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

tsr4cial Star Bulletin correspondencel
FORT SKATER, March lathe
ID 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 battaIions working separately on
the same exercise The regiment was
assembled az 80 o'clock and proceed
ed to Moanalua 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
situations governing the problem and
each In turn issued his orders and
moved out after the preceding battal-
ion had finished the solution.
with % ball cartridges in the belt
of each man In ranks the problem sas
the largest thing attempted in field
firing at this post The general stu.
aticn outlined a 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 occn-
pying an interior line with the I'd In
fantry as reserve and located in
Moanalua. The special situation an
nounced that the colonel commanding
the I'd had received Information that
Red troops TO the amount Of two CON-
panies were definitely located by
scouts on the hills back and to the
north and northeast OF Fort Shafter.
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 plan
sight after the Shafter plain was
reached and some Of him were skflfully
concealed In the broken and brushy
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 obser-
yation, and, after systematic advance
with as much use of cover as was pos
.sible. gained firing positions and went
merrily 70 work.
Even the Weli-concealed individuals
among the targets fell under obserya.
ton 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 were not completed until we'll
after noon owing to the time required
10 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 mel, IN ranks In lbs four com.
panies scored the greatest number OF
actual hits. with the "a battalion
next as TO numbers and the LIST bat
talon lowest: but rs 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
LIST battalion had but three compan-
les in the problem, as G 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