Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-05-04

An Engine Which Fires Six Hundred
Shots n Minute.

CIdllSllCluuS iulOIui US tuht VIC tiltiIc
loss of life in wars between so-called civil
lied countries from the year 1893 to 1877
has reached the enormous aInodnt OF
4, 470,0 900. To many persons these figures
convey a sad and salutary lesson. On the
other hand. there are many who act as if
they needed or knew them not. Readers will
differ as to whether ii is laudable or other
wise TO invent any means by which the
above figures might possibly be increased;
but, leaving the sentimental part OF the
subject aside, all will readily unite in adj
miring the wonderful mechanism which
makes the Maxim machine gun an engine
of terrible destructiveness. Particular in
terest attaches 10 it at the present time ow
ing to the fact that the great African ex-
plorer, Stanley, provided himself with
this Formidable weapon. TO be used defens-
lively in the expedition on which he re-
Gently started for the relief of Emin Bey.
Moreover, it obtained goal me ! al the
Inventions Exhibition, and has bee, up
proved (, if not actually adopted by
many governments, the Chinese Govern
.nent being particularly mentioned us one
OF the largest purchasers.
It's rate Vt tiring-600 rounds a minute
is at least three times as rapid rs that of
any other machine gun. 1t has only sin
gle barrel, which, when the shot is fired,
recoils distance OF three-quarters of an
inch on the other parts of the gun. This
recoil sets moving the machinery which
automatically keeps up continuous fire
at the extraordinary rate of tel rounds
second. Each recoil of the b rrel has
therefore TO perform the necessary func
tons of extracting and ejecting the empty
cartridge, of bringing up the Text full one
and placing ii in its proper position in the
barrel, of cooking the hammer and pulling
the trigger. AS long rs the firing con
tinues these functions are repeated round
after round in succession. Tue barrel is
provided with a water jacket, TO prevent
excessive heating; and is so mounted that
it can be raised or lowered or set at an
angle, or turned horizontally TO the left or
to the right. The bore is adapted TO the
present size of cartridges; and the maxi
mum range is 1880 yards. The gun
can therefore be made to sweep IA
circle upwards of a mile in radius
Nor is the gun excessively heavy, its
total weight being only 1906 pounds, made
up thus: Tripod, 80 pounds; pivot ION
which the gun turns and by which it is
attached TO the tripod, l6 pounds: gun
and firing mechanism, 40 pounds. The
parts can be easily detached and conven
icntly folded for carriage, and may be put
together again so quickly that if the belt
containing the cartridges Is in position, the
first shot can be delivered within ten sec
onds. 1t would, therefore, b extremely
servicoable in preventing disaster through
body of troops being surprised. Recon
noitering parties too, would deem it pru
dent to pay greater Difference to an en-
emy's lonely sentry on advanced outpos'
duty If the latter were provided with this
new machine gun, instead of the ordinary
rifle.
Immediately below the barrel Of the our
box is placed containing the belt which
carries the cartridges The belts vary in
length. Those commonly used are seven
feet long and capable Of holding 1873 car
tridges; shorter ones hold i20 cartridges,
but the several pieces can be joined to
gether for continuous firing. Single shots
can be fired at any time, whether the belt
is in position or not-in the former cast
by pressing button, when prevents Tao
recoil in the latter, by hand loading in
the ordinary way. To start firing one
end Of the belt is inserted in the gun, the
trigger is pulled by the hand once, after
which the movement becomes continuous
and automatic rs long as the supply OF
cartridges lasts. Al each recoil of the bar
rel the belt is pushed sufficiently upward
TO bring the next cartridge into position;
the mechanism gr;sps this cartridge,
draws it from the belt and passes it on to
the barrel. Should "A faulty or an empty
cartridge find its way in, and the gun doe.
not go off in on:equcnce, there is, OF
course no rccoil &c keep up the repeating
action, and the mechanism ceases To wOrb
until The obstruction is removed.