming of cannon, the rat
tie of machine guns, the tramp Of
marching feet-to say nothing Of the
concerted blasts from three military
bands-nearly twelve thousand people
applauded and eheered for three
hours Saturday afternoon when the
defenders Of Oahu were seen In
action at KapiolanI Park. Coming as
climax to the. big parade in the
morning, the afternoon exhibition
left nothing to be desired. Every
conceivable maneuver that the army
might oe called upon In time Of var
to perform was gone through with.
Artillery caissons laundering across
the field in a whiriwind of dust un-
limbered in flash and bIazea away
at an imaginary enemy; platpQns or
infantry charged across open spaces,
dropping to the ground an. dfiring at
Intervals; troops of cavalry gailoped
past. circliHg right and left in splendid
formation; walls were scaled and ma.
chine guns brought into action i was
a splendid sight, and to say that the
crown was an appreciative one would
be putting it mildly. &
The competitive events themselves
were of an unusual and military char
acter, many of them being of the sort
prescribed or recommended by the
war department. AS result, there
was not a dull or Misunderstanding
moment the entire afternoon
There were no delays or yexatious
waits; everything moved with THE
precision and snap of a welktraiHed
military organization. Sentries with
lstrict orders to keep the crowd back
poiiced the ground so effectively that
spectators in the grandstand had "a
uninterrupted view of every event.
Although Red Cross Ambulance
was held in readiness, the big crowd
was handled without accident Once
only bellicose army mule, large III
size, broke loose upon the polo field
and threatened to disrupt the carefully
laid plans of his superiors by dis
lturbing the peace. He was taken into
custody at once by a mounted sen
tinef.
Crowd a. Banner One
Long before the hour advertised for
the exhibition to begin, the crowd be-
gan to assemble and by three thirty
O'Clock it overlooked the grandstand
until every available spot on the out
skirts of the big field was occupied
by spectators. Scores of automobiles
were assembled at the north end !;
along the sidelines in front OF the
stands, the soldiers were organized In
cohorts with noise-producing ma
chimes and boundless enthusiasm.
Promptly at half-past three o'clock
Company G of the First Infantry, com
lmanded by Captain Ruttencutter,
marched onto the field. This com.
Epany has the reputation of being one
of the best-drilled organizations in
the army, having won first honors in
the military meet held at Tacoma,
Wash, in 1910 Its appearance was
the signal for a burst of applause.
For ten minutes the crack organiza.
ton went through TIE different exer-
cises of bayonet drill which has
never been equaled in Honolulu.
Without a word of command, the
movements were executed with such
great rapidity and in such perfect
time that the entire company appear.
ed as a unit. They brought their drill
to an end by advancing in platoons,
Ehugging the ground and dropping
down to fire at intervals, and
finally charging with the bayonets.
Cavalry in EvoIutions.
Then the Fourth Cavalry band
struck up the good old army tune of
Pop Goes the Weasel" and troops A
and E of the Fourth Cavalry, com
manded respectively by Captain
Schirer and Lieutenant Fighter, trot-
tied onto the field in time to the mu-
tsic. Although these two organiza-
tons had been given but a few weeks
Ito perfect the drill assigned to them,
lthey crossed and re-crossed the polo
! field, circled and re-circled, formed
figure Fights and other complicated
revolutions, aecelerating or decreasing
their pace to the time set by the band,
without a single bobble 1t was q
magnificent performance, the horses
and men being so perfectly trained
that ii was impossible TO Judge which
of the two troops did their part the
better. At last when the troopers
Igalloped away under an arch Of sabers
/ to the turn of London Bridge Is
Falling Down." a great wave of APP
lplause, beginning in the grandstand
and sweeping across the field. gave
the troopers abundant proof that their
efforts had been appreciated.
Beautiful Exhibition Drill.
Following Immediately, the First
Battalion of the Second Infantry, Ma
( or Smith in command, gave a beauti-
! full exhibition of the first and second