New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-02

question OF NdtlOndl ueleHSc AZ HSoiS AN N~~'S
With jngoism and points out how unified the
country is at present TO talk about war He ao-
voca,es a complete system Of coast defence. the
building up Of naval and torpedo services and
the thorough equipment OF the National Guard
with modern high power rifles. He recommends
the use OF only one gauge cartridge in every
branch Of the Army and Navy. no matter what
style Of rife may be used.
Colonel Shaw warmly advocates the establish
ment Of training schools for the Army and Navy.
where orphans and homeless waits may be mace
into good men, He condemns the Lee rife
adopted for naval service. $4,000 Of which Will
se issued 20 the Navy Department In the fall.
He lays much stress on thorough mobilization
Of the National Guard. and the necessity for
larger appropriations for training and organiza-
ton generally.
~ suppose you are glad the tests are over?" said
The Tribune reporter
Yes. decidedly so. We have beer for some
months closely connected with the duties our
positions as members Of the Board Of Fire
Arms Examiners devolved upon us. and We have
worked zealously and tremendously TO carry out
the spirit of the law under which we were APP
pointed"
Your Board appeared to get along well to-
gether, and this must have been pleasant rea-
ture of your service.
That is true. Governor Morton evidently
was we'll Informed of the splendid equipment
Of my associates on this Board f. w Bliss. as
the head OF several large manufacturing COM
yanies having from his youth up been con-
nec;ed with fire arms. both in their manufac-
ture and use. is of the very best judges or
r. echanical devices l have ever known Pro-
fessor r. II. Thurston comes from an engineer
ing race. as his father was builder of engines
Aafo t,c
"a a very able and one of the brightest and
keenest critics Of guns in the country. Blythe
way. Mr. Bliss, Professor Thurston and myself
served In the Union forces during the late war
Bliss and myself in the infantry branch OF the
service and Thurston an engineer IN the
Navy Such service has enabled MS to brlnS
personal observations and practical needs 70
be ar upon the requirements of a soldier in the
way Of gun and his accoutrements
THE MAGAZINE RIFLES
How have YOU been impressed with the new
Ainericar~fnilitary magazine rifles brought be-
fore Your Board?'
Well. 70 be brief and frank in answering your
question I have been greatly delighted with the
range and power Of the rev rifles we have had
before us. The changes in militery rifles which
have taken place since 1860. at the close of the
war are simply astonishing The evolution has
created a new power IN fire arms which must
result in new military movements. The new
magazine rifles with their small calibre bullets
and snokelsss powder have revolutionzed the
ar; II war for their great range must lead TO
rew rnanoeuvres in future battle-helds You are
aware that our Board holds that the most effec-
tive military magazine rife Is one best adapted
Tor use as q rapid single loader. with an auto
matte magazine system Of simple action Sucn
an arm IN our view. provides a ready unfailing
ana powerful military weapon. The magazine
charge can be held in reserve for emergencies
while quick single firing meets ali needs under
most military operations The magazine IS FOR
crisis a reserve force OF confidence as well az OF
bullets and the less combinations, cut offs, clips.
etc in military rife the better Simplicity
and uniformity Of action are commanding viz
tues in a soldiers gun.
The dust tests prescribed for our Board were
very severe and the weakest gun. In this par
ticular was the Lee. tho new navy pattern
ICED on the sea. the dust will not trouble much,
but under some conditions of service on land 1t
needs reconstruction to remedy defects before 1t
can De pronounced dust proof The extracting
power Of the variou, guns surprised Us. In this
important respect magazine guns have been
greatly improved since the last Government
rering or wrenching was necessary to eject
shells and tbe endurance tests showed clearly
superiority in construction over former exhibits
There has been a marked advance In military
magazine rifles beyond question, during the last
three years.
IN MANY WAYS REMARKABLE
give or six Of the guns tested were re-
markable In many respects. Their accuracy
RAPID firing and penetrating qualities were
simply immense. They differed greatly in me-
chanical devices. but all were fine types Of mill
tary magazine rifles feel confident that no
equal number OF high-class military magazine
guns were ever before exhibited anywhere. and
that Americans can boast OF the finest rifles OF
this class in the world.
What are your views about all the States
adopting one gun for their National Guard?"
MY own feeling is that the leading States
might do well to have a military magazine rife
Of their own and lead 10 rivalries and tests
on large scale Iowa had new gun before
u.s. and when further developed and improved. as
the able exhibitor has in mind. 1t viii be n very
superior weapon. no doubt. California also
represented but in both these cases neither
gun could stand the tests required, owing to the
haste In which they were made BY hand. Now,
when perfected here viii be TWO military maya
zine rifles, as a case in point which have s'Iong
qualities Of unusual effectiveness. If Iowa and
California should adopt them when proved worthy
OF such choice their further development might
bring forth specially useful military rifles And
the rivalries Of States would certainly tend 20
rapid evolutions in the simplicity, durability and
power Of military rifles The one thing needed
would be a STANDARD gauge cartridge IN every
particular and then uniformity in RIFFS would
not be necessary. by this arrangement the gen
eral Government could experiment with powdeF'
and jacketing of bullets etc. turning out for the