The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1916-04-18
CENTRAL BATTERY
/. or BIG GUNS FOR
OAHU PROTECTION
six Great Twelve Inch Rifles Are
To Be Mounted Upon
This Island
WILL DEFEND SH0RELlNE
NOW WITHOUT PROTECTION
sa, - b. -,
Location For, New Batteries viii
Be Decided Upon When
Plans Are Settled

A central battery, or batteries, with
six great twefve-inch guns, mounted
for high.angle FIRE and capable of such
range as to be used for the defense
Of a long stretch Of at present unde-
Tended shore line against landing par.
ties from hostile transports, is to be
installed on Oahu, according to the de-
Tense plans discussed by Brigader Cen
eral Weaver before a recent meeting
Of the house subcommittee on fortifica-
lions.
just where these guns are to be
placed is apparently not definitely de-
cided, officers Of the local headquarters
stating that this is matter to be taken
up when the final defense plans are
settled. 1t is probable, however, that
some Of the twelve inchers will be on
the heights above Waialua.
Anti Aircraft Guns Also
In addition to these big guns, Oahu
il soon to have a number of anti-air-
craft guns, to defend the approaches
against seaplanes which may be launch
ed from the decks of hostile warships
Writing Of the new defense arrange
rhents, Ernest G. Walker, The Adver-
tiser's Washington correspondent, I'M
der date Of April I, says:
"The chief item of Hawaiian inter
est here since the last mail has been
the report today Of the FOrtifcations
Bill, which carries almost $22, OOO,O 900
and is the largest Fortiicntions Bill
ever reported to an American congress
| mol a nj ne a lna
in the appropriation committee, for the
Notifications are the recognized second
line of defense. Some of this large ap.
preparation will be spent in Hawaii.
Certain Of the items specifically men.
toned in the bill and report as being
! for Hawaii are:
Gland defenses, $129,QO0, which is
all the war. department. asked; electric
light and power plants and search
lights, maintenance, operation, tools
etc, $4,000, where the department had
asked for $500; and protection, pres,
, ervation and repair of Notifications,
$4,000, where $4,000 was asked. But
, there is much else from the appropri-
atoms to be expended in Hawaii. Rep,
7 resentative Swagar Sherley's report has
this to say under the heading Of In
r sular Possessions:
, Six Big Guns Here
| For the insuar possessions, est
B mates were submitted for the hand de-
lenses of Hawaii and the Philippines
= and allowed. Estimates were also sub
mitted and allowed for mounting eight
l2-inch guns with high angle fire anC
for ten anti-aircraft guns, six of the
l2-inch guns to be located in Hawai-
and the remaining two in the Philip
pines.
: I" estimates were submitted fO
81 100000, with q contract authorize
ton of 100000 for reserve ammuni
ton for the insular possession and al
q lowed in its entirety Provision wa
n made and allowed for the completion
= of mine defense in the insular posses
siOns.
"There were extended hearings OF
r the FortifiratiOns Bill before the sub
J. committee on appropriations that pre-
n pared the bill and in these hearing
|. considerable was said about condition
8 of the Iefenses in Hawaii Anon,
@ those testifying was Brig. Gen. Erastu
NJ. Weaver, chief Of coast artillery, VIII
g testified that, I'VE have added to tn
It The chief feature continued Genera
Weaver, lis the introduction of high
= angle fire lOng-range battery to reac
far beyond the coast line so as to b
e able TO assist the mobile army in repel
Il ing an attack of al enemy seeking t
5. land in force from transports unde
cover of the fire Of their warships.
IS Reach Long Distance
{ II
J. located will be able to reach a lon
u distance, quite distance beyond tn
r. shore line, and to bring an effective fir
IS against warships which otherwise nigh
70 come in at close range and cover tn
10 landing of troops on the beaches.
"a This colloquy ensued between Genera
lie Weaver and Representative Sherley:
IN Mr.. Sherley-They are not, thcr
10 for the purpose of adding to tn
strength of the existing fortifcatbn
10 but are simply to cover the unprOtec
y ed coast to the extent of holding o
At feet a sufficient distance to prever
y it from effectively covering the Ian
ing Of troops,
80 General Weaver-Yes, sir. Thee
guns, in this case, will perform Il
functions which were referred to m
N ment ago, in stating one of the fun
n tons that will he performed by mo
r.. able guns when they assist the mObi
RS army in repelling the landing
he troops.
ne :" Mr.. SherIey-In the Philippir
of Islands those guns are really guns f.
in defense against Iand attack
&" General WeaNrr--Nes, sir; Il
- guns added there are to give long RAM