The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-01-04


eraI Projections Which Catch on
Obstacles and Make 1t Unhandy-It is
Very Light and Easily Carried, but ii
Does not Certainly shoot as straight as
the old Springfield Rifle, Which was
not, However, as Deadly.
Washington, Jan. 3-There is a
growing apprehension that serious
mistake has been made in selecting a
foreign small arm for the military ser
vice, as it falls far below the require
meRts of a first-class piece. Reports
received at the war department from
officers attached to companies which
practiced with the gun last summer
are almost unanimous IN objecting to
Its many defectS-Some radical. The
main objection seems to be with the
breech mechanism, while also the cali
bre is too small, the bullet too light,
and beyond the range of three hundred
yards the gun is very inaccurate. The
smalled and light bullet seems TO be
more at the mercy of every breeze than
was the lead bullet of the old forty-five
Winchester. Yet it has not seemed
proper for a malitary gun TO approach
the attainment of accuracy by such
means as a wind-gauge, and, therefore.
"a, number of officers have stated that
Ehey have done their best at guessing
and wish it well" when they shoot
with the Krag-JoTgensen IF this gun,
which was adopted by the army after
years Of investigation both at home and
abroad with small arms, has now been
shown to be inferior, it is certainly TO
be regretted.
According to many reports the gun
q r1I va~ira ffsal6
If it is clearly demonstrates that the
army gun is inferior because of its
small caAfbre, the navy has probably
also blundered, for lit has recently
adopted a gun of even smaller bore
and, in fact. the smallest in use by any
government. There is, of course, a great
difference of opinion between the ex-
perts of the two services over the small
arm question, each holding that its gun
rs the superior. The navy points out
Hhat its gun is lighter, shorter in the
barrel and thus enables a man TO carry
fifty more pounds of ammunition than the
soldier can. In accuracy, fiatnesS of
cTajectory and velocity it is claimed to
be ahead of the army piece. Another
nenfs claimed for the navy piece is that
cr is of domestic invention and manu-
facture throughout, while the army gun
is the product of "a foreigner. Both
pieces unquestionably have powerful
penetra ting powers and are certainly
more deadly than any of the old arms.
Whether they are as accurate is yet
to be decided, when suggested improve
ments in the army gun have been made.
Captain Z. z. Hardin, seventh in
fantry, say'S the gun does not shoot
accurately at 200, 300 500 and 600 yards.
The inaccuracy and indifference in the
guns increased very rapidly with the
range. This inaccuracy, he thinks. is
s,salxr 70 HI cxer
I'm a measure to the ammunition. Captain
J. T Van Orsdale. seventh Infantry.
says the new magazine gun is a, total
failure as a. practice gun with small,
round bullets and black powder. His
conclusions from observations at the
regular target practice. are that THE
rifles is in no particular a target gun,
accuracy having been sacrificed to
range and increased dangerous space.
While range beyond a mile, he states,
is Of little value, owing to use of artillery
and machine guns, the increase of dam
ger3uS space is of great Importance and
if this cannot be obtained, except by
sacrifice of accuracy, he is in favor of
retaining the new gun in preference to
a return of the more accurate but less
dangerous Springfield.
SHOOTS TOO HIGH.
Captain KendHck, of the same regi-
ment, asserts the rife shoots too high
and to the left AT 200 and 300 yards
range the rifle shoots to the left at from
two feet and from three to six feet at
the 500 and 600-yard ranges. There was
not a single rife that would shoot where
it was held. The men, especially the
sharpshoOters, soon became discourage
cd when they found that there was no
way of correcting the line of sight, and
Il was a difficult matter 10 get them
trained in space TO the right of the
bulls eye. Captain Worden, also of
the. seventh infantry. thinks the gun
is serviceatae. durable and likely TO
stand the rough use of field work with
reasonable care. Captain Booth takes
a different view Of the gun, and states
that the most reliable shots did not do
as wei as with the Springfield, cali
bre 45. Expert shots could also fire
more rapidly for a given number OF
rounds in excess of six with the Spring
field calibre than with the new gun.
Captain Quinton, seventh infantry,
thinks the gun has not yet been given
fair trail and that ii is largely yet eX-
peuimental. The weapon he finds pref
ty lig1Ft and handy. Parts exposed TO
great friction soon show signs Of wear.
The metal is soft. Captain Young
sums up his experience with the gun
as follows: 1t cannot be considered an
accurate piece; IL does not inspire men
with the same confidence as that eXper-
fenced in the old gun.
DUST, RUST AND DIRT HOLDER.
Captain Quinby says his preference is
decidedly IN favor of the Springfield. |
Captain GolIbreath says II is not as ac-
cJIrafe as the old gun and that il will |
undoubtedly prove dust, rust and dirt
holder. The metal Of parts of the gun
he reports, Is too soft. FRS. Lieutenant
Davidson, eleventh infantry, finds many /
objections TO the gun. the principal |
being ito defective and complicated |
hreech mechanism. He had observed i
fourteen rifles which, during sighting |
and ainilg drill without cartridges, |
could not be opened after firing. Mis- |
fires az target practice We're not in |
frequent. and ne found on practice |
march last summer that il was impos- |
sible 10 keep the mechanism free from /
dust during rainy and even damp /
weather. In handling the piece in car /
rying II riTrouch cover, in crawling with |
II on the ground. tire undue projection 1
Of .;le front sight, bolt handle and mag |
azine gate WAS continually catching
thus impeding progress, worrying the |
men and getting weedeS and grass a.
tached 20 the piece Other officers have /
practically similar objections 10 the
new gun.
WOULDN'T BE ONE-SIDED
One Canadian Who TALKS About burning
City of Buffalo
Washington. n. C. Jan. S.--A local !
paper prints the following letter from
a gentleman in Toronto. Canada: