The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-01-18
Capt Geo. h. Paddock, 0. s. A., De-
signs a Remarkable Weapon.
IT Is TO REPLACE SABERS
In Principle Short Shotgun Load
ed with Buckshot. but IL Has
a Magazine and Could Do
Terrible Execution.


en- at the military outpost known as
Camp Eagle Pass, formerly Fort Dun
can, in this vicinity, and have been
witnessed, through the courtesy of the
experimenter by a Globe-Democrat
correspondent. To understand the
scope and bearing of these expert
ments, however, It may be necessary
10 dwell for a moment on the present
status OF cavalry in war.
The advent of the rifle drive the
charging cavalryman from the field OF
battle. So many authoritative military
experts claim; yet the German squad
ron at Woerth rode right through the
serried ranks of French infantry, armed
with the then formidable chassepot.
AT any rate cavalry are still maintain
ed in all armies. and they are trained
to charge headlong on the foe, as OF
old, though in the future such charges
may only be directed upon an enemy
breaking for rout. or so badly democrat
lied by the terrific hail of lead and
steel from rifle. Maxim and rapid fire
field piece as to be for the moment un-
able to use their own guns in concert;
or, perchance, when the relentless ext
gency of battle demands the sacrifice
of part to save the possibly deci-
mated whole, a general may be justi
fled in hurting his horse TO almost GER
tain humiliation upon the intact lines
or columns of his opponent. BE this
as 1t may, the cavalry charge is still
a military possibility and as such must
be prepared for by the soldier of to-
day.
The other arms of the military serv-
ice have been improving their weapons
the infantry from the old buck and
BALI musket, with its single shot range
of 200 yards to the multi-charge Krag-
Jorgensen, with a fiat trajectory great
er by half than the effective range of
the earlier weapon; the artillery from
crude cast iron smooth bores. with
haphazard charges and round balls, to
modern quick fire rifles, accurately
charged with high explosive and time
fused shells. But the charging caval-
ryman of to-day must trust TO the
same sabre that the cuirassiers of Ma
poleon welded at Austerlitz and Jena
1t is not that the cavalry Of to-day are
not better armed and equipped than
We're the troopers of Frederick the
Great. Dismounted as infantry, they
are provided with carbines as far in
advance of the blunderbuss OF last
century as the best 1895 model rifle
exceeds the 'old Queens arm" For
the melee. after the charge, no weapon
could be better than the modern cav
airy pistol. with its six deadly bullets.
so easily removed But for the charge,
the weapon is still naked steeI'-the
sword OF story, the emblem of war
from time out of mind.
Efforts have been made to supplant
this sabre of the charging horseman
with some more effective weapon. This.
some have found in the ordinary army
pistol with its six 145-calibered bullets
now reduced to 3S. The success of
the Texan rangers of 40 years ago, who
we're armed solely with two cap-and-
all siN-shooters, and of the Missouri
Luerrillas, who during the war charged
. effectively with six-shot pistols in
Zach hand, the bride reins in their
tee III. has been cited In support OF this
proposed innovation. Some writer's
have claimed for the United States
regular cavalry superiority over all
other mounted commands solely on ac-
count OF their greater skill with the
pistol. Yet II is doubtful whether the
slN-shooter would make an effective
charging weapon in the hands of the
average cavalryman. An officer with
20 years regular pistol practice feels
no confidence in his ability to hit any
thing with pistol from a galloplng
horse. The average soldier would do
much worse. Besides, 1t is impossible
10 train horses to stand pistol fire di-
rectly forward over their heads The
such that the recurring explosions take
place just behind the horses ears
causing them positive pain and such
nervous shock as renders them even
the gentlest, manageable within a
short time. Furthermore the pistoI
can not exert the moral effect on men
under charge that the cleaning up
raised sabre eXerts. 1t does not look
formidable TO the infantry men prenar-
ed 10 receive cavalry A huge horse
pistol was recently manufactured es-
pecially for the charge. 1t is big and
formidable, and so partially escanes
the spectacular delinquency of the sly
shooter. IL has remained. however. for
a cavalry officer of over 20 years serv
zee 10 suggest a pratical solution OF
tnis problem of a modern weapon for
the charging rider. This officer is
captain George II. Paddock OF the
Fifth United States cavalry, till re-
Gently in command of Camp F,avIa
Pass. Tex. The germ OF the new pIln
he found in that favorite weapon az
the western peace officer. the sawed
OH repeating shotgun. This. curtailed
as to its stock. supplied only with n
pistol grip or butt so as TO be used
with ont hand, and loaded with buck
shot-a scatter gun" ne calls it's
the new firear1n.
such a gun proves effective, certain
~. al 90 yards; with a heavy charge n
Woulu prove deadly at a greater dis
tance. Hunters consider a sho.p,n
good for deer and other large game al
100 yards. Cavalry armed with can
tain Paddock's weapons. would on
nearing the command, charge" draw
their guns from the scabbards and
cooking them, bear down upon the Zoe
with the guns. 22 inches long. raised
high I'm the right hand. When so wards |
on the muzzles of the guns would he
lowered and a volley sent among the
enemy. At this range each gun would
discharge a cone OF deadly bullets
spreading from the muzzles OF their
pieces 10 circles so inches in diameter
Thus. both in height and length. the |
Inc OF the enemy would be completely |
covered with missiles. In passing over |
the Intervening so yards before reach |
ing the enemy. after the first dis |
charge. at fun tilt. say three or four