Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-10-16

the 0ccupat1on or the entertainments
the SUPPORT companies that had pre-
tected the lines fnioyements we're
withdrawn to their positions in rear
Of the line. whore thsy took up their
normal duty Of local supports. -.
Colonel French Careful.
As becomes a careful and watehful
commander. Colonel French was not
merely content with sitting down and
waiting for the enemy. but immediate
ly pushed combat and exploring pa.
trolls well out to the front to take up
concealed positions in the guava
thickets and watch for signs of the
Red force. Intereonamunication Of
slgnalmen from the companies was
Immediately established so that the
commander, from his position near
the line, could receive information or
transmit his orders to his suboriin.
ates. The regiment did not have
Icng to walt for test Of its dispo-
sitions, as from away or by the foot
hills north OF Wahiawa the enemy's
patrols were to be seen, followed up
by two heavy columns of infantry.
While apparently in a loose forma.
tion, being separated by, considers
able distance. these columns were,
nevertheless, q whole, and regulating
taeir march on each other advanced
rapidly through the fields, evidently
on business bent. It was soon observ-
ed by the Blues that the actual loca-
ton of their line had not as yet been
made, since the general direction Of
the enemys advance was seen to be
a conycrging one on the low ridge in
front Of the Blues position, and some
1900 yards away from it.
Colonel French's idea was evidently
to infiict as much damage upon the
enemy's superior force at long range
aS was possible. With extra ammuni-
ton in hand, according to his original
orders, FIRE was there opened at dis
tances web calculated to cause the
enemy to deIloy and shGw the full ex-
tent Of his force. as we'll as disclose
his intention while yet AZ long range.
in this, the machine gun platoon un-
der lieutenant Mathews, on the left
of the Blues line, was, considered by
the umpires to have done particularly
effective work, since the guLs from
concealed positions. were able to open
fire on the head Of a long column OF
infantry that was in the open at q
range Of about 1900 yards. Then, as
this column turned on what might be
called the false objective for il, sweep
ing fire as 1t exposed its flank by this
movement was ordered by the plstoon
commander.
Theoretical Fire,
+ Unfortunately for the reainess OF
maneuvers, machine guns car but sim.
nlate fire, there peing no blank am.
munition that can be used except in
single shots, Hence the Red comman.
der was unaware of the whitening fire
THAT the un1p.res decided was being
poured upon his troops Hao he been
so advised, as he would have been by
the use of service ammunition, he
would sundo uBEed1y have promptly de
ployed, or, II the. IRE was too effec
/ tive. taken cover until he was able tc
reply 4 with heay y !, Gre from : skirnisl
As IL was. he. continued to advance
until having come within the range
| of the. files of the defense, as was
shown by the popping of the blanks
OF the Blue infantry, he promptly de
pioyed, and his right wing making q
half turn to the right, returned the
FIRE. From this stage the problem
took on definite form, that of su
perior force of infantry attacking 8
line entrenched, and moving steadily
forward, taking every advantage Of
the cover that folds of ground and
brush afforded. s.
1t was now question of number.
and fire, and strong as was the Blues
position, even after supports and /
portion of the reserve had been pu
in, under orders transmitted by sema
phore, 1t IVES to be seen that the Red,
could not be denied, although it Il
but fair to the defenders to stat,
that their opponents would have sui
fered heavy losses in their advance
particularly in, that portion of the ad
vance when they had to traverse
large plowed> field. On the right mat
ters were practically in the sam,
state, the Reds rushing forward AMI
dropping when the fire of the Blue,
was apparently very hot. and thel
fractions of the line taking up tn,
rush again. so that both TANKS wer,
at the time of recall from the maneu
YER holly engaged, with an advantage
to the Reds, since their reserves ha.
not been called upon to enter the. fir
field, and had been untouched by TIL
Blues fire, the Blues being practical
~ overmatched by the Reds advanc
firing line alone. =s. =.
The problem for the Blues was tina
of marching to seize a piece O
lground lying across the Haleiwa road
I and drive away any enemy that Nigh
oner an argument for lis possession
This then was a march to an obiec
| tive point located in hostile territory
with a fight in prospect. The Reds
mErch was well conducted, and hi
i patrols were both numerous and az
tive, though they did not locate thei
enemy's actual position as describe,