The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-08-12
EUROPEAN AFFAIRS.
Tine NEEDLE GUN.
History 0fthe Breech-Iloadtng Fire Arms from
the Time Of Napoleon the First.

NJ NteULE Dun.
Hisiory ofihe I,reech-Leadisg Fire Arms from
the Time Of Napoleon the First.
From the London Telegraph, July d.
Tho great interest felt in this now famous needle
gun was manifested at the Crystal Palace on Saturday
Immediately after the concert was over stall in the
crowded by eager spectators, who stened TO tho brief
description, accompanied by rapid handling OF the gun
the he seare IN the Toaca DEPART
mont was filled by audience anxious to learn still
more about the formidable weapon. I. c. Rochussen,
ESQ., who had lent the gum had also undertaken 10 give
brief lecture upon its history and character
The lecturer commenced by saying that he did not
wish 70 provoke discussion about the relative Of
the various systems OF brcech n.y. but only to fur
nish co rect information respecting arm which recent
events had made interesting, and which had hitherto
been very vaguely and incorrectly described He should
first give hiso ical sketch OF the Introduction and
construction of the gun SO far back 1909 the mpor
lance OF providing army with brooch loading gun
felt by Napoleon l., and no offered all sorts OF priv
legcs to celebrated locnaker OF Paris if he should
succeed in constructing The ocnaSer set 20 work,
and two years after had gun really, which was ex-
anlined by committee OF mil tary officers, and by
them declared TO bc unsatisfactory The revorscs OF
the Einperor's fortune began soon after that and
the idea Of breech.loader lost sight OF
Tor time. IL happened that an inteligcnt
workman employed by the lcckinakcr who had also
been a pupil Of Bertbollet, the great chemist, had
watched the gun experiments with great interest. His
name was John Nchola, Dreyse. and he was native Of
Prussia He returned TO his native land and establish
Ing himself engineer and ironfounder he opened, in
1924, manufactory Of percussion caps Tho attention
he had SUBSTANCES led 10 the IN
venton OF the copper lining Of percussion caps, for
which he obtained patent. It also brought him into
contact with the Minister Of War, and after he
showed plans for the ameliorahon Of Prnssian arma
ments He fonnd considerable icny Ia securing at
tenton to His work, for the pubic mind resting after
long and bloody war; was Indifferent 10 The subject
which seemed all in all TO him. bot peraovering he at
last obi some encouragement from the government
and in 1927 submitted tho first nocdIcgun for copsdera
ton. 1t nin2zs loader, lifted with needle pro-
PEELED by ordinary hammer The charge did not
tam any gunpo1der but consisted Of bullet and fui.
nate fxed in what must DO considered the a-mporant
carrier wad Tho brcech was, as far rs practicable,
closed by copper disc having hole in the centre,
allowing the needle to pass, and which disc had TO be
renewed after every SIXTY rounds. This gun not
adopted because the soldiers ncg gcnce night lead
explosion Of the charge his own injury In the
year Drcyse offered another muzzle-l loader in
which the principle Of thc present ignition cartridge
embodied. Tho cartridge was held the chamber by
the pressure Of small spring al the side, and fred
by needle propelled by splraispring.
" about this time that tho then Crown Prince Of
Prussia afterwards King Fred rick William w, began
that Dreysc should skul and engineers 70
advise WITH and large voted in each annual
budget that from 1890 70 1885 tho mechanical gcnrs
OF be country was brought TO bear upon the matter In
the ast named year the Inai ocuty arising from the
Of tine iron barrel conquered This done by
rsiDs BcrEers csst steel A gun was then prod .ccd
which was, with slight notifications, Ike that which
has been 60 effective In the present lite great quail
ncatons wore propellns The hot through red grooves
without violent forcing into tho barrel simplicity or
loading by OF the ignition cartridge; loading
from the brccch; and reduction of caiibre. SO
convinced Was tine russian government or tile vaue
OF this gun that sixty houssnd were at once ordered
and IN 1871 served out 10 tha army This
justified at the time in royal decree 10 the Minister in
the following remarkable aud now a!mos. prophetic
words:--"rhe r,'ed needo.pun ~, according to
present conviction, the friction Of military arms and
lis practical ntrcductop viii doubt lead its ndop
ton in all branches Of the service The result OF nu-
merous experiments made us appreciate this invention
az especial dpeDsntion OF idepcc for the strength
ening Ct our national resources; and we cherish the
hope that the system may be kept secret until tho great
part which IL Is destined 10 play history may couple
u via the glory Of Prussau and The extension OF
empire" In 1895 Prussia possessed $50 900 necieguDs
and an annual power of production OF 1906 600 at the
ernment factories II Is pleasant 10 add that NJ Dreyse
s sii awe and wears nis isireis Va health and wealth
Inc ioetur then gave detailed description OF tho
gun illustrating his words By Of diagram and by
use OF Inc arm ITSELF he dld this In such way 10
show his numerous audience the facility with which IL
might bc loaded and reloaded the ease with which foul
mess ngn. Ne 90. rid OF and The way in which, in case
mi Considering the general construction Of the gum
u must no thought be granted that an experience OF
twenty-five years had proved a strength and sodity
under all circumstance Allowing that the closing Of
the breech is Theoretically defective and thai mprove
practice had shown il to be 60 wo cosed thu, en- en-
Gent nre might be delivered The bullet propelled
accurately al long range. tho combustion Of the
powder and cartridge case rapor was COM
pete than In any other gun. AMI tho escaping
gas carried very little II any smoke with IT, He
looked upon tho carrier wad ms being as important
the gun itself It's functions fouifod 70 bold
the Getonaiing powder in a hollow cup at tho base
and project from chemical influence or mechanical in
jury; 10 regulate the effect OF tho powder by receiving
It's nrst impulse, and transmitting IL 20 the bullet; BY
COMPRISING itself into the grooves Of the barrel TO I'M
part the rotary movement TO the bullet, and TO clean the
barrel by sweeping every discharge Of gun. The
RUSSIAN government all times chary about giving
information respecting the had also done all they
could 20 keep the mixture OF the dotonairg powder a
secret IL supposed 70 consist OF ffty-two and
half per cent chorate OF poi,ss Twenty-Five and half
antmony and eighteen Of sulphur The sharp twist OF
the rning causes low trajectory, and Ms the bullet
does not exercise nny friction upcn the barrel the softer
wad itng in the grooves the velocity perccptbly
impaired. In concluding the lecturer uttcreda caution
against tho popular cry that after ALL the Prussisn
ncedic-gun the worst of all breoch leaders There
always for improvement, and the recent action
Of the English government he thought calculated
promote energetic 10 tho proper direction
On resuming his seat Mr. Rochuseen greeted with
considerable applause. a great number Of gentlemen
went up 10 tho table, aud time occupied by
examination OF the gun which had been lent by
General Peel for exhibition
The French Breech-Loader.
Paris July ~ correspondence Of London Herald
The breech-loader which appears 10 have found favor
with the French government is one Invented by n.
the last years II has ~ Raymond says emerged
from tho limbo OF committees and committee roorns
the battalion OF Foot Chasseurs OF the Imperial Guard
at tho camp Of Chalons having, since is arrival
there, been provided with H. I have this
musket myself; ~ Raymond does no, give any de-
scrpon II whether from prudential and patriotic
resolves or because he IL unacqusntci with cannot
sayl hut n he has not examined tho weapon he has evil
IDENTIFY seen u nred
snhioln In his words account Of The results
obtained by the Chassepot brooch loadcr-pemising