The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1888-07-06
THE NEW SWISS ouN.
1 vrk with an Army Oniaar on tho Erect.
of Murftara


avrS with an Army onsear on the EGscta
of Warfare.
''ls not this indicative OF a change In
the ethics Of modern warfarep" asked
areporter the other day Of well known
army officer connected with the War
Department. He was calling the OH
GERS attention 10 an Item giving an
account OF new Swiss gun, aud which
said: "Owlng TO the smooth surface
of the steel-clad bullet IL IL believed
that the wounds inflicted will be- much
more readily healed"
NO." replied the officer, promptly.
''that IL not change. IL has always
been believed by modern military men
that the killing OF the enemy is less
desirable than wounding them. Now
there 10 but one thing to be attained
when q conflict occurs between two
bodies OF troops. You, ON one hand.
are endcavoring to secure some adj
vantage by forcing your enemy from
an important position. while they. Of
course. are equally desirous OF repell-
Ing you and securing your place. The
first and only way of accomplishing
this end Is by demoralizing your oppo-
nents and forcing them 10 retreat
There are three means of demoralizing
an army-tirst. the cannonale. which
does comparatively little phy dam
age. but inspires Ia the hearts OF many
of nm advancing or defensive force
feeling Of fear that often results In n
speedy panic aud retreat; then comes
IA wound. which has more of a moral
effect than you might suppose. A
wounded man always wants and
always gets n great deal OF
sympathy from his comrades. who,
seeing his condition are very apt
to be seized with sudden desire To
and to help him to the rear A
wounded man often means three men
out Of the ranks, while dead man
counts but one. And so, for this rea-
son. killing Is put last In the list of
desirable demoraliEers. as IL is consid-
cred useless barbarity.
The Chinese have the same theory,
4 would seem, in regard to warfare.
Fhey have an arrangement known by
the inelegant but expressive name of
'stinkpot' II is n Augmentation of
iiabolism and odor. The only use, OF
Nurse, TO which IL can be put In con-
test Is for demoralizing the enemy.
There are but few men who could
march through the atmosphere created
BY this invention of the surprising
brain of the heather Chinese. The old
Greek fire was partly for destruction
nd as much for Decentralization. The
Roman idea OF battle was purely san
culinary. Now. 10 come down TO this
new bullet The chances of death from
a wound resulting from IL are eonsid-
erably reduced owing to the fact that
in leaving the. gun its surface Is COM
,ara lively smooth. The lead is COW
red by n thin sheet of steel, which
readily takes the rifing of the bore
md does not emerge with jagged edges
which tear and irritate the wound and
Increase the liability of death. The
Heretofore it was thought that a rifle
af one turn in fifteen inches was all
that could be safely secured. 1t was
believed that any thing sleeper would
cause a choke. Now this Swiss gun is
/ .ifled with one turn in four inches,
/ which is unparalleled in the history OF
| he making of small arms. This in
/ sures great accuracy of aim, which in
turn enables marksman to wound mn
/ antagonist rather than kill him out.
/ light. - Washington Star.