The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1870-08-17
New Inventions in Arms.
1t becomes daily more evident Il

NCW lHtCuticuS I'LL htlun.
1t becomes daily moro ,evi ident that
DOT only France, but also Prussia, has
for number Of years silently but
steadily made the most active prepa-
ratiens for the great struggle foe Eu-
copean supremacy which has just now
| commencad between them.
This is not only indicated by a
thorough reorganization of both tho
French and tho German armies, but
also by the strenuous efforts of each
to produce weapons more improved
and of greater dcstructivcness than
possessed by the other.
1t is claimed by the French that
the Chcssapot is an Improvement on
tho acknowledgements, aud, as long MS
the latter served them as model,
they arc probably all right there
Besides that, they have introduced
into their artillery service light
field-piece, kind of revolving can
non, called the mitrailleuse, said to be
most effective against infantry and
cavalry.
All Of sudden one hears, however,
of several new inventions, quietly ill.,
troduced by Prussia, and first amongst
them a gun which can be fred twenty
two times minute with ease, and
said to be decided Improvement on
both tho acknowledgements and the
Chessepot. In connection with this
they have an improved arrangements
for carrying 200 rounds of ammunition.
The superiority Of this new gun
becomes as once self-evident, mas
much as the present needle gun can
only be fred off about ton or twelve
times minute, and soldier carries
only sixty rounds of ammunition.
1t is, therefore, at least twice as
effective as their present style of nee.
die gun, and considerable number
of them have already been manufac-
tured aud is ready to be distributed
among tho army. Another new in
vention Of which tho Prussians seem
to think much Of, is kind of heavy
aud very large rifle with oast-steel
barrel four aud a half feet long, and
mounted on two light wheels very
much like piece of artillery.
1t is named the wallbueehse or
wall rife, probably because a similar
very heavy and long rife has been in
use during the middle ages for the de-
dencc Of the wallis and turS.ts of cas-
tiiosr aud oel,ur fvrti8oaSfotiis. ThS
wall rifle has been distributed exclu-
sively among the infantry, every bat.
TALON of which has now number of
them. 1t is aimed and fired off by a
soldier kneelipg behind it and catch-
ing the recoil, in order to steady tho
aim, by means Of padded cushion or
saddle. Tho distance at which this
new gun carries is very great, the same
as that of the heaviest artillery. 1t
shoots with great precision, and seems
to be more particularly destined to be
used against the enemy's artillery, for
the killing of the men serving the
guns, their horses and the explosion
of ammunition chests, although it
may also bo used against infantry and
cavalry. The projectile is two and a
half inches long, of cast.iron, hollow,
and filled with highly explosive sub
stance. 1t explodes, however, only
when it strikes with its point, which
is furnished with slightly projecting
knob pressing needle into the charge,
and thus causing an immediate explo.
sion.
Besides these new inventions, nu-
merous improvements have been in.
troduced, particularly in the artillery
Of both nations. ana most of them of
such destruotivcness to life and limb
that this war will probably become
tho bloodiest on resord.
FEARFUL WEAPON.
The mitrailloure, which is as yet
untried in practical warfare, is con.
sidered by the French as the most
destructive military weapon known.
Recently, three hundred wretohod
horses, already condemned to the po-
leaxe, were purchased at the ratio of
four or five francs each, and ranged
at considerable distance. Two mi
trailleures were brought to play on
them, and in three minutes after two
discharges, not one Of the animals
remained standing. On second oc-
ossion, fiyo hundred horses were
brought dowp'at single trial. This
formidable weapon is constructed as
follows: 1t is u light thirty-sevcn. bar
rel gun, arranged that its barrels may
be discharged simultaneously, or CON
secutively. The thirty-seven cart.
ridges, intended for one sharge, are
contained in a small box. A steel
plate, with corresponding holes, is
placed on the open box, which is then
reversed, and the cartridges fall point
foremost into their respective holes.
They are prevented ffom falling
through by the rims. at their bases.
The loaded plato is then introduced
iato tho breeoh-slot, and when the
breeoh is closed by Lover, o number