New-York tribune., 1893-10-02
NEWS OF ARMY AND NAVY.
FOR TEST OF RAPrrsFIRE GUNS AT INDIAN
HEAD.
ALLEGED BRUTALITY OF UNITED STATES TROOPS
Ar THE CHEROKEE STRIP OPENING.
fBy TELEGRAPH TO THE TRiDrsr.l

AT THE CHEROKEE STRIP OPENING.
fpv TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIDrsr.l
Washington oct 1.-The first competitive test
Of rival rapid-fire guns held in this country
will take place at the Naval PROVING ''rounos'
Indian Head, in few days The test IL looked lot
ward TO with great interest In Naval circles. .''
results will no doubt exercise a controlling in"-
cnce In the future purchase of guns Tor the navy.
Orders prescribing the conditions OF the triai anu
detailing the board of officers TO conduct IL are
now being prepared by Commodore SAMPSON ."e,
of the Bureau OF Ordnance. for the approval VI
Secretary Herbert The trial Will embrace 'es''
relating to ease of manipulation, NUMBER SUI"
plicity and strength of parts, rapdi'y anu
accuracy OF fire and the endurance Oh
,n. resnectve guns Particular consideration
will be given by the board no the eie-
ncnts Of the breech mechanism and the manner
and case Of assembling and disassemohns 'e'.
their strength, smoothness OF working anu ~
dom from tanning and fouling In firing Inc u',e
q, will take to remove the breech-bock ana repair
,,ss,h,e injuries while under fire will also be oo-
served. 49,, u.,p
~xo, the least important duty Of the board VIII
relate TO experiments TO determine the cnanceS
of accident to the crew or damage 10 '"c su
mechanism during the use OF detecu'e "i s,
,ion An essential feature of guns like the Ho'ch-
kiss and Sponsel is rapidity. To this sup,ec' 'ie
hoard will give special attention. observing uu.
inc the experiments the ease. safety ana QUICK
nees of loading, firing and extracting snens 1
ho.b guns to be tested barrels iden'icai WIN
resr,ect To character and size. questions reia'hs
% velocity. range and penetration will not enter
into the contest.
A resolution introduced in the House oy Dei.- ,
gate Flynp of Oklahoma has excited much 'eei-
ing IN military circles. 1t calls upon Secretary
Lamont for information as to the alleged pru-
,aty of soldiers the opening up OF the CheroAee
sfr,u TO settlers. During his remarks before the
House Mr. Flynn read letters and kilograms from
,srsons who claimed to have witnessed the incl
dents of the opening of the Strip. and also news
paper extracts describing the scenes when make
n appear that the conduct Of the soldiers was
outrageous The killing Of J. II. Hill one OF the
"boomers" by a soldier. is spoken or by seVerai
of Mr. Flynn's correspondents as being cruel ana
uniustifable The War Department Is without IN
formation as to the alleged outrages In anticl-
patton of the adoption of the resolution Secretai!
Lamont has teegraphed to General Miles 10 nave
a prompt and thorough investigation made OF the
charges against the troops Inspector-General Heyi
has been selected for this duty, and he Will begin
his inquiry at once.
Pending an official settlement Of the question:
officers of the Army do not hesitate to express
their Indignation at the idea of the troops being
arraigned in Congress upon charges OF murder ana
other acts of violence in the absence or oihciai
or other authentic Information, Officers say tha'
the proceeding Is a reversal OF justice as III c0h-
dernns the men before they are heard 1hey aiso
say that. judging from the experience OF seais Oh
the frontier. II is safe to assume una. tne sOe s
their duties the Cherokee strip. In the case on
!. II. Hill. they assume that he started across tne
halt when ordered to do so. and that his death was
due to his own folly.