The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-08-23
RUSSLA'S NEW RIFLE
Its Adoption May BE Regarded ~ . Sign
srPsace Tor the Present

Its Adoption Nay BE Regarded ~ . 9jeu
srPsace Tor the Present.
WASHINGTON. Aug. 21.-The Gar has at last
decided upon re-armfnR his troops with mag
azine gun. aud has flxed upon the calbrs. This
is to DO not far from three-tenths OF an inch. or
very nearly that Of the new rifles adopted BY
Belgium and England. triHe larger than that
OF Switzerland. and trifle smaller than those
OF France. Austria. and Germany. An English
service journal puts It at 1862 Milimetres which
would be three hundredths Of milllmetre less
than the Belgian rife. 1t is close upon the
caltbre-three-tenths OF an inch-Hxed by our
own ordnance authorities for the new rife for
tho United States army. whenever the pattern
for this last shall be determined.
Thus Russia. which has dragged behind
most other great nations In adopting repeat
Ing rifles, leaves the United States to bring up
the rear. Should our Magazine Gun Board.
which has been experimenting for several
months with repeating arms. settle upon ono
before the meeting OF Congress. the necessary
appropriation for its manufacture would prob.
ably not DO available before next July. As an
Offset. 1t would require comparatively small
number Of rifles to 1T out our army. whereas
Russia needs vast supply. and It will take
long time to procure them. Last year she ap-
propriated 100000 rub!es for this purpose,
and since then she has added twice % much
moro. But It Is not OF pected that all her troops
will be re-armed until 1893.
This fact may perhaps DO accepted to some
extent rs an assurance that Russia will do
nothing for time to bring about European
war. Since she has become convinced at last
OF the advantage possessed by repeating rifles,
she will hardly seek conflict with any nation
already provided with these superior weapons.
1t was once said in Jest which had much
hat A
troduce the rel eating rife because she was
not In danger OF going to war and Russia be-
cause she was In danger Of going to war,
Even short time ago Gen. Dragomirov ar
gued strongly against changing the weapon of
the troops. Tho magazine" he said. makes
the rife heavier and more com plicated; tho
gun is carried all day. but the repeating fire
lasts perhaps only twenty seconds The or.
binary rile would make moro hits at 200 yards.
and e nre rsDIdly from distance is the act Of
TO point out the fallacy 10 this argument. or to
show that ths army ,rpstng 70 ne single ire
within 200 yards. Kussias present n'tituds
has Furnished the practical reply. But there
s iss d sH
thrsatened .ns organization 81 war beio,. shs
among them thst they wefs II a di.sav sn,aes
already on hand an enormous supply Of tho
Berdan rifle; which satisfied her as q single
loader. Russia naturally preferred. IT possible,
g. co I, Of + into magazine gun; but
as an ally. and OF Germany. Austria. and Eng
land. who were possible enemies. az length
forced her to tho present decision. Competitive
tests carried oqF last year and the pre.ent ct
favor Of the small-calibrs magazine gun. The
rite adopted Is apparently form Of the Maui
ser. with points taken IRON the Lee.
Tho French Government Is said to have once
offered to allow Russia to about the Lcbel rifle.
manuiactnred IN France Whatever the facts
It 10 perhaps signillcRnt that Russia has nade
a different arrangement. and. although French
mangfactories. IT Is reported. will do the work
the rities will no OF q calihre little different
from that e e any other eountry, Tho French
million rifles that Russia would presumably
REQUIRE a. q first supply more rapidly and
Car understands tho POLITICAL and military
va.ne OF a weapon peculiar to his own army
Until the factories have delivered the first
instailments II tho new rife. Europe may per-
hnps rest with less apprehension Of the Rus
Sian bear.