Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-03-12
SECOND INFANTRY IN BIG firing
PROBLEM SHOWS RANGE FACILITIES

Especial star Bulletin Correspondence
FORT sHAFTER, March I2.-The
I'd Infantry put the new additions to
the post target range TO use Tuesday
when the whole regiment went out on
q firing problem that was carried out
By battalions working separately on
the same exercise The regiment was
assembled at 7:30 o'clock and proceed
ed to Moanaiua gardens under full
field equipment less packs. After ar
rival at the rendezvous the battalion
commanders, beginning with the first
were handed the general and special
situaticns governing the problem and
each In turn issued HIS orders and
moved out after the preceding battaI.
ion had finished the solution.
With Is ball cartridges In the belt
Of each man in ranks the problem was
the largest thing attempted In field
firing al tbs post The general stu
sticn outlined state Of war with the
old familiar RED" versus BLUE, and
with the Red landed on the east coast.
OF Oahu. Blue In the meantime occu-i
pying an interior line with the I'd In
fantry as reserve and located in
Moanalua. The special situation an
7nouneed that the colonel commanding
the ID had received information that
Red troops to the amount of two COM
panies were definitely located by
scouts on the hills back and to the
north and northeast or Fort Skater
The problem for the battalion was to
drive out and destroy the invaders.
These invaders were shown by lines
and detached groups Of targets. the
whole area covered being about ESQ
yards In extent from flank to flank.
Some of the enemy was In pla n
sight after the .Shafter plain was
reached and some Of him were skilfullyI
concealed In the broken and brushyI
ground lying well towards the eastern
flank with detached groups on spurs
OF the hills In representation Of COM
bat patrols or Thanking groups. The
battaliOns Of the regiment made in
each case prompt advance as ordered,
with the necessary patrols for 0bser-
vat;on, and, after systematic advance
with as much use OF cover as was pos
sible. gained firiIrs positions and went
merrily to work.
Even the weIl-concealed individuals
among the targets fell under obserya.
tion and were located and fired on
with scarcely an exception. A target
of some 80 figures that disappeared
and reappeared at intervals gave an
opportunity for swinging fire" that
was OF fine practical value to company
and platoon commanders : The exer-
cises we're not completed until well
after noon owing to the time required
TO mark and record the many hits
scored by the men in ranks
No report has been given from head
quarters as to results other than to
announce that the firing was satisfac.
torily conducted and that the fire eff
feet Of the units was high in quality.
The Sd battalion with its larger NUM-
Der Of mdn IN ranks IN its four com
panies. scared the greatest number of
actual hits. with the I'd battalion
next as to numbers and the LIST bat
talon lowest: but as the expectation"
and distribution of hits" are yet to
be calculated by the officials In
charge the results as announced do
not determine relative standing. The
ist battalion had but three compan.
les in the problem, as Company Is
the guard company for the week for
the garrison. In addition the LIST Is
lowest in strength in its companies
The problem was of nature to
prnvp mt fire s3irprffnn and central
and was q splendid exemplification of
modern musketry training and OF high
value to every officer and man taking
part in the same. The capabilities Of
the present target range at Shaftei
came ont in q notable manner and was
fay0rably commented on BY all OBJ
servers and participants.
Sufficient target space and firing
ground for battalion at fun war
strength" now exists at the post and
with more liberal allowance of am
munition many interesting firing prob