Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-01-16

I
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 100000 cartridges were dis
charged, without any inconvenience
because of expanded parts
The total weight of a gun that will
fire thirty-calibre cartridges is twenty
pounds. 1t can be mounted on any
type OF naval or military carriage or
on a tripod Ike that shown in the
cut for use by cavalry. One man can
handle it readily, but the service of
another is required to supply ammunl-
ton.
The mechanism of the piece is ex-
tremely simple. Exclusive of the sights,
but including barrel, shoulder piece,
ETC., there are only thirty-eight sep
arate 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
necessary to completely dlsmOunt or to
assemble the gun excepting small
monkey wrench.
1t can readily be seen by this, that
enc man at a gun of this kind could
annihilate in a few minutes, a regi-
ment armed with the weapons of thirty
years ago.
With the improvement in ammuni-
lions and rifles, she sharpshooter would
figure most prominently in the next
war, and it is satisfactory to know that
Uncle Sans marksmen are the finest
in the world. The $4,000 soldiers in
the regular army have just been fur
nished with the new calibre rife made
at the national factory at Springfield
1t is effective at a distance of a mile,
and the lead bullet, clad in a steel
coat, leaves the muZzle at speed of
nearly half mile second. The idea
of the up-to-date rifle is to throw a
small and very hard projectile with
enormously increased velocity to a
much greater distance with greater
precision than formerly.
Just here comes in an odd point
The weapon is an improvement in the
direction of humanity. The bullet
| travels so fast that apparently the body
does not attempt to resist it, and it
passes through the flesh or bone with
out inficting much of shock, making
small, clean hole and not breaking
up the tissues. 1t goes through the
thinner bones, as the shoulder blades,
the ribs and breast-bone without
smashing effect. An opportunity for a
first rate test was afforded by the re-
cent Chitral campaign IN India.
/ Wounded natives, with tiny holes drill
! ed clear through them, were out and
about within twenty-four hours, not
suffering any serious inconvenience.
! Such was actually the case with a
majority of the Swatis who were hurt
in various engagements. This might
be understood more easily if only the
/ flesh mad been injured, but bones were
perforated and yet the men were not
disabled.
Sharpshooters armed with the mod
ern style of rife will play great part
in future warfare. The discharge of
the new weapon is almost noiseless,
and, smokeless powder being used,
there will be nothing to betray the
location of a concealed rif1eman who
pours continuous fire with murderous
accuracy into the ranks of the enemy
The commander in the field will see
his officers and men fall around him
without knowing whence the blow is
struck Two or three skilled marks
men will be able to pick off every man
at battery of artillery, so as to render
the guns Of no use. The new rife fir, {
five shots from the magazine as fast
as the trigger can be pulled, and quick
as a wink another set of five cartridges
is substituted for the empty shells. The
cartridges are fastened together in sets
of five with paper strips.
The balloon will also figure in the
next war End perhaps air-ships. France
has an air-snip which is carefully
guarded No one is allowed to see it
and no drawings have been made OF
it. 1t is said to be a cigar-shaped en-
velope, within which is the gas and
a small bag, which is to be pumped full
of air. An electric motor drives in