New Britain herald., 1925-05-22


 plans wert up and dove at their ene- mies, doing their best to aim their machine guns at the foe and keen out Of range themselves Agile stunt flying was the rule, seldom 1t was that the spectator could not see a couple of planes in theoretical com lat falling like leaves in the autumn wind 10 escape each others bullets sometimes whole squairons of flying machines went into action, Aviators rcsorted 10 tricks intended to escape or gain an advantage that were as real as in actual warfare. They cer- tainly kept up thrir side of the "shoV" In a most vivid manner Sin gle planes dove al the landing boats 10 rake their occupants with ma chine gun fire and the crews pointed their machine guns at tho aerial visitors. Often the planes came SO close that 'ne hoat crew got us low as they rould fearing a collision WIS inevitable. There WIT" rrw acci- dents. Planes did "crash' but there was no one seriously hurt. The smaller bore guns ou the ehlrs con- -tantly trained on the a"uu enc mics, picking out mark and snappIng their firing pins. si}mr valuable training indeed to the gun crews. Meanwhile the landing patty vas progressing up the valley. Finally. at about noon the c5th. it was felt that the mimic war had gone far enough. The laullne had heen effected. Had if brpn actual war it would have heen but a matter of time hetorr th. 'llrin"s could have made their way overland to Honolulu. The lesson had been learned, the trip at sea was success- fu'. the response of prrsoun'l and material to war coalitions hal been m"aSurol and many rknoWn factors learned through experience. There vas rothing more to gain. Consequently from thr flagship flew the signal "Ceaso present Uperations' Boats carried lack their passengers l Of several hours before. In the tur- rots and at the guns of the battle ships crampcl human bodies re- sumed a natural position and went 10 nless-rooms for something to eat before taking q nap. Planes came in- 10 the water beside their ships or re- turned overland to the landilG fields aul all vas made Secure" The war was over and officer and goh looked forward 70 a visit to the city of Ho- rolulu which was capture latter on with much less show of force, iu- deed the enemy of tha day before became Inc charming host within -t hours.
 "Who won th" war;" There is but ono answer, we Ii&''
 ] No one can say how many shells would have brought down planes, now many planes would ha}e sunk ships. how many men would have reached shore alive, and whether the aerial force of the Blues or the Blacks would have been triumphant in their battles. But inc fac. remains that a large T.. $. armada actually succesSturl" naIa the trip, that seV- cral thousand men were actually pnt ashore without UntoU9rd incident, and that the officers gained 2 great deal from the experience. Also. the conviction grows that Oahu Is not fortified as f shouI he, that Ftarl
 Harbor r. not developed as it should be. otherwise, r,er nonstructi'oIv,
 battle ships could not hate go'ter
 within range ot tho coast where their guns ncu3 re cff.otl1e. Had Da hu pOesoeee1 the means If de-
 fense II should ha'e 'ha original hy- pothesis would have been impossible at the start Tho" don't batter down land Notifications with guns from ships unless thoso fortifloauons arc not in keeping with the time. II
 isn't done
 Finally lr a1nuon n the pr7otl- ca aspects of the evre3It2n r. vas ]
 great spectacle ore thrf will Uron
 ably not be surpossol for some time to come,