Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-09-24
Sixteen Hits Out of Twenty
Shots Made in Night Prac-
tice Said to Be New
Mark
THOUSANDS WATCH THE
FIRING FROM BEACHES
Battery Harlow Does Far Bet
ter Work in the Dark Than by
Daylight and Artillery Experts
Are Much Pleased - More
Firing Tonight

A worlds record for mortar firing
was established last night when Bat
terry Harlow, hidden beneath the rim
OF Diamond Head. hurled 20 projec-
tiles over the old crater, far above
the range station on the summit of
the rock, and dropped is of them
within 50-yard radius of the small
pyramidal target that marked the
aiming point far out at sea With
only a searchlight beam to locate
the target and spot the. splashes, the
observers in the position finding sta
tion. hanging over the plotting board
and following the tiny mark on the
cross hairs of telescopes, were able
to predict its exact position almost a
minute ahead, and on their data tele-
phoned to the battery where the NOR
tars far below were laid to plunge the
projectile directly at the target 1t
was marvellous shooting. and when
the observers on the tug made
known the results for range and the
excellence of the practice was known,
IL at once became the one subject
Of comment in army circles.
Many Watchers.
Many people occupied points Of
vantage at the beach hotels and
throughout Waikiki, when the steady
beams OF the Diamond Head seareh-
light, and the sweeping light lanes
sent out from the safety boats, gave
indication that the night practice was
to be from Fort Ruger. BY the time
the red signal was hoisted on the
headland, several thousand people
were eagerlz Waiting for the hrst
boom of the big ordnance.
Firing opened shortly before 8
O'Clock, the first intimation to the
beach watchers being q dazzling
fash, that preceded the report by
several seconds, Then Games a rum
Bile and roar that ratified the windows
and threatened tire safety of crock.
cry and glassware, and from then on
at half-minute intervals came the
flashes and reports. The great wa
ter spouts shot skyward by the fall.
ing projectiles we're plainly visible
In the glare of the 60-inch search
light, and it was apparent that some
exceptional work was being done by
the mortars.
Something New.
ais 40 tAAC Al ~ yCuA VI nASnI ~ az
tice' for large seacoast ordnance, but
it is very doubtful, say artillery ex.
perts, If any other mortar battery
in the service viii touch Ruger's rec
ord. 1t was stated at army head
quarters this morning that the mum
Der of hits is remarkable, consider.
ing existing conditions. The Kane.
hameha mortar battery made 16 hits
out of 20 shots in daylight practice
last Saturday, and this was given
out as a record. However, the Kan
mortars refused to function perfect
ly, and there was some delay, while
at Ruger last night the only hitch
was the missing of one firing interval,
when the lighting in pit A went
wrong, and the azimuth correction,
called out by the operator at the
phone. was misunderstood, the piece
having to be relayed.
Night practice will be continued to-
night, the Kamehameha and De Rus
batteries remaining to be fired. 1t
is not announced which battery will
be called into action tonight.