Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-08-25

The system in use in the French army
is kept secret, We therefore give that OF
Christophe and Montigny, which is adopt
ed at Berlin, Vienna, and Liege, and In
England. The Mitrailleur of Messrs
ChYistophe and Montigny is the result OF
an ingenious breech loading device com
biue& with number Of guns united. A
mitrailleur Of 81 guns, firing 4s1 balls per
minute, has the appearance OF small
field.gun, except that the parts Stimulating
the cylindrical piece holds thirty seven
rified barrels Of cast steel, Of calibre OF
from ten to fourteen millimeters or more,
placed in juxtaposition, SO as to form
fasces, and enveloped in wrought.iron
cylinder. On the back and in the pro-
lOngation of the cylinder are two parallel
cheeks, connected at the ends by bronze
cushions, supporting the curved lever
which serves to load or discharge all the
guns
Two levers are sufficient TO work the
piece. Between the parallel cheeks works
the movable battery facing the front OF
the chamber of the gun this holds the
cartridge plates, and, by backward and
forward motion, transmitted to 1t with
the aid OF q crank by the curved lever
placed behind-that Is, lowering 1t as far
as it will go-presses down the cartridges
into the chamber of the guns, and, at the
same time, drives the percussion ham,
mers against the detent slide. It 10 then
only necessary to raise the detCnt lever,
placed laterally and toward the centre OF
the battery, to discharge all the guns
singly or simultaneously.
The discharge plate is instantly removed
by means of the rear lever, which is rails
ed, and replaced by another loaded plate,
which the lever in falling shoves into the
gun.
The mitrailleur rests, at its centre Of
gravity, on q pivot, which moves in .
revolving rest fixed ON the carriage; so
that circular rotatory movement to the
right or the left can be given it at pleasure
BY means Of crank, which, in firing,
produces the effect Of q raking fire. A
graduated bridge permits it TO be aimed at
distances exceeding 1900 meters or little
over 1910 yards. Lastly, two caissons
placed on the axles Of the carriage are De.
signed to hold-the one, Q number OF
loaded cartridge plates; and the other,
the tools necessary for dismounting, clean.
ing, and remounting the piece, etc.
The experiments that have been made
at Brussels, Liege, England, st. Peters
burg, Vienna, Dresden, and Berlin, have
given such satisfactory results that this
formidable engine Of war, for both field
and garrison, has been adopted almost
everywhere, not only in the countries
which we have Just named, but q large
order has just been received for them from
China. The reports Of foreign officers
testify that the mechanism of the Chris
tophe.M ontigny gun ia masterpieces of
simplicity and precision.
The absolute average variation of
volley of 81 balls Is 1928 in 100, ~ In $50,
and 80 on. At the distance Of 300 meters
an 10 meter target II literally cut 70
pieces and the penetrating force ut 600
meters, through pieces Of wood, is about
25 centimeters, or little over inches.
The projectile weighs 81 grammes, or q
little over an ounce. The charge OF
powder Is from TO 8 grammes. The last
amount il that counseled by the inventors
The mitrsilleur Of 81 guns weighs $50
kilogrammes, or four hundred pounds,
without the carriage, and can be worked
By two men. Il WAS found, however, ct
Vienna, in December, 1889, that TO obtain
the most rapid firing, or 4sl balls per min.