Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1895-10-05

Side, DuJ tnlS trouble mas Deen ONeF-
come by an ingenious yet extremely
simple arrangement. the essential fea-
lures of which are that the barrel is per-
manently fixed in the breach and that
none of the moving parts is subjected
to the heat developed by the power gas.
In France the gun has been fired
rapidly for three hours, during which
time 100, 900 cartridges We're discharged,
without any Inconvenience because OF
expanded parts.
The total weight of gun that will
fire 80 caliber cartridges is 90 pounds.
1t can be mounted on any type Of naval
or military carriage or on a tripod like
that shown in the cut for use by caval-
~. 1t can also be attached to ships
rail or mounted in the tops of armored
masts. One man can handle it readily,
but the services of another would be re-
quired to supply ammunition. has
much as 500 shots a minute means
SO, 900 an hour, the cartridge passer
would naturally be kept reasonably
busy during any extended time IF con-
tinuous rapid firing. The mechanism of
the piece is extremely simple. Exclu-
sive Of the sights, but including barrel,
shoulder piece, etc, there are only 80
separate parts and only four springs
the main spring, the scar spring, the ex-
tractor and the pawl spring. All the
parts are made to fit together without
the use Of screws, and no tools are neces.
sary to completely dismount or to as
semble the gun excepting a small mon
key wrench.
The most novel element Of the gun is
its automatic feature Beneath ard Tar-
allel TO the barrel is a cylinder, which
is the largest part Of the mechanism.
Communication between the barrel and
the cylinder is established through a
small port or hole through the lower
side of the barrel. At the rear end Of
the cylinder is an exhaust port opening
10 the air. When the gun is fired, as the
bullet passes the forward port, the gas
of the exploded powder passes from the
barrel into the cylinder and quickly
forces a long piston of small diameter
toward the rear with extreme rapidity
and force. As the piston rushes back
ward it comes in contact with mechan-
ism which throws out the empty shell,
places a new one in the bore and dis
charges it, all with the most incredible
rapidity. OF course this operation is re-
peated when the second shot is fired and
SO on indefinitely, as long as ammuni-
ton is furnished. When it is desired to
begin firing, the gunner pulls the trig
ger. If he desires to fire but one shot,
he releases it instantly, but if he de-
sires to fire rapidly he simply holds the
trigger back, and the automatic mechan-
ism above described keeps at work. Re-
leasing the trigger throws out Of posi-
tion the scar spring, so that the piston,
after its impetuous backward rush, re-
mains at the back Of the cylinder. In
order to insure rapid firing the cartridges
are packed into metallic clips, each con-
tanning 30 rounds These clips are car
ried in pasteboard boxes from which
they can be fed regularly through the
guns, and when placed IN position are
moved forward automatically by mech
anism connected with the piston. 1t is
possible TO fire as much slower than 800
times a minute as may be desired, and
it is claimed by the Hotchkiss company
that as accurate aim may be taken for
single shots as with any ordinary gun,
This gun is not the invention of an
American, Captain Adolpbe Odkolck of
the Austrian cavalry having produced it
after long and careful experiments. 1t
should be said, however, that in its pres
ent form it is the result Of several inn
provements made by the Hotchkiss COM
pany after that corporation purchased it
from Captain Odkolck. The new gun is
soon to be thoroughly tested by the
United States authorities along with
other machine guns at Indian Head