The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-07-27

New INVENTIONS IN ARMs-THE CHASE
POT NEEDLE GUN, AND THE WALL RIFLE
It becomes daily more evident that not only
France, but also Prussia, has for number
of years silently but steadily made the
most active preparations for, the great
struggle for European supremacy which
has lust now commenced between them.
This is not only indicated by thorough
REORGANIZATION Of both the French and the
German armies, but also by the strenuous
efforts of each to produce weapons more
improved and Of greater destructiveness
than possessed by the other ,.-... ...,,..-. a,.
It Is claimed by the French that the Chas-
sepot is an Improvement on the Zundna-
delgewehr, and, as long as the latter served
them as model, they are probably all right
there. Besides that, they have introduced
into their artillery service light ield-piece,
q kind of revolving cannon, called the mi
tralleuse, said to be most effective against
infantry and cavalry, sU9.:5 la1,p.-.
All of a sudden one hears, however. OF
several new inventions quietly introduced
by Prussia, and first amongst them gun
which can be fired twenty-five times q MI
mute with ease, and said to be decided
Improvement on both the ZundnadelgeWeh
and the Chassepot. In connection with
this they have an improved arrangement
The superiority of this new gun becomes
Mt once self-eyident, inasmuch as the pre-
sent needle-gun can only be fired off about
ten or twelve times q minute, and soldier
carries only sixty rounds of ammunition.
It is, therefore, at least twice as effective
as their present style of needle-gun, and a
consideral number of them has already
been manufactured and is ready to be dis
tributed among the. army. Another new
invention of which the PrusSians seem to
think much is kind of heavy and very
large rifle with q cast-ste0l barrel four and
half feet long, and mounted on TWO light
wheels very much like az piece! of artillery.
Tt is named the wall buechSe, or wall rifle.
probably because o similar very heavy and
fons rifle has been in use, during the middle
pes for the defence OF the walls and turrets
Of castles and other Notifications. This wall
rifle has been distributed extensively among
the infantry, every battalion Of which has
now a number Of them. 1t Is aimed and
fire,. off by q soldier kneeling behind it and
catching the reooil, in order to steady the
aim by means of "a paddedcushion or saddle.
The distance ag which this new gun carries
Ia very great, the same as TINT OF the heaYl,
est artillery. 1t shoots with great precision,
and seems to he 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 ammuni;
ton chests, although it may also be used
against infantry and cavalry, ,9,..s,..>r,fn.
The projectile Is two and 3 half inches
long, Of ,cast-Iron, hollow, and filed with. O
highly-explosiye substance, 1t explndes,
however, only when IL strikes with its point,
which is furnished with . slightly project
ing Knob pressing q needle into the charge,
and thus causing an immediate explosion, -
Besides these new Inventions numerous
improvements have been introduced, par.
ticqlarly in the artillery OF both nations, and
most Of them Of sneh Q ,destruetiyeness TO
life and limb that this war viii probably pee
come the bloodiest on record, fsss -