Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-09-19
MORTARS
SEND hail OF
DEATH SEAWARD
isoasinsd from paes one, / 4

tFohuitueu lIom pe6s zOHS5
it &as not known when or where the
first work would be done. This comes
nearer to actual war conditions than
anything attempted by the coast ar
/ tillery to date. 80
In short order, the men were al
their stations in the mortar pits, the
! 1O5th and 159th companies manning
/, the eight mortars in pits A and Z
respectively. at Battery Harlow.
[ Captains Clark and Carpenter, and
Lieutenant Guthrie, and the details OF
non-coms and enlisted men required
as observers, readers and telephone
operators, proceeded 10 the intricate
galleries of Diamond Head, To act as
! the eyes and brains of the mortars
hidden beneath the protecting crest
of the headland. Colonel Rafferty,
also took up a position In the range
station. where he could note the
work and direct the movements OF
the tug by wireless and by daylight
signaling with tine 60-inch search
light. Major Timberlake acted as
battle commander.
General Funston was an early ar
rival to view the practice, accom-
panied by his aide, Lieutenant Ball,
and the chief of stan, Major Conklin.
The department commander found a
point of vantage on the extreme pin
nayIe of Diamond Head where he had
IN uhobstructed view of the target
and the field Of Ere.
Trial Shots Good.
r-.<.... t..s.s1 - So. s.,r,sr, RSnd 1tu oonh
company at a given range and az
imuth to test the powder and get a
line on wind conditions in the upper
air. These shots seemed to fall into
the same hole in the ocean, and were
pronounced by those In the range sta
ton to be exceptionally accurate
work
After the trial shots were fired
there was a long and tedious walt for
the tug to get on the proper course.
This is an old story with coast de-
Tense practice. here and elsewhere.
and It was not until 1853 that the
first projectile went screaming and
whining on its journey. At 1880 to
a split second the last shot was fired,
all 20 having been fired without q
hitch. The battery had score of
perfect so far as actual handling OF
the ordnance and ammunition was
concerned. Lieutenant Applin com
manded A pit, and as the roar Of the
nineteenth shot died away the men
who had served the four mortars
gave 2 Iouslns eheer nail z l.linu 'ss
iater, Wneh lne .Mell.le.n slol 49, -.
iireu from PIT ~ inc men su,'slssr ..sss'.'
TENANT HumDeLt collinar M, sAsS. .f.
similar demons .Ia'lo W. ~. E
was done, ana uone wels IL Wy ansa
Denlna Inc suns ~ n.ha.,st 8
MsIs - "a ae.s, 1870 s - tnv '''
cans ~ 'lle faliso s.asn
Taken ~ surprise.
This year the surprise eiement en-
tered into the big gun and mortar IN
ing for the first time, the regulations
having been recently chanseu. TOT
meriy Dattery commanders hne" uays
in advance when they were 70 noid
target practice, and consequently
had plenty OF time to put the 1lnlsh.
ing touches on their preparations. IN
order to bring target practice nearer
to actual service conditions new
plan was developed, whereby al the
batteries IN Q district We're TO receive
a 4S-hour notice that ten-day period
of day and night practice 10 to COM
mence- When the ten-uay perioa
opens, the umpire may visit any paf.
terry during the grill hour, ana alreet
the battery commander TO fire ms
record practice. In the two days that
elapse before the actual target prac-
tice commences, battery commanders
are supposed to have their pieces IN
readiness, their pro1ecthes IN shape.
and their powder properly weighed
and blended 81
IN coast defense where there. are
number OF batteries It Is all guess
work as TO which set OF guns the UNI
pire VIII direct to De flred ilrsts SO
the battery commander mas only q
few minutes netlee When ms turn
comes. sa,
Another change tins year is tnai
only DAY and night battery practice
rs held, lire command practice peine
done away with, Both the gay ana
night practice must come within the