New-York tribune., 1895-08-24

gun represented was made to fire .20-calibre cart
ridges. The bore Of the barrel may be- larger or
smaller. II being possible to have it conform TO the
calibre Of the ammunition usei by any country
1t can be mounted on any type Of naval or military
carriage. or, for use by cavalry on tripod simi-
lar to that shown in the cut. IT can also be at
tached TO a ship's rail, mounted in the tops Of
armored mas;s. The gun complete weighs only twenty
pounds and can be readily handled by one man.
The services of additional man viii be required
10 supply ammunition when the quantity near the
piece is exhausted As the gun fire GOO rounds
a minute or 5000 shots hour, the cartridge
passer would be kept busy repenishing ammunl-
ton BY dlsconnectlng the automatic attachment.
slow fire can be delivered at almost any rate up 10
about one hundred rounds per minute. anording the
gunner an opportunity of taking deliberate aim
Unlike the old types Of machne-guns. the Hotch-
kiss automatic invention has but one barrel the
material OF which il stce. The essential feature OF
the barrel Is that 1t is permanently fixed - the
breech None OF the moving parts are subjected TO
the heat developed by the powder gas Conse-
ouently, n water jacket or other cooling device IS
unnecessary. ana the gun may be fired indefinitely
without danger OF jams on account OF expended
parts The mechanism Of the piece is extremely
simple and light yet so shaped and tempered as to
be partcular.y strong. Not counting the Two sights
but including the barrel shoulder piece etc. there
are only thirty-,ight separate parts Ii the whole
mechanism there are only four springs. nancy the
No screws are used. the parts being so made that
thev fiji into each other strongly. The gun can be
completely dlsnounteG and assembled, with tho ex-
ceptiou OF the barrel and the cylinder. without
toox small monkey wrench Is necessary to de-
tach and put together the pafrcl and cylinder.
Toward the muzzle OF the gun. as the cut shows Is
the front sight. In OF the opening through
which the cartridge-beit passes Is the sight
This is Of the leaf pattern ana when the piece is
not In action. 1t is folded down on the barre.
As stated the automatic feature OF the gun is its
mos; novel element, The largest part Of the mech
anlsm Is a cylinder. and is beneath ard parallel 10
the barre. II extends from below the front sight
TO the hrccch BY referring 10 The cut showing the
gun In action an idea of the location. form and rel
ative dimensions OF the cylinder can be obtained.
Communca ion between the barrel and the cylinder
Is hai tnroush SINAI, port OF o sbrns ,rnr M
muzze. To the OF the cylinder is an exhaust
soon as the bullet passed the forward port. the
powder enters the hole IN the cyinuer IS long
throt gh The port drives the piston toward the
rear. When the piston has recoNed q given dis
tance the exhaust port Is unmasked. permitting
the gas to escape The piston j. held in its back
ward position by an ordinary scar ON releasing the
position by a handspring The manner OF manipI-
is,ing the automatic attachment ia simple and rapid
ntr pulis the trigger This fires the nrs shot II
rapid and continuous firing Is desired. the gunner
hods it and the gun is fed with cartridges, the
firing goes on. The powder gas rushe5 down the
forward port. through the cylinder ana throws the
piston against the mechanism. which. In twink
ling throws tae old shell and places new
one n the bore. Firing at the rate OF Co shots a
minute produces continuous flow OF gas, and the
result Is that the piston is flying backward and
Obviously. II the is held out Of engagement by
the trigger and the supply OF cartridges is kept up
the piston will have constant. automatic, reclpro-
eating motion. Briefly stated, the work OF the piston
ing and locking the bolt and airing the cartrdses
In other words 4 performs the functions OF the
saiOr's hand when operating straight-pull shoul-
der rife.
To insure rapid Airing the cartridges are packed