The New York herald., 1878-11-04

the hands Of the army Toward the close Of
IN tne wsp was ordefea % 70 organize force Of so
be secured. The corps have been ofiocred by
the several State authorities and soldier under
two years service 10 be eligible for enlistment
When 10000 men had been organized this plan the
war ended, and they never appeared the held But
had the struggle continued they would have made q
great impression, the enemy could not have put .
similar force in the field.
A NATIONAL ARMoRY.
"The Springfield rifle hardly holds its own when put
In competition with many other excellently combined
systems OF military guns Now it should always bs
the policy for the government to have national
mory where guns of all models be rapidly turned
out; but it would hardly be wise to permanently
adopt any one gun to the exclusion Of all Others !
take II that the best thing for the army for private
enterprise and for the country at large would be for
the government to occasionally purchase patches of
arms, particularly magazine weapons, from each Of
the best Arms engaged in the manufacture of military
guns. This would secure to the country permanent
factory, encourage private enterprise. and put the
new guns to a severe test by actual service.
The military authorities would. by these means. be
of getting the best in the market while at
the time they would not be at the mercy Of the
manufacturers. Our American gunmakers have had
elsewhere and have had but little inducements offered
at home to go with their improvements. Yet it lis
not too much to say that American firearms ahead
of those of any other country. The government off,
GERS should push forward their improvements, and IT,
when the crisis OF war shall came the national
armory can produce the best arm, we should use it,
fnot then take that which may be found best among
the private manufacturers.
NO ECONOMY AMMUNITION.
"The adoption Of the breech-oader and the magazine
gun bring mp prominently the question of ammuni.
ton. favor giving the men many rounds to fire
yearly at the targets they can proitably use The
saving of ammunition by keeping troops from target
practice is not economy in any sense In campairn
the forces must be- furnished with all the cartrd9es
they can usefuly burn. The question of the
transportation of ammunition thus becomes Of
considerable Importance and claims especial attention
at the hands OF the military organizer The usual
means of carrying material by the ball
parks of the corps. divisions and brigades in
the service must be continued, and the number Of
movements and serve detachments operating in iso-
lated positions, away from good roads, we must. to
large extent initiate our neighbors the exicans. ir
employing properly equipped mule trains. good
combination a these two systems will enable com.
manders to keep their troops always well supplied
with ammunition. The number Of rounds per man
formerly calculated for campaign 200; but
doubtless this must now be at least srcbled."
ENGLAND
At this point the conversation diverted to the
threatened Afghanistan THAT is problem"
said General Hancock "upon which should prefer
for professional reasons, not to give any decided
preston of opinion. The question. however, il
really one. of boundary between Russia and Great
Britain These two powerful empires fnd themselves
at last face to face with each other and each srug
Cling for the supremacy It to be settled that
Indian frontier by sezing the Khyber and
other passes leading from the high lands
Russia appears equally resolved prevent this; and
1t Is difficult to perceive how the struggle can be
avoided It may be put off, but it must come
sooner later. The chances of will depend
upon which army has the most enemies In the rear
Russia has control of the countries between her
own soil and the probable seat of than England.
The population in the Of the Russian advanced
position is not so dense between those Of
Great Britain and her base Of supplies Engands ad-
vantage lies in having carrying power by water and
by rail. Russia is BY no means so well situated In
this respect
TEE GENERAL PORTER.
The conversation was again changed, the reporter
asking General Hancocks opinion Of the Titz John
Porter II think" he replied, 'that the Board
of Investigation could not have been better selected
for Determining the important questions to be passed
upon, Whatever may be their Judgment it must sat
isfy all thoughtful men; and II public opinion ap-
proves. doubtless it WILL the result will be the
tablishment Of a tribunal of appeal to pass such
after the heated feelings engendered by actual
war have passed away Our articles Of war
taken from those of Great Britain but in the latter
there is. in cases Of great hardship, always
q last appeal to the sovereign, who is
looked upon as the fountain OF honor. In case
unfortunately the clause establishing the right OF
appeal left out, but after long tilne, II
that this nestimabe right may be restored to
the army. Had the Board been composed Of officers
Of less experience and ability the result Of their
dict would. probably have been unsatisfactory. A
1t is their rulings will be taken final and estsh
fishing precedent that cannot be ignored. OF
course can give opinion touching the merits OF
| the CASE"