New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-05

THE ACCLES GUN ON FIXED MOUNT.
irnportant features which give to 1t dstinctness
and increased efficiency. For general purposes OF
description, 1t may be regarded modified and
improved Calling gun, containing many OF the
best elements OF that weapon. together with nota-
BILE improvements and devices, which go to
make 1t a machine gun of much excellence Among
the many improvements which have been embod-
led in the Accles gun Is the important one that
the shaft lever which actuates the gun Is concen-
trio with the trunions and thus all vibration.
which tends to destroy accuracy of fire, Is avoided
when the gun Is being rapidly worked by a
simple clutch at the side the firing mechanism
can be thrown in out of gear instantaneously,
and secondly the gunner can either throw con-
tnuous stream of bullets or fire shots singly-at
the rate of about 400 shots per minute-the crank
being turned at steady rate all the time. The
gun may be mounted on field carriages parapets,
| embrasures and on all types of naval mountings.
on board ship the guns arranged 80 as to be
actuated both by hand and by electricity. In US
ing electricity the main current from the snip 5
dynamo is led a smaller motor connected with
the shaft which works the gun. Great rapidity
of fire Is obtained with this latter arrangement,
1000 shots per minute having been fired accurately
in recent experiments. BY the application of cleo
tricity as a power two effectively oper-
ate the gum to aim and fire II, the other TO
supply the ammunition. Another important ana
novel feature of the Accles gun Is the feed boxes
Instead of being made up in packages. tied with
strings or being carried to the gun in heavy
boxes and then thrown into hoppers. the car
/ tridges are placed fiat in cardboard cases and lie
on a thin continuous huted strip of tin The car
tridges are thus packed for use at the manufac-
tory, and are changed in arrangement until
placed in the breech of the gun ready for action.
Made I'D in this manner. the of cartridges
are thoroughly protected against accidents due to
jolting The cases can be brought to the gun,
opened the folding paper cover stripped off. and
the packages inserted at once into the gun. The
feeding mechanism Of the gun Is so devised that
1t at once sezes the first cartridge contained in
the nuted tin strip, and forces. by an absolutely
positive action the contained cartridges success
lively into the gun, dischargng the tin strip at the
other side when the supply of cartridges in 1t Is
exhausted The rate OF feed Of ammunition de-
pends entirely upon the speed with which the car
fridge packages can be inserted, which Is TAR be-
yond the probable requirements OF service. speeds
at the rate of 800 TO 900 rounds minute can be
maintained without difficulty and with accuracy
OF aim
! II is claimed for the Accles gun that its con-
struction is such that it Is impossible for acct
dent 10 happen to any OF the gunners through ex-
blossoms or other damages due to injuries TO the
| mechanism, or account Of imperfect ammuni-
! ton The cartridges are received on one side and
are carried round and fired on the opposite side
of the gun. that it's diameter Is between the
firing point and the feed end as the rear eh Oh tIe
! lock rims I'm grooves in tn tn. cartridges
are always supported and backed up. and therefore
/ cannot possibly be blown out at any part OF Their
| movement The gun fires only one shot at a time
| and a cartridge cannot be discharged without the
/ trigger being pulled. Turning the crank cannot
therefore bv any possibility. discharge cartridge
miles the trigger Is also pulled. The force of dis
charge IS absorbed by the weight OF the gum 81
! that there Is recoil or disarfangement OF tns
aim caused by firing. While the ha0tual position
of the crank Ii the trunion "A preferable loca-
can be placed at the rear OF the gum making II
uossible to discharge all OF tn Shots AT each turn
| nf the crank or thirty shots second, which l.
at the rate OF 800 shots per minute. The mechan
are postiye. certain and accurate nothing being
left 10 gravity chance The gun Is designed IL
! Withstand rough usage necessary Tor neld ano
naval service Damage 10 one or more OF the bar
IL can go firing as long AZ there Is com
/ nlate Iock and barrel left In II. For hiring al
/ nmoving objects the gun IL arranged to be pointed
/ nv means of "A shoulder rest or lever, and fired
/ objects fine adjustment Is provided for. For the
nurnose OF extreme rapid hiring arrangement
is perfected by which the trigger can be locked II
! n nosItion of permanent pull" and. by rapidly
trIdaes can be discharged Placing the crank OF
The tr,,nion is thought by ordnance experts to be
! OF great advantage, 1t being possible by having II
| in Thai position for one man TO aim and fire tht
| Close 10 The breech OF the gun to enable him e
/ maninulafe the crank attached to the right hano
/ trunon By this Arrangement ore man coulS
load aim and fire the gun AT the rate OF about CAV
ferries NAV often be reduced to one man. and III,
possibilities I'm this respect are, therefore, OF mucl
| practical value The number OF barrels In thu
| spndle vary according to the size OF the gun. II
the smaller guns there are fve barrels and In thu
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