New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-06
THE SMALL-ARMS QUESTION AGAIN.
CONGRESS ASKED TO MAKE AN INVESTIGATION
WITH VIEW To Securing UNIFORMITY.

CONGRESS ASKED TO MAKE AN INVESTIGATION
WITH VIEW To Securing UNIFORMITY.
Washington. Feb (SpeciaD-There may be a
Congressional inquiry into the differences between
Army and Navy ordnance experts on the question
OF the caibre Of small-arms The Army now has
one type Of gun and the Navy another. Should
the services be called upon TO cooperate their
munition would not be interchangeable. and much
serious embarrassment would follow. The profess
sional differences between Army and Navy officers
on this subject have attracted some attention In
Congress. and Representative Sherman has intro
duced resolution calling for an inquiry. Mt
Sherman regards the matter Of considerable i'm
portance. He Is OF the opinion that officers will
reach agreement. and thinks that Congress
should he put in possession OF all the facts. and II
necessary adopt some legislation which will insure
a uniform system OF snall-arms for the land and
forces. The general question has been long
and earnestly discussed by members Of the two
vices Their experts wide apart 10 which
calbre Is best for all practical purposes but many
impar tial officers say that whatever bore is used
should be put in the hands Of both soldiers and
sailors Recently prominent naval officer made
the statement that In the event Of combined service
either the Army or Navy might find Itself unable
TO use its small-arms owing TO want OF its
cartridges and the fact that It could not draw upon
the supply Of It's sister. The Navy, he thought
would be the chief sufferer. the Army. serving
Mr.. Sherman's resolution criticises the course OF
the military and naval ordnance experts before pro-
posing inquiry into their professional differences
1t forth that Congress has voted large OF
money with which 10 procure modern magazine
guns for the services. and that the Army has
adopted the .3l-calbre arm. and the Navy the 236-
calibre rife II saws that the Of the different
sizes Of cartridges Is manifestly undesirable tends
70 confusion and complication. and entails extra
precautions IN providing and distributing ammuni-
ton IN time OF active operations The adoption
OF one style OF gun for one branch and second for
the other Is a reflection by one Of the services upon
the other. II charges that the Army rife has been
frequently criticised by Officers and troops unfit
for military use. and that rumors afoat that
the Naval arm Is defective.
Mr.. shermans resolution Closes as follows; That
the Military and Naval committees OF the House In
vestgate the reason for adopting ammunition OF DIFF
fereni kinds and cabres and rifles OF different CALI
Army and Navy. and inquire into the alleged defects
in the rifles OF the Army and Navy. and whether said
the sprinseid rines with which the Army and Navy
have heretofore been eqIpped and repor; to ne
such remedial legislation II any Will be necessary
's Hry sSG $aSy a"a the
equipment Of ourArmy and Navy with suitable small
arms and ammunition therefor; and that said com
that the Secretary OF War and the Secretary OF the
M are o SsTy to SnHs 9s nGse Of
reports. papers and documents on file In their De-
partments showing reasons for the adoption OF the
Army and Navy sizes OF ammunition for rifles and
the investigation, II any which led to the adoption
showing also the reasons for the adoption OF the
Krag- Jorgensen rife for the Army and the Lee rifle
for the Savy and the investigation. II any. which
led TO their adoption. and showing the merits or de-
merits Of these rifles, rs demonstrated by practical
Krag Jorgensen rifles have been made In proc
Of manufacture for the Government. and report
how many Lee rifles have been made are in process
OF manufacture for the Government. and what
rangements are made for supplying these arms with
az they may have which will be useful in the in
ves.igation CONTEMPLATED BY this resolution