New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-28
SELECTIONS FROM THE NAIL.
SMALL ARMS FOR SOLDIERS.
THE NEW SIGHT OF THE UNITED STATES AhMi


RIFLES.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Recent foreign complications or the 'ii''e"
States and the gathering of European "'' o'ouu
have revived great interest In all warlks appi'"''
especially in the small arms now III use y, '"e
armies Of different nations. Inc CUBAN
and the part in II which might be taken by the
r-ri,d S,o,es have directed the attention OF many
10 the rifle now in the hands OF the soldiers Oh the
United States Army. In the last year many ar
tices have been published severely cr'"0''s ~
rifle OF the Army. perusal OF t"e' "
would cause one not acquainted with the 'ei'' Vi
the piece to conclude that the rife wheh COM
pared with those in by foreign COUNTRIES 10
behind the times and unserviceaole Ihese CRU
cisms have BEEN In most part. unjust anu u'''
innate They have caused many to en'er'a" 'e"''
az 10 the servceableness OF the arm and. moreover
have prejudiced in great measure inc 'o
against It and caused many OF them to iase con-
fdence In It's shooting qualities. Experience III war
has proved that troops must have confluence "
the weapon they are using; II they 90 "o' inc
results obtained will always be discouras'"7 "a
ever the real merit OF the piece
The greatest source OF prejudice ana cr'uc'sm
has been the supposed inaccuracy OF the ne" arm"
On account OF the impatience OF the Arm, ~ o
tain the new rife. It's manufacture was haS'eieu
as much as possible and there were' heoe''a''''
many imperfecions in the first issues
The most defective part OF the rifle anu 'ne
greatest source OF error and inaccurac! was ~
rear sight. which differed entirely from the hu'-
hngton sight used the Old Springfield. II "au 10
wind gauge and graduated for ranges 'ro'"
300 to COO yards on the base, and on the ie'' III
ranges from 100 to 1890 yards. Steps on 'he p'se
and notch.s on the leaf restricted the sish' al
Justment TO the intervals OF lp yarus o''"'."
these limits. Because OF these res'fl't""S INV
sight could be adjusted 10 compensate io' N"l'
lions in light, temperature. atmosphere e'V Inv
elevations for the graduations OF TINS sis"' "cr'
merely calculated and no time was given 10 very
and correct them by experimental firing. The drift
OF the bullet was supposed to be to the risH' an"
CONDENSATION was made to correct H.
The rife with this sight sent 10 the service
The results OF the firing by expert marNsih'"' JON
military and civilian. were discouraging anu c'uHeu
many to believe the rifle much less accurate ana
servlceabe than the Springfield Later and wider
experience has amply proved that these criti'lsiS
were premature and unjust. long series OF nrlnsS
at the National AImory at SprlngreIu' Ma79'' anu
Frankford Arsenal Penn has shown b'yohd any
question doubt that the Krag-Jorsehs'H i S"-
peror In every way to the Springfield. and one o.
the best rifles in in any army in me "ol'u d.
the present time. The new sight recenuy a'op''u
for the rife will enable mark, men 10 suostah'!ate
this statement and to verify the results obtained
The base Of this sight is curved instead OF
stepped az in he old sight. and Is GRADUATED Oh inc
left side for 300 100. 800 and co.. yards. ana on the
base Of the new sight Is superior 20 the old In the
fact that the marksman f. now not limited 10 ad-
1usments OF hundreds OF yards but can adjust ms
sight 80 as to make the slightest changes IN
elevation. This is done by means OF the rear sign
slide which is now made so that It can De placed
at any point on the cured nase' nus ronne ar
the changes ia light. temperature. moisture OF '"e
atmosphere. etc - . o.,
yards These do 5 F,ydn nner r Of tSe
rQbt rn NJ ne
which the catch OF tho slide engaged ior ThhKrs
differing by each 100 yards between thesc INIT mn.
These notches are not present on the new slghi
leaf and, therefore. DO not limit the hrsr 10 40
the slide at any point the lea, and thus make
changes OF elevation differing by only ie" yart,s
changed and improved. That OF the old sight was
s NTH the n sa ' OF hS0k e hby os
the slide In position at the given graduation n
screw. by means OF which the slide may be clamped
at any point the leaf. The motion OF this thumb
be turned only enough TO clamp or unciamp the
slide and prevents the thumbscrew from dropping
Oh long series OF experimental nrinss has proved
tina, the bullet from the Krag Joreensen. as issued
has no drift. point OF great superiority over any
rife before used by the Army Therefore no correc-
ton FOR drift was Necessary. .,.... 80. .,
gauge the absence OF which many expert marks
men consider a serious defect Officers Of expert
ence state. however. that n wind-gauge on a mill
,ary arm would never hc used by troops under fire,
and in the hands Of inexperienced soliiers would
be a OF great error and weakness No doubt
the presence Of wind-giugc would raise tho
scores made on ent t nn e 9ore
armies. have decided that wini-saus'e IS not ie,
siri.ble and II Is not found the mos; improved
The defective ammunition supplied 70 the Army
has been The cause o. sreni many eIrSs ,b nc
sight and the proper ammunition tho United states
silfs superior 10 any obtained heretofore 10y any
magazine arm in use at the present time