The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-09-03
THE SCIENCE OF WAR.

development for Destructive Purposes-The
hli'rniiieuse, iron-Clads, Monitors, Torpe-
d"ess Killed Cannon and the Needle Gun
What the American War Produced.
From the London Standard. August 1871
In the present age every war seems 10 be charac-
tcfzed NY the appearance OF some new agent OF de-
structlon. The French campaign in Italy showed
the prowess OF rined cannon. The American strug-
The war between Prussia and Aust la established
the reputation OF breech.lOading firearms. Now
comes the CONFLICT between France and Prussia IN
which the mitrailleuse has made itself notorious.
But at present the mitrailleuse has doubtful fame
aud IN order TO testit the British government has
ShOeburyness.
The particular kind OF mitrailleuse which we are
thus trying Is the Montigny, as improved by Major
fosDery. But we confess to good deal Of surprise
at the slow rate OF firing accomplished by this
weapon. The nine FOUNDER bronze field gun for
India mu2zle-oader, has been made to deliver
eleven rounds In two minutes, while the Montigny,
on Thursday and Friday, never went beyond Six. 1t
was reported that the mitraeuse could accom-
psh len rounds per minute, whereas we md 1t de-
hvers only three. Something IL said about the car
tridges not being properly adapted TO the gun,
whereby two sources OF delay are occasi0ned In
the first place, the cartridges do not always 90
readily INTO the barrels, and In the place, the
empty cases are not always erectuay Withdrawn.
Therefore II cannot be SAID that the mrailleuse Is
working with ITS maximum effect Another ques-
have reduced the speed with which the machine can
be worked. II seems remarkable that q muzzle-
loading field gun should be made to fire at very
~
the discharge OF bullets. Nor does the mtrailleuse
which 1t throws IN given time. SIX discharges OF
the mitraeuse, accomplished IN two minutes send
222 bullets against the Toe. But the Indian gun,
nring case en0t, launches ITO bullets at each dis
charge. ON the first day ten ronnds OF case were
TINS nred in two minutes, which would amount TO
/, 100 bullets about We times as many bullets as
the mitraeuse forth when fired at It's present
maximum OF six times In the two minutes Neither
are the bullets OF the field gun much lighter than
la nj ia
to lire at the rate Of ten v0lleys per minute would
only discharge $40 bullets, while i've rounds Of
Ir0m the Indian gun would propel $50 bullets. In
the matter OF range the field gun In all probability
VIII be found highly destructive at distance which
Will renuer the mitrailleuss poweress. What.
Inen, can De SAID IN favor or The new machine ?
1t Is far less wasteul or its bullets than the field
gun iirng case shot. The Montigny has "a much
higher percentage OF hits than the ieid gun
But our correspondent at Shoeburyness argues the
matter tnus-'As The business VI war Is TO destroy
the enemy, 1t would be more TO the purpose TO put
100 men horS Qe combat with waste OF eighty Der
cent OF bullets within tour minutes than 10 bring
down ninety only within The same period by the
nighest economy or few pounds OF ead.n II Is
fair observe that the data employed I'm this aryu
ment are derived from experiments in which pre-
clson and not speed was the object desired We
may take an instance III which both precision and
speed were required. Thus we find the Moutigny
firing six rounds IN two minutes comprising 222 bull
lets, giving 17s hits, while the II FOUNDER breech-
which only lG6 hi the target. In this comparison
the Montgny placed seventy three cavalry or eighty
Tour infantry h0rs ne combat, ana the field gun sew
enty-lwO cavalry seventy nine infantry. We
therefore see the Montgny making nearly as many
hlts with 90 bullets as the l2pOundcr field gun with
242 bullets, and The effect on troops Is slightly In
favor OF the lnItrallleuse Moreover, this occurs
despite The unsuitable cartridges which have
Could the speed OF the Montigny be trebed or
even doubled the results would immensely az
fecteu. 1t remains to be noticed that the Montipnv
Is considerably less than half The weight or the
Indian gun and can be served by onethrd the num-
Der OF men or at most by onehalf. II also requires
A.Gh p mi. pfl "a.