The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1870-07-28


About this time, the French INDUCED il
some Qualification If their own new Chase
pot rifle, which is about the equivalent of /;
Of Il national egotism than of impartial exper
iment. The nced!e-cun is. without question
the mos, formidable infantry arm ever con
strmcted, aud the mo-. rapid tircr, and, unles:
some valid objection can h. brought sufficient
10 outweigh these sterling merits, it is thu
| most desirable arm for military use il
the world II is claimed that. b. an inherent
superiority in Its mode Of ignitinS il.
| charge 50 rs to ensure its more perfect CON-
bl>tion it attains al~ut double the power OF
any other arm, and will throw It's ball from
four and half to five miles, which is equal Il
the longest cannon range.
II is overwhelming. .inglc- barrelleti,
non-rcvolyipg rifle. With movement of an
apparent trigger, 4 section vi the top Of the
barrel slides back far enough [" admit the
cartridge 10 I've placed IN the CAVITY cfthe
barrel, which is done hv the gunner, will,
his lei, hand, withou, removing The
piece from hi; shoulder or necessarily, losing
his aim. Another movement restores the
section of the top of the barrel TO its place,
and firmly fastcns it, ready At the instant for
firing. II can he fired, therefore, twelve
times in a minute, until the borrel Is too hot
10 admit ut the introduction of the cartridge,
and this is not easily done, as the cartridge
ignites by friction only, and not Ivy mere
heat. and the time II remains in the chamber
before being fired is hut an instant.
Behind the cartridge, As it lies when the
gun is loaded, is the ;,ir-chamber. about
two and Il hall inches in length, through
which the needle darts forward horizontally
10 pierce the charge. The cartridge H. 81
course, made up with the ball in front
then, without wadding, the powder, and
then the percussion substance, into which
the needle strikes, Ivy the force Of COM
mon wire spring, when the trigger is
pulled. In all ordinary guns, the charge,
having no access to any air except that
found in the interstic,s Of the powder after
il is tightly rammed down, attains only an
imperfect combustion, or burns in part
after it leaves the gun. The quantity Of
smoke is measure of the imperfectness
of the combustion, rs only that portion OF
the carbon goes off in smoke which is no,
perfectly exploded into its constituent gases,
which are inviSible.-Chicago Tribune.
THE only well advanced Prnssian fortress
for the defence of the Rhine at the frontier,
is SAARLouIs-a small and antiquated work
on the Lar, the chief tributary of the Moselle.
This is entirely Inadequate to the demand
for an advanced post to hold the enemy in
check while the army is modified and
brought forward, OF for base of operations
against Metz, Thionville, Verdun, and Paris.
Very important and practicable roads lead
from here to Metz, Treves, Aayence, Man
helm, and Landau. The unfortihed town Of
Saarbriik boasts Of a similar junction OF e1'
cellent macadamized roads lesding to all o.
these important military points. 1t IS pro
posed to build several single forts IN the
most important passes Of this district, rs w
learn from Lieut.. Widdern, German 9th
Ger, to whom We are indebted for many care
full Typographical delineations, as well rs for
variations of the Rhine campaigns between
1892 and 1915. Widdern believes the Rhine
should be defended As far forward - possible,
declaring the Germans unworthy to possess
il, if they would seek to defend it only stand
ing behind il. He looks upon the valley Of
the Mceelle, IN The vicinity Of Tfeves, a. the
Paris gate Of Germany, and laments thai
it Is so carelessly leA opea- He advocate.
the restoration Of Noneroyal, rs substitute
for Luxemburg. The former stronghold
was RACED in obedience to the terms Of the
peace Of Ryswick. Ii by on tie rive, about
. miles below Treves, in position strong
By nature, and Commanding not only al
water and land communications alcqg the
Noselle, hut also the road over the Humds
nick TO Bngen. 80 $50 TO zaslt Ia-