Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-01-05


one man can handle II readily. but the
services OF another Is required to supply
ammunition.
The mechanism Of the piece Is ex-
tremely simple. Exclusive OK the sights
but including barrel, shoulder piece etc.
there are vnly thrty-eight separate part
and only four springs-the main sprihs'
the scar spring, the extractor, ana me
pawl spring All the parts are mace W
ut together without the use OF screws,
and no tools are necessary TO completely
llsmount or 10 assemble the gun esceP'
ng a small monkey wrench.
IL can readily be seon 10y this tnat one
man at a gun of this KIND could annihii,
ate In q few mnptes a regiment armed
with the weapons of thirty years ago.
sHARPsHOOTER's IMPORTANCE.
With the improvement in ammuniions
Snd rifles the sharpshooter would nSnre
most prominently In the next war, ana u
. satisfactory to know that Uncle sam
marksmen are the finest In the world
The 25,vc0 soldiers in the regular army
nave lust been furnished with the new
calibre rife made at the national factory
at Springfield. IL Is effective AT u's-
lance OF mile, and the lead bullet Gao
N a s;eel coat, leaves the muzzle al q
speed of nearly mile seSo""'
,rho id.a NJ the tie rife IS 20 throw
a small and We "a protectile W.T.
eno~mously-lncrvAs .eloclty to a niue
greater distance with greater precision
than formerly. -. ~,
ust here comes in an odd point. II
weapon is an improvement ID 'Ne
rectIon of humanity. The puiiet ''Hfel.
so fast that apparently inc DDoS uceS -
artenpt 20 resist II. ana it passes thiousn
tho nesh or bone without innicting inucn
mock. making a small, clean hole, ana no.
breaking up the tissues. II goes 'htoush
he thinner bones-as the shorlder-Dia'es-
the ribs. and breast bone-wthout snlasi-
ing effect. an opportunity Tor n,s' '
rate test was afforded by the recent ~
trsI campa,gn In India. WOUNDED nauVe,
with tiny holes drilled ciear "a ous
tben, v,ere out and about Withh t"e".S
COR hours not suffering any serious III
.,,venience. Such mas actually the Ce7'
with n majority Of the swans W. -,
hurt In various engagements "'s g..
n, understood more easily : Vn'F
aesh had been injured, put po-lOs 30,
perforated, and yet the men WIZ
disabled. IA. 49, ,nodert
s,,'Io ~ ritle will play great part -
,,tn-o warfare. The discharge vi Wy
oa,,, wsapon is almost noiseless' an"
suoteless powder being used, there ""
no nothing 10 betray the locauon VI
concealed rifeman WHO pours eo"'i""
ous fire with murderous accuracy
the ranks Of the enemy. Tne comma.
e. tho Geld will see his officers ana uie'
fall around him without knowing whene'
the blow is struck Two or three skill
marksmen will be able to pick OH every
man at a battery Of artillery 50 as
render the guns of no use Inc He"
rife fires five shots from the magazine =.
fast as the trigger can be pulleu' "'
ouick as a wing another set or hve car
ridges is substituted for the empty shells
The cartridges are fastened tosether !"
sets OF five, with paper strips.
BALLOONS AND AIR-SHIPS.
The balloon will also figure in the mex
war. and perhaps. air-ships. france ma
an alr-ship which Is carefully sudruep
No one is allowed to see II. and no draw
incs have been made Of II. IL Is SAID L
be a cigar-sasped envelope within whici
Is the gas aud a small bag, which Is u
be pumped full of air. An electric-motoI
drives I'm the rear screw propeller. IL
is said that the air-ship Is able 20 max
a speed of at least % miles an hour.
Uncle Sam has just completed th'
building of a big balloon near Denver
capable OF carrying several officers and
fitted with telegraph and telephone-ma
chimes. 4 drag-pope viii always connec'
the balloon with the ground, and. b
means OF the wires. the officers In the
air will communicate with those below
In conjunction with the balloon, bi
cycles are to be used, and on a coil OF
the wheel the wire is run and paid out
as the machine progresses. Thus, when
the balloon has started up. the officer OF
the wheel races for the tent OF the
general. and the telephone wire is carried
along and let out till the tent is reached
This wire makes direct communication
between the officers on the field and the
man In the air. who. from his station
has a complete view OF the enemy, and
can thus give important information 10
his superiors.
Germany has an army of trained blood
hounds for use In event OF war They
carry ammunition and dispatches. and
arr taught to seek the wounded after n
battle. The ancients used fierce dogs in
their wars. and they invariably terrorized
the opposing troops II Is not probable
that Uncle Sam will make use of dogs
In event Of war. as their efficiency is re
garded with much doubt.