The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-01-02
DETECTS VIII M REMEDTED.
Ordnance Officers Propose Many Improve
ments in Rifle Used by gular Army

Ordnance Officers Propose Many Improve
ments in Rifle Used by II guiar Army
WASHINGTON, Dec. 30.-Prominence
has been giver 10 reported defects III
/ the new small arm with which the army
Is being furnished. and the intimation
has gone forth that the rifle Is iahuIe
ana may be abandoned IL is true that
the modified Krag -JoIgensen gun adopted
by the army ordnance office is not
perfect weapon, and there are many de-
fects in the piece which have appeared
as expected. when the gun came 10 be
used in actual service.
General Flagler. the army chief OF ord
nance, says the most serious deie't de-
veloped by the trial OF the gun In SER
vice has been the occasional rupture OF
the cartridge case ear the head, caus-
ing an escape of gas and interfering
with the convenience and seli-pOssession
Of the hIer. This has been met prin-
cipally by a change in the construction
Of the cartridge by thickenins the base
of the cartridge 10 remove the line OF
weakness 4 good many officers COM
plain of the inaccuracy Of the sights.
The principle OF the present sights viii
not be changed, but an Improvement
win be effected by experimental frings
az the arIn0ry to correct graduatiOns oil
the sight and the fixed alignments Tor
drift at the 500 and 1908 yard ranges.
Many OF the infantry officers have com
planned that the absence OF a wind gauge
on the gun prevents as close shooting as
might be obtained with IL, on the target
range General Flagier says THE OBJ
ject OF all target practice Is to enable
the soldier TO shoot better On battle.
While it is obvious that the wind gauge
might In some cases enable the marks
man on the target range to hit the bull 3
eye oftener. 1t is equally obvious that
this would not train the soldier TO shoot
better in a battle, because he cannot
and will not use the wind gauge in bat
tie, except possibly In rare cases where
special marksmen would shoot AT an
Individual enemy at long range. It is
much better that the soldier should be
trained 10 use the rifle on the target
range in the same condition that he VIII
be compelled TO use Il in battle. Even
in the exceptional case mentioned, II Is
probable that the soldier would obtain
as good results by allowing for wind in
his aim, as he could by unknown and
estimated distance, and II Is therefore
better that the soldier should be trained
10 make this allowance on the target
range. In nearly all firing In battle such
allowance Is not required, because at
long ranges the soldier shoots at a long,
horizontal line, not at an individual
enemy. and at close range. where no al
lowance is necessary, the sight makes
allowance for drift
Among the improvements made are the
raising Of the safety lock pin. the re-
placing of the straight cutoff spring
by a coiled spring and spindle, and the
discontinuance OF the bluing Of the parts
of the bayonet, as the heat OF the nitre
bath was found to iniure the temper OF
the blade. Among the changes 10 be
made are: The muzzle is TO be rounded.
inside and out as on the Springfield
rifle: IN the cooking piece a cut VIII be
made on the upper side 50 that the safety
lock may be operated TO prevent the
belt from turning when the arm IS not
loaded, desirable especially for cavalry
the stool. will be lightened by two holes
bored In the butt and by a cut IN the
barrel bed beneath the position OF the
sight: the hand-euard will be extended
further to the rear over the front portion
Of the receiver. 10 afford better protec-
ton TO the hand from the heated parts
There are a number Of other changes
too technical TO interest or concern the
average person, bat all contributing 10
the efficiency OF the weapon. A further
change will be 10 substitute for the long
wiping rod one I'm three sections. 10 be
carried in the belt and inserted through
a spring cap In the butt plate.
The department has encountered some
difficulty in securing suitable steel for
gun barrels The manufacturers had
some trouble in meeting The requirements
which had been increased In severity