The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-10-27
smAEb GALLERIES. FOR SMALL arms.
The New Departures OF Italy, Holland, ROW
nrnnIp. and Chill.

m.nIs, and Chiii.
WASHINGTON. Oct. 26.-The paper on prog
ress In small arms drawn up by Lieut.. Kar-
many Of tho Marine Corps for the use OF the
ONCE OF Naval Intelligence furnishes no little
support to the noicy OF the Navy Department
In its recent selection OF n .236 calibrv for its
new magazine rifle.
When several yenrs ago Gen. Bendt ut that
time Chiot OF Ordnance announced that 30
had been selected as the new cnlibre for our
army rifle. 1t was ut once recognized that our
military authorities had como to the extreme
in the reduction OF the bore. France with her
Lebel had begun the movement In this tllrec-
tlon with n .315 calibrc and Austria and other
countries had followed with exactly the same
bore In the Mnnn!cher. This was a great
change from the .433. which had prevailed in
those countries and in Germany. Belgium,
and various other parts OF Europe. ns we'll ms
from tho AS VI England and the United states.
But more advanced movement came with
Epgland's Lee Metford. having 800 bore and
with tho Mauser of 30l. Our own army then
pursued the advance to 80, and about the
snme time. either little before or little after.
Switzerland fixed upon 200. Thus our army
was well In advance Of most other coun-
tries. But 1t turned out that several years
elapsed before the actunl selection OF a maya
zine rifle OF the caibre thus adopted. and.
while the experiments with different rifles
specially constructed for competition were
going on. new steps were taken to decrease
tho calibre. Lieut. Karmany records the de-
tails Of this movement
1t appears that no fewer than three coun-
tries. Italy, Roumnnia. and Holland. have late
ly adopted Mannlicher OF only .25U inch
caltbre The Roumarian arm Is made at the
steyr Works in Austria. Tho breech is based
on the German 1888 pattern. but the cartridge
extractor and eiector have been modified. tho
latter being placed At tho rear end of the shoe.
A further Improvement Is in arranging the
bolt 80 that it will not lock il the brecch block
head is not in place. thus avoiding the chance
OF accidents possible with the German piece
through the explosion OF the partially exposed
mania ordered II Uo such res 81 i The steyr
factory; and all are expected to be delivered by
the end OF this year.
q modified Mannlicher one hundred thou.
san sand e'arbines were recently issued in place Of
900 new rifles will be issued by the ond OF this
year. the Alpine regiments being rearmed
h TT, The latterand three frontier corps will
IHGlland's experiments with the .259 Mann
lloher showed such excellent results. with
reported In it's favor. The bullet is of hard
lead. with steel enyelop nickeled. and is cylin-
driGaL with ogival head.
The experience of spain with different cali
bres l., interesting. Last, yenr the .30l Mauscr
was adopted. and the field firings were tried
with such results us to produce great enthusi-
nsm among the troops:
,r r.a sTns s, on at Of
further reduce the cnbre and INN (o2 7d inch was
fie Sa ls a4 s5.s
nsxnE been tried with others before Chiian Com
The inventor Is furnish 10000 rifles and 900 car
wiz S Ss' spn"d d n an
furnish 10000 lilies year smokeirss powder 10 used.
nhs q, '"s sI" np
tic tho si' raee
,or{ In "ri"r t" Attain bter r.snlts IN s respect
charge. '' '''' VI VIZ
penetration. showed that the bullet would pass
through the stontest bones in the human body
% oa tS yn xs Ct
three at $50 yards. between 44O yards and
1.140 the bullet makes small aperture which
is @ but Diners from a he
in hsH in wooden hand guard instead Of
and muzzle cover combined There is no pro-
Cd Ike Ss"Gs naT o 9dGg
2 Saip RI. II the PTem MI tT4s .he
Msnnlichsr. 10: The belgian Niauser. -.
preferred the Niannlicher w. "''' '''' '''l''''
The Mauser .3Ol. with a Ii:}.
grain bui let had q velocity at 40 yards OF 2.13l
yards, OF 800 feet The Mauscr 30 Spanish
model with bullet Of l73 grains, gave 2:30s
with a lU2 grain bullet. gave 2.34S Velocity
and 4.O7 penetration. The Daudeteau .25I.
with 154-grain bullet. gave 1884 velocity |
gave 2.54S velocity and 3.77 penetration The
Beaumont .2J6 inch. with a 1861 grain bullet. |
gave 2.346 velocity md 4.O2J penetration. The |
Mannlicher .25i inch. with Is i-grain bullet. |
gave 2.342 velocity nnd 4.OS4 penetration. |
There were some differences in the powder
Of the trajectory above the line OF sight at |
different points. using the 500 metre $4,000 |
yardsl sight: