New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-22
NEW ARMS FOR THE GUARD.
All, AGREED THAT THE STATE TROOPS
SHOULD HAVE A MODERN RIFLE.
~ur VIEWS OF wELI.-KNOwN MILITARY MEN
ADVANTAGE OF ADOPTING THE WEAPON
SUPPLIED TO THE REGULAR ARMY


CORRECTIONS TO 1T.
Tho question of furnishing the National Guard
=, the State of New-York with new and improved
Ems has been discussed for years. but nothing was
aver done until Governor Morton called attention
a. the existing defect in the Guards equipment.
In his message to the Legislature in January 1870
"a said that the subject required investigation ana
:, vas probably the suggestion in the message
.y,,ch caused Henry Z. Abel, an Assembyman
from Brooklyn to introduce bill which had for
its object an improvement in the arms Tor the
National Guard. The BILL which was promptly
passed provided for the appointment OF three citi-
cons of the State Board of Examiners 10 test,
x.r,ino and recommend such arms OF modern pat
tern. consisting Of magazine breech-oading rifles
and other implements necessary to supply the Ma
tional Guard. adapted to the requirements OF the
new tactics The bill also provided that only arms
~ American manufacture should be considered. and
that after a thorough and satisfactory test OF any
pattern of had been completed the Board
should submit the result to the Governor win nhd-
,nes and recommendations and upon the approval
NJ such report by the Governor, the duties OF SAID
poard of Examiners shall cease and the particular
weapon recommended by said Board shall be adopt
"A for the use of the military and naval forces OF
the State" To defray the expenses of the Board
5000 was appropriated and the machinery Tor pro-
yidng a new and improved rifle for the State
so.diery was fairly started
The Board appointed by the Governor consists
- Albert d Shaw Eliphalet w. Bliss and Robert
II Thurston. They elected Mr.. Shaw chairman and
Mr. Abel secretary. Notices were sent at once 10
all reputable American manufacturers ana inventors
~ MAGAZINE rifles for samples of their arms. Inc
Board felt sure that there was no necessity Tor go
ing outside the United States for the pest rine III
the word although there were many military men
onposed TO the scheme simply because European
competition excluded.
MAKERS SEND THEIR GUNS.
The Board received about twenty applications
from manufacturers by December H. the ilm't "~eu
for receiving them, and letters from others VINO
desired to compete but whose samples were sun
unfinished 1t was determined to receive samples OF
.-ms until March 2 1896 In the time Ad-
,utant-General McAlpin. in conjunction with the
poa I'd formulated a schedule for the guidance OF
the manufacturers and inventors. In which the
salient points to be examined in testing the weapons
were set forth. This document also gives all the
requirements for testing, and tells in close ana COM
prehensive what the State will require OF the
successful competitor. Among other points, the fol-
lowing appear:
The rife adopted for the State service and
general characteristics:
Calibre-o.30 inch.
Length Of Autobiography inches;
R11!ng-SiX grooves. one turn In nine inches.
Bullet-Me tai jacketed. 220 grains weight ,
Cartridge-Brass. maximum capacity thirty-sM
Grains smokeless powder.
Charge-Maximum thlrtysix grains s,.ns.,,
The rife to be built TO nse ne of the United
States Government. . 49,
The mechanism and all parts Of the arm must De
designed and constructed to stand cnamper-press-
ure Of 50 900 pounds per square inch
The various competitors made use of the additional
time to improve their rifles in keeping with the re-
ouirements OF the schedule and the Board now has
a collection Of frst-class magazine rifles from which
10 select one for the use Of the National Guard The
law provides that: "All tests Of guns Of whatever
kind required for service shall be made upon the
grounds Of the State Camp at Peekskill under such
provisions and regulations may be prescribed by
the Adjutant- General"
TESTS IN AN ARMORY. PERHAPS.
Inasmuch as there is no established camp at Peeks-
kill at this time Of the year and as the weather
would not be favorable to outdoor tests. a bill has
been introduced in the Legislature giving the Board
authority make the tests at such place or places
as shall be most convenient. II the bill becomes
law the tests will be made at the 18th or the I'D
regiment armory In the presence Of the Board and
q committee Of competent judges. Officers OF the
National Guard all look forward TO the result OF
these tests with much interest.
Brigader- General Benjamin NJ. Whitock. General
Inspector of Rife Practice the staff Of Governor
Norton says:
The time appears to be at hand when II Is imper-
ativey necessary that all well disciplined state
troops should be armed with modern weapon
equal in efficiency to that which Is In the hands OF
bre OF such arm should be the same as that OF the
Government rife, SO that In case Of necessity the
ammunition would be interchangeable. with pract-
caly no loss in efficiency. The arm which Is the