The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1913-10-10
GUNS IN A CRATER
Diamond Head, Uncle Sans Lava
Fortress In Hawaii.
GIBRALTAR OF THE PACIFIC.
The Mighty Oefsnses Of Oahu Make
That Lovely island . vsrit.bIs Fire
Lined Wall Of Steel, Behind Whion
Crouehes "the Lion Of Hawaii

That Lovely Island . vsritabie Fir.
Lined Wall Of Steel, Behind Whios
c~ouehss "the Lion Of Hawaii"
Diamond Head. that monumental e,e
walton Of lava which stands out SO
prominently on the Honolulu side OF
the lovely island Of Oahu. Hawaii. Is
the one and only original crater iu the
world which is being devoted to the
use OF the army Of great power
The island Of Oahu Is the key to the
Pacific. and Uncle Sam carries that
Key on chain In his capacious pocket.
At any time war breaks out Uncle
Sans hand. which has not lost its
cunning, will go to that pocket with
the swiftness of western sheriff. and
the result will be roar OF guns which
will be heard around the world. The
roar will be contributed to by the guns
OF Fort Kruger. which are at the base
Of Diamond Head on the landward
side
From Diamond Head. called by poets
'the Lion Of Hawaii" to Pearl Harbor.
named by newspaper writes 1.-THE Glib
raitar OF the. Pacific" there Is a chain
OF forts which makes Oahu one of the
greatest fOrtresses in the world. When
In Honolulu the writer had the pleas.
ure OF working with Albert Pierce
Taylor. who has been spoken OF as
the recognized literary authority on
things pertaining to Pearl Harbor and
the defenses Of Hawaii" He said on
one occasion:
Uncle Sam has declared to the
world that be is on guard in the Pa
cific. At Pearl Harbor Is Fort Kane
hameha. with its battery OF twelve
inch guns: at the mouth of Honolulu
harbor will be battery of small guns:
at Fort De Russy. Waikiki. battery
OF fourteen inch guns. while at Dia-
mond Head battery Of eight mortars
has been manned for some few years
Within the extinct crater of Diamond
Head Gibraltar-like galleries have
been constructed. and in one Of them
an observatory has been established.
The fire control for all the Oahu coast
batteries has been located in this gal
lery. From this station the fire of the
guns OF all the forts can be directed by
the electric telegraph. The guns of
Pearl Harbor cross those Of Diamond
Head and with the batteries between
make a veritable wall Of steel"
After inspecting the guns at Fort
Ruger two Of US. with soldier guide.
walked to the entrance Of the gallery
which has been bored through the lava
md sandstone which compose the
steep sides of the crater Of Diamond
Head. A sentry barred the way. The /
'ermit was produced and proved the !
pen sesame.
The heavy iron door at the entrance !
o the volcanic passage was swung /
Jack. and. with soldier In front and |
mother in the rear. the visitors started |
|own the gallery. A single narrow
'auge track ran the entire length Of
he passage. On this steel small trucks
lad been pushed by the soldiers. who
Daded and unloaded the debris which
rmy comrades had dug from the walls
4 the crater. The ties were broken in
aces. and the guide issued a warning
0 step carefully.
On first stepping into the gallery the
arkness. after the tropical sunlight.
vas Of the kind that Milton described
s visible. Only few steps had been
iken before the light at the far end
{ the gallery was easily seen.
Instead Of the barren lava bowl,
hard as 6int and as smooth as glass"
s the picture man so picturesQuely
uts it. the inside OF the crater was
)und to be grass covered. with trees
nd bushes standing here and there.
'hich drew their moisture from the
liquid sunshine" as the Honolulu peO-
lie charmingIy describe the rain.
Try high up on the Eva side of the
'ater from which officers direct the 1
,OOting by the men who man the big {
lns at the fort outside the crater. .
hose men never see the target at {
hich they aim far out at sea. The
'ojectiles from the high powered guns !
ass over the crater. and by telephone {
om the observatory the men learn I!
neither they have made hit or miss. Il
hey generally score hit
In the event Of war involving the {
nited States on the Pacific the crater
Diamond Head may indeed prove
he Lion Of Hawaii" as Frances
ent Dillingham;. "a Honolulu poet has
.scribed it. and 'if once stirred his 9
Nv could sweep navy to it's death.
once aroused his roar would soon }
; heard across the sea aud echoed n
ON the sky. Harold Sands In Los a
ngeles Times.