New-York tribune., 1873-05-22
PRICE FOUR CENTS.
WASHINGTON.
THE FUTURE ARM OF THE MILITARY
SERVICE.

IhE FUTURE AKIN OF IHE hlLiihhi
SERVICE.
REPORT OF THE ARMY BoARD-TTE sPRINGYIErD
BREECH-LoADING SYSTEM ADoPTED-hAGAzINE
GUNS RECOMMENDED.
WASHINGTON, May 21.-The Board for Sc
lecting breechloadiag system for muskets and ear
bnes have submitted their report and 1t has just been
approved by the Secretary OF War. The Board exam
ined about different classes Of and models OF
arms and made experiments herewith. The following
foreign arms were also examined The Chassep0t nee-
dle-guns neede-guns improved, Mansen, werndt, Vet
terlen and Martini Henry The presence OF exhibitors
was permitted by the Board and encouraged far
possible. The Board submitted the following report:
Without partcuarizng the special favorable and IN.
favorable features OF each system fully shown by other
portions OF the record the Board has been brought 70
the conclusion from their own experience, as wen as
from the great OF conrmatory testimony o0taineS
from the army the field, that the sprnhed gun No
99 OF all those presented is the best suited Tor our MILL
tary service. They have therefore
Resolred That the Board recommend that the Spring
field breecho system be adopted FOR the military
service of the United States in aceordarce with the pro-
appropriation for the support OF tine army Tor the ye
ending June 3o 1873 and FOR other purposes approves
In further accordance with the favorable impressions
produced by the trial of these last selected arms the
Board feel ii their duty 10 make the recOmmendau0ns
embraced in the following resolutions:
Whereas, The Elliot system has exhibited remarkable
work IT, therefore rendering IL specially adapted the
mounted service; therefore be IL
ReSotred, That limited number OF earDines be made
after this system for issue to the mounted service for
trial In the field
1t was further resolved
That, in the opinion OF the Board, the adoption Of
magazine for the military service OF all nations
only question OF time. That whenever an arm shall be
devised which shall be effective single breeen-
loader the best Of the existing single breech-oadng
arms, and at the same time shall possess safe ani
easily manipulated magazine, every consideration ot
public policy Will require It's adoption.
ReSotred. further, That the experiments before the
Burton system, at the Springfield Armory, and
using the Motcalf cartridge, have SO impressed
they consider It nearly fulfilling
conditions above specified than any other magazine
gun tried by them, OF which they have any knOwl'
edge therefore, while unwilling to recommend the n'
mediate adoption Of this system IN face OF the unan
slngleoader it does recommend that small number OF
magazine muskeCs be made on this plan Tor turther taI
" HAGSER, Colonel OF Ordnance; H. b. Gritty, Colonel
10th Infantry; NJ. A. RENO, Major 1th Cavalry; L. L.
second Lieutenant Ordnance, and Recorder
GEN. DYERs RDoRsEEESr
ORDNANCE OFFICE, WAR DEPARTMENT
WAsHINGrOS, May 10, 1873.
Respectfully returned to the Secretary OF War with
the recommendations OF the Board that the Springfield
breechoading system be adopted for the military ser
vice be approved and that the I5nch caber be adopted
for all small arms. The law OF June 9, 1872 expressly
provides that the system adopted shall be the only one
to be used by Ordnance Department in the manu-
acure of muskets and carhnes for the military service
Should therefore the Springfield system be adopted as
recommended the law prohibits the manufacture OF the
Ward Burton magazine and the Elliot gun for trial as
recommended by the Board Were 1t not for this pro
hbiton the trial Of these guns in the field woud DO
recommended ABB. DYER,
Chief OF Ordnance, United States Army
Anproyed WM. W. BELKSAP, Sec. Of War.