Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-04-24
lnfantrymen Scale Rim of the
Stronghold Covered by The
oretiCal Artillery Fire

That infantry. covered by artillery
fire directed at the, rim of the crater,
could scale the heights of Diamond
Head and force an entrance into the
big basin that lies between the mortar
battery and the positlon-finding sta
tion, has been demonstrated, it is de-
clared. within the last few days by
the second battalion of the Second In
fantry. It is not the mere fact that
the foot soldiers could make the as
cent that is of interest. for that was
"a foregone conclusion, but rather that
a successful attack could be made
.alcng praotieaily cre-thifd of the cir
cumference. in a surprisingly short
time.
In the early hours of yesterday
morning, the four companies conn.,
manded by Captain Shuttlewortll,
which have been encamped in the
crater since Sunday last, made the
attack, the line extending from point
close to the battery, around the Koko
Head side of the crater almost to the
beach road. In II minutes after the
signal to rush the hill had been given,
the major part of the command had
reached the crest. Experts figure that
the indirect fire of the artillery from
its position just mauka of Fort Ruger, |
on the inner rim of the crater, would
have successfully covered the advance
of the infantry, which, once having /
gained the crest, could have rushed |
the troops within the crater
A number of problems involving the /
defense and attack of the Diamond !.
Head position are being worked out by !
the battalion, which will be in camp
within the crater until the 30th of this
month. Yesterday afternoon at 4
o'clock GffE companies left camp
for night problem in full field equip
ment, it being the intention to bivouac
and remain out until this morning, to-
work out another problem of attack t
from another quarter.
This work with infantry supporting !
the coast artillery position, throws
some interesting side lights on the |
original plan for fortifying Diamond :
Head, which was to place the mortar
battery inside the crater. 1t was
claimed by the military experts who
originally figured on the defenses of
the island that this was the logical
position for the mortars, as it pro-
tected them from attack on the land!
side. On the other hand, mortars are
only effective beyond certain ranges.
and to do away with any safety zone,
inside of which ships might be i'm
mune from r. ortar fire, the battery
was placed beyond the crater, instead /
of inside cf it. Another objection to
the latter position was that it would
be very difficult undertaking to get
the mortars and carriages and ma
terial for the implacements over the /
ridge. This latter objection, however,
was done away with when the tunnel
was run through the hill, between the
Battery Harlow and, the floor of the
crater plain. ..- -. s."S
The second battalion is camped in
the small grove located about midway
between the entrance tunnel and the I
face of the rock il which the range
is cut 1t is a comfortable camp,
though the temperature is somewhat
higher than is exactly pleasant at mid
day, and on the whole the men of the
command are enjoying the change of
scene, and regard the ten days in the
field as something of an outing.
Monday night the whole of the men
of the battalion climbed the hill to
watch the searchlight drill by the .
coast artillery, and this, being nov
city to most of them, was followed
with keen interest. Il" ..-. =.
There have been number of signal
drills, men being posted on the era
ters rim and relaying messages Civ
ing the movements. of the Honolulu
to the troops within the
crater. .A' ~ :' /
A Greek warship went ashore south
Of the Dardanelles and is said to be