Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-08-15
naiIu airnaebrt yournal.
TIE FRENCH MITRAILLEUSE-A CLUS.
TER GUN.

The London Globe gives the following
description OF the formidable weapon, the
French mtrailleuse, for which the Prussian
Government offered a reward of 5000
thalers for the first one captured by the
Prussian troops.
TO destroy your enemy in the shortest
time, in the easiest manner, and at the least
possible expense, is the first maxim of war.
The stone that whistled from David's sling,
the bullet of acknowledgement and
the volley ofthe machine gun had all the
same object. Sincethe days OF Roger Bacon
the aim OF all improvements in firearms
has been to carry the greatest possible
number of deaths to the greatest possible
distance Grape, canister or case, and
shrapnel all contain bullets, and are all
means for multiplying deaths. The field
gun mows down its hundreds by showers
of case at close quarters. or at longer dis
tanc~s raj. bullets from the bursting
shrapnel The mitrailleur, or machine
gun on the contrary, sends a large num-
her Of small proiectiles independently, and
with precision, to a considerable distance.
1--WE may divide arms on the latter princ-
pie into two classes-irst, those which
discharge their bullets from single bar
rel. fed by a -chambered breech:
and, secondly, those in which each car
fridge has its corresponding barrel the
charging and dschargin of which is direct,
and more orless simple. tits obvious that,
for rough Usage and continuous firing, it is
better that n large number of rounds should
. be fired from considerable number of bar
: rels so placed as to supporte;leh other and
add strength to the whole machine. The
French mitrailleuse, us well as the Belgian
Montigny, belongs to the second class, and
the following brief description is equally
applicable to both arms The machinegim
consists of a cluster of barrels either bound
together or bored out of the solid, and
mounted on the same principle as an ordi-
nary field gun. At Il few hundred yards,
indeed, it would be difficult to distinguish
between these weapons, rs far as outward
appearance goes. To the barrel is attached
massive breech action. capable OF being
opened and closed by lever. In the
Montigny arm the cartridges are carried
in steel plates perforated with holes, cor
responding in number and position to the
holes ia the barrel. The steel plate, in
fact, forms the Event piece of the system.
The central fire cartridge being dropped
into the holes in the steel plate, stand out
at right angles from il, and the plates. thus
ready charged, and SO carried in Timber |
reception. When the gun comes into ac-
ton the bfeech is drawn back. steel plate
full of cartridges i, dropped into its cor
responding slot, and the breech block
thrust forward and secured. The gun is
now on full cock, and contains from 80 10
10 cartridges. which are fired by 'baiTcl
organ" handle, either one by one The
handle works round, click-ciick or in a
volley by rapid turn of the wrist. When
the gun is empty. the breech block is again
Withdrawn, the steelplate, carrying the
empty cartridge cases, is lifted out, and Il
fresh plate dropped in. if necessary. The
advantage possessed by the machine-gun
over infantry fire is that ii is never in a fu"k.
Bullets may rain around. bursting shells
may fill the air. still the 81 barrels of the
mifrailleuse shoot ike one man, and at 800
or 1000 yards viii pour voliey after volley
of deadly concentrated fire into circle of
from 10 to II feet in diameter. No boring
or fixing of fuses is required. and the whole
operation is performed SO rapidly that two
steady. cool men could maintain fire of
ten discharges per minute. On the other
hand. the mitrailleuse could not well COM
pete with the field-gun, aud il is with this
weapon II will assuredly be met. Its bullets
would have comparatively slight effect at
are perhaps Most effective, while its size |
would offer very fair mark to the gunner.
The future of the mitrailleuse, depends on
coming facts. The peace days expert ;
ments are over; there are now hundreds OF
machine-guns trundling towards the
Rhine. The drgin-like roll OF their vol |
leys may err long be heard in the vine
yards OF Riidesheim. or on the edge OF the I
Black Forest; and 'thud" of the bullet |
may come from something softer than a
wooden target. Yes, the machine-gun is .
en- route for the Rhine; the experiments
will now be on II gigantic scale soon the
voice Of war will have given the verdict;
and ere long the Chassepot. the zundnadel- /
gewehr, the shrapnel, and the volley- gun |
will each be credited with CHASTITY at
count, and we shall know which engine
destroys hnnan life, in the shortest time,
easiest manner, and at the least possible
expense. wv 1T