Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-07-01
MACHINE GUNS.
Their Uses, Needs and Prospective
Employment in Our Army.


From, the Journal # the q. s. Military Seroice
institution.
The machine gun is a special weapon,
not the rival OF nor intended to compete
with field artillery.
The French used their mitrailleuses
with more or less success during the war
of 1901. During the battle of Marsha
Tour the Ihiriyeighth Prussian infantry
brigade, supported by the Second heavy
battery, advanced against Grenler's dvl-
sion. Ine official report states
that these troops encountered a
murderOus infantry and machine
gun fire and were obliged to fall
back, their losses "amOunting almost TO
anniniaton;' that cavalry attempted TO
protect the shattered remnant Of the bri-
gade, "but that on account Of the violent
mitrailleuse fire the leader was unable
to deliver home his attack" At Sedan
| five or six mitrCileuses played with
deadly effect on the Prussians at a range
of about 300 yards, and their effect was
confessedly superior to any which could
have been inflicted by common shell.
The best and most efficient organiZa-
tion for machine guns is that Of battery
OF artillery. Better care will be taken or
the guns and horses, better instruction
| given 10 the men, better discipline
maintained, higher degree Of mobility
! secured.
The knowledge generally obtained OF
our machine guns is by an occasional
glance at them when visitors are being
shown around the post. At some posts
the guns are at times used for drill,
but generally in the manual of the piece.
Possibly At points where it can be done
| some target practice is had, but as
/ whole The ln9tTngtIQu the u
exceedingly limited.
We DaVe now the Calling and improved
! Gardner systems of guns only, which
! simplify matters 10 q great extent. At
Que time, in addition to these, We were
| experimenting with the Lowell, the Tay-
/ lOf and other systems. This trouble has
not been entirely overcome, for we have
| Calling guns OF tlerent models, and gun
mounts aid feeds Of various kinds. We
| nave also carriages, limbers and carts OF
/ different styles and materials, some being
constructed of wood aud some of metal,
some manufactured at our arsenals and
some by private firms. In future less
/ trouble VIII be experienced, as the two
systems OF machine guns-rlt1e Caiibre--
now adopted ia our service have attained
"A degree OF excellence which warrants
the assertion thai no radical change will
be made in their future construction.
1t may be relied on as an established
fact that no system Of feeding machine
guns which does not allow the taxing OF
t0e cartridges direct from the package
will ever prove efficient and satisfactory
for field service.
High gun mounts are Objectionable; the
gun Is thereby carried so high that feed
ing is made lncOnvenient and consequent
| ly less rapid; the carriage is more liable
to De overturned, and a larger target pre-
scented. 1t IS not believed that 1t is nee
essary In our service TO provide for an all
round IRE Without trailing.
We should have but one carriage, and
that so constructed that either gun can
be placed on IT.
The hopper OF the Calling and the
swinging casing cover of the improved
Gardner should be easily detachable
that is, they should be so arranged that
they can be easily removed by any one
under adverse circumstances. the tasten-
ing should be large, and If a pin is used 1t
should have ring or chain TO pull 1t out
with. The casing OF the barrels should
be dark; there should be nothing to shine
or glisten to attract attention.
1t is conceded that these guns are valu-
able for the defense OF field Notifications
placed in defensive relations to each
other, lntrenched positions with long lines
OF defense, the defense OF villages, pro-
tectng roads, dehles or bridges, or the
crossing of streams, covering the embarka-
ton AMI debarkatlOu of troops and mate
/ rial, for sllenclng batteries OF position, OF
! field batteries, or supporting them, repel-
ing charges, covering retreats.
| Each gun should be drawn by four
! horses. Two horses are not sufficient TO
| provide for the necessary mobility; and
The other uses to which the leaders may
he put, besides assisting to transport the
! gun, make four horses absolutely nee
! e5sary.
! 1t is in the power of machine guns to
! rain bullets up to 3. 200 yards, with pene-
tration of , inches in spruce plank and
/ from to inches in sand, the angle OF
| fail being about % degrees.
The machine gun is unequaled for night
/ firing. 1t can be placed in position to cover
/ any point within range, and kept i'll that
| pos ton. The lack ct recOI prevents the
accuracy from being disturbed and con-
slant night fire can be maintained, having
the same precision as thar by day.