New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-07-27

s. fhe needle-gun is of g. The Chassepot is too
simple and solid light and its CONSTRUCTIONS
ton and Just heavy enough not sufficiently solid Tor
10 make il useful IN a.WeapOn OF thrust IN cIose
bavonet charge whenever encounter its nferiorty will
the cOntending armies come no doubt soon become ap
TosiGS the defects and disadvantages above enumer
ated the Chassepot abors under another serious draw
back in rapid formation OF crust on ana near the
point Of the needle, composed OF ndlruDDer anu eno
the needle becomes useless, as 1as 10 eHect tne e
posion OF the powder through the percussion wafer III
the percussion wafer placed in front OF the powder
that the needle would have 10 pierce through
% brf"re reaching the ignting matter las is the
case with the Prussian needegn) the needle would not
become inefficient, and would remain clean Without any
interference the part of the soldier But the slral
snrine of the Chassepot short and too weak to
admit of any such change OF construction Inc objection
recentv made 10 the Prussan needlegn that its spiral
nrne was apt TO get weakened and unable to prope the
needle with sufficient force TO pierce the cartridge Is
futile as nothing occurred either during the campaign
in IIosten I'm 1854 during the memorable
ten DAYS campaign in Bohemia III 1866, To warrant s
surise It il also asserted that the callDer OF the
prssan gun il too large and the proecte consequently
foo heavy rendering the carrying OF great hummer Va
cartridges extremely to the soldier We are en-
allied t0 reute this statement Also for the construction
OF the needle gun such as To admit OF the use Oh s
nroecfes i'm spite the large caliber. The crclmstce
maj tho hall imbedded in the illuminate, whereWthl
forms one compact mass, and obtains lts rotuon ~
means the illuminate entering into the iour g
the barrel facilitates the firing of smaller proecues
than those originally used. To sum up, Neunann say;
The Prssian needle gun does not shoot better nor
further than any other breeeh0ader, but IT'S aIerl u
vantages all those invented In France begiun,
England and elsewhere cannot he denled IL "a ~. ~
rroneos 10 suppose that introduced INTO the
armies of other European powers on account Oh lts
- alleged shortcomings defects. France esptcIay
was actuaed In it's decision III the premises py Pe.
iealousy ONLY They didn't want IL because the3 @ o'
want IL. they unwilling To admit MS SUPERIORITY pc
cause somebody else had possessed 1t before the WHOM
they couldn't think OF ever initiating such Is nuaii
nature" - 1T. -.
Tho war which has Just broken out will soon enaDe US
IN form more accurate opinion OF the Respective c it'
az the armament OF the two contendlng IoIceS. ile
needle gun has been tried two occasions Cd an e1e
siye scale, and has given entire satlslacIo oIIir
Prusan army perfectly trained TO its use the s9ers
xuifh
,nnst circumstances The thassepot oh tue con
trary has been recently introduced htV ne ,
army and the soldiers have had nether tuc W naho
the1seyrs familiar with the gun nor chanse 10 DIh
a. into nrctcal use the field OF battle ley VIII YET
have ~ learn what material difference thee Is pet"ten
the cool and efficient handling Of comphche9 Weapon
amid the excitement and the din or phttt, auu tue use
OF the same In target-shootng II we ahe ii,o gos1
Grafton that two-thirds OF the rank anu NE VI lc
army are made up OF the sons OF ~ ~ h1 c
OF the interior proverbialy one OF the east
%ucatd and worst Informed people on the continent Oh
EIrope we are fully convinced that they wiz h9. pIvsc
match 10 the intelligent and well instructed frussiah
soldier. --.,- "a,
Before diminishing our subject, we must mention lnat
very essential Improvement on the CnasSepot methou
WAS last year by Mr. Meyhoeier the owner Oh
large estate In OF the eastern province vi
The hrs me ntion OF this new gun was hd III inc a,o,
49,, - Nay 1899 hut IL has since attracted good deal
~ atention throu Rhou Germany ana Abroad nIthongh
n has moi been into any army 80 lar Iht gum
cartridge, are stu the properly OF the IN
yentor The latter claims that he can nre 80 Shots IN
minute, with scswsSy, only VDe slpss movement psaaS