The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-09-24
NEW WEAPONS or WAR.
A Revolving Cannou which Fires 100 shcts
per Minute and Carries -Four Miles.

Preliminary trials Of three remarkable
military inventions were concluded yesterday
morning. having been In progress at Sandy HOOK
since Thursday last. All are the devices of Mr..
u. H. Hotchkiss well-known inventor OF rife
projectcs used during the rebellion. The most
important OF the trio Ia a revolving cannon. oon-
ssting OF i've steel barrels OF 10 inch calibre,
grouped about horizontal shaft. The gunner,
by turning a crank extending from the station
airy broech, causes the shaft and barrels TO re-
volvo, and, while this rotation IL In progress,
mechanism Ia operated which shoves fixed am
munition into the rear OF each barrel, and then,
az tho loaded barrels continue their revolution,
aspiring plunRer strikes each cartridge In sue
cession. and each barrel 10 thus discharged In
turn. The projootiles are percussion oonical
shells. weighing about one pound each. and tho
rapidity Of lre has exceeded one hundred shots
per minute. As each shell on striking bursts
Into an average Of seventeen effective pioceA the
above volley Is equal to seventeen hundred hui.
lets striking within an area Of 2DD square feet In
tho above period Of time. The range far OK
ceeds that OF any small arm The revolving can
non. according to the records Of previous trials
made in France, throws with accuracy over a
distance OF nearly four miles.
The Sandy Hook trials were conducted In the
presence OF Colonies Crispin, Dayler, and Tread
Army Ordnance Board, aud are but the preour-
sors Of more extended tests In the future. The
principal results were those obtained from
nearest Of which was at 1000 yards from the
piece, and the Others beyond at Intervals Of l25
feet apart-all being In line. Seventy shots were
fired. and. despite the high wind crossing the
range, 2t1 hits were noted, the shells bursting
between the first and second targets.
The cause Of the remarkable accuracy OF the
gun and Its great range IL found In the peculiar
construction OF the pro1ectiles. which construc-
tion itself Is remarkable though very simple
Invention. IL consists simply In rounding Oh
the edge OF the butt Of the shell, so as to avoid
the sharp corner IN the rear, strange as y may
appear, this trivial modification has been found
TO augment the range ~ per cent, and greatly 10
Increase the accuracy. The subject has excited
the liveliest interest among army circles, since
II goes To show the erroneous nature Of pre-
viOusly accepted theories OF projectile construc-
tiOn
While the revolving cannon tests were in prog
ress, the army officials were quietly experiment
ing upon "A new magazine rne This weapon had
never before been tested, and the trials proved
that 1t Is capable Of being fired at the rate Of six
shots In six seconds. 1t is about the size of the
ordinary regulation rife, but discharges the
heaviest French cartridges. The curious feature
Il, will FIRE as many shots In succession AS there
can be cartridges accommodated In the breech
receptacle, after the principle OF the famous
Winchester rifle, 1t Is entirely destitute OF any
magazine mechanism. simple spiral spring
pushes the cartridges forward through ring M
The stock, to which ring the trigger Il attached
with the cartridge tube. Of which II forms q SEQ.
ton, and hence no cartridges are pushed for.
ward When the trigger ia pulled back the ring
Is brought into line long enough to let a cart
ridge pass. and take the place Of the one which
the ordinary lock mechanism at the same instant
discharges. The opening OF sliding piece Oh
the breech IA the gun Is brought down from the
shoulder then throws out the old shell, and
enables the new cartridge to enter the barrel.
The tests on all these Inventions are shortly C
he resumed on an elaborate scale under army
auspices, with view to adopting the weapons
into the service. The revolving cannon Ia,
already been adopted by the Argentine, Chinese
and Ira IAN l.ehN