Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-08-31
England's War PrepareliOns.
THE BRITISH ARMY TO BE EQrIPPED WITH NEW AMI
IMPROVED GUNS.


IMPROVED GUNS
From the London News
The great factory at Enfield Lock is preparing
for large order, though when the order may come
nobody seems to have any idea IL has been prac-
tically settled that the Martinl-Henry rife, with
which the British army Is at present equipped is
TO be superseded, and that the new rifle wiz be a
''bolt" gun In some form. Between any form OF
'bolt" gun and the Martini Henry there Is a differ
ence OF type which renders II impracticable 20
manufacture the two guns with the same machin-
Enheld, therefore, will have TO be superseded;
indeed, TO large extent the exchange has
already been effected. large amount OF new
mechanism has already been set up, and the es-
tablishment is busily engaged Ia completing ar
rangementS for the manufacture OF the new tyne
shall deem It advisable 10 give the order. About
five hundred guns OF the new kind have been made
at Enfield, and these have been issued for use IN
various parts or the world and under various con-
ditons OF service, and when they have been tested
and tried under all sorts OF circumstances and the
secretary for war has had reports tne.r oe.lav-
Tor he may then issue orders tor the great ma
chine down there on the banks OF the Lea 70 be
set In motion and new rides TO be turned out with
all speed.
The new gun Is OF the Chassepot type--the
breech- loading, center fre needle gun OF the
French, OF which, In different parts OF the world
there are several form extant IL has magazine
over the MarClni-Henry are that IL Is gun OF re-
duced caliber, and consequently q smaller ca
recolL The bullet Is smaller In diameter tnan that
OF the Martini-Henry, but In proportion 10 its
weight II is rather longer and has more penetrat-
ing power. The gun also permits OF the use OF an
improved powder giving propulsive power half
as much again as the Martini-lienry cartridges
and this, combined with the smaller caliber and
the elongated bullet. gives a more horizontal
sweep 10 Its line OF IRE bullet instead OF cury-
ing over the head OF one enemy and dropping out
OF the air on TO another, may by It's lower
straighter flight cut its way through both. The
range OF the new gun is greater than that of the
Old one, and within ITS range Is deadlier weapon.
one department OF the factory is devoted 20 the
manufacture OF machine guns. They can turn out
here about four Nordenfelt guns a week-taose
frightful engines which, by simply working a
lever backward and forward, Will pour out upon
an enemy q storm OF from GOO TO LOO bullets a
minute. There are several forms OF machine guns
here, all OF them capable Of pouring out deluges OF
lead In a manner which seems TO reduce modern
warfare 10 a sheer absurdity, and cannot but sug-
gest the thought that the time must be near al
hand when war must cease from tie sheer impos-
sibility OF men getting near each other 10 Tight
There seems TO be q ray Of hope here; but the su-
perintendent OF the Enfield factory, like all tue
best authorities such matters, pooh-p oohs such
an idea IL is all q matter OF attack and defense
he says. One side gets possession OF q gun OF ex-
cepttonal deadliness, and the other immediately
sets TO work 10 devise defense. As soon as the
defenss proves effective, The attacking party has
TO improve its guns. And so the game goes mer-
riiy ON tni the mao world from sheer exhaustion,
shall pause ana begin 70 grow sane. ana endeavor
to compose It's differences on principles OF reason
and righteousness.