The times., 1898-08-18
WANTS GATLING GUNS.
Why General Wheeler Goes Back
Again in Congress-

aSAfn IN congress.
Gen. Joe Wheeler. as he is called by
his adoring troops. Is described by a cor
respondent as the youngest old man in
the country. the liveliest ancient that
ever straddled a war horse, and as court
ly. gracious, daring and astonishing a
general as ever wore shoulder straps
He intends to return TO Washington, "if
for no other reason" says Malcolm Nc
DOwell. in the Chicago Record, than to
introduce and push forward to the Pres
idential signature bills intended to in
crease the efficiency. strength and vigOr
OF the regular army. Up toward the top
OF the list is an item-'Gatlins guns
and this means that Gen Wheeler be-
lieyes the use of Gatling and dynamite
guns in the battles before Santiago has
proved beyond question that the machine
gun is of immense value as an offensive
and defensive weapon. So far az I can
gather. Cen Wheeler's intention to agi-
tate for the creation OF an individual
and Independent arm of the service to be
known as the Calling gun corpS.'
This organization is TO be flexible in
its character, so that the Calling can be
used in conjunction with cavalry. infan-
try or light artillery. or BY itself A
bill on these lines is TO be introduced
by Gen. Wheeler-fOr the latest reports
from his district show no doubt that he
Will be returned 10 Congress-and when
he gets back to the United States will
take with him a draft of a plan OF organ
ization and formation of the corps of the
army.
The following are deductions drawn by
trained military men. Of infantry. caval-
~ and artillery. based on the actual fight
ing experience of Lieut. Parker's Gatling
gun section from and including July 1 %
July Il: First. the problem of controlled.
concentrated and dirigibIe small-arm fire
at critical moments of the engagement
has been solved in this Santiago cam
paign by the Gatling gun battery. Sec
ond. machine gun and high explosive gun
service hereafter will and must constitute
a separate and distinct arm Of the serv-
ice; more nearly independent, more nearly
able to take care OF Itself under all cir
cumstances and more effective a. critical
moments than any existing arm, possess
ing all the mobility of cavalry. all the
, initiative OF the hussar Qight cavalry OF
Germany; all the fire action of infantry:
carrying its own means Of transportation
| Third, this new arm of the service. now
| in embryo. has before IL IN the future
/ wider field of usefulness. a greater tacti-
/ cal possibility on the battlefield than any
| other arm OF the service. II can go with
\ the rapidity OF cavalry, wherever an in
fantryman can follow and can stay where
/ the most effective light artillery is COM
| PEELED to retire from the enemy's fire.
| These are strong predictions TO make,
/ but they represent the cons =nsus Of Opin-
l ion expressed by officers who watched the
! career Of Parker's Gatling gun battery
I from the day il landed until the DAYS OF
! the white flag set in For the first time
/ since the machine gun was invented IL
/ was used as an offensive weapon. even
{ participating in a charge VI a hill 10
carry the Spanish intrenchments II also
/ was used as defensive weapon, and dis
mounted was worked in a rife pit No
/ one who saw the Calling guns going for
! ward 10 an advanced position on July /
/ ever Will forget the ringing cFAers wEich
appIauded its passage when the gaIIOpi1g
mules whirled the light gun carriage
/ along she rough trail The cheer broke
ouc again when the soldiers heard the
/! GatIing's coughing and ehuckling in the
gap at the side OF San Juan hill
/ IN action each gun fired from 80 to
800 shots a minute. using the regulation
! Krag-JOrgensen cartridge. 50 that each
gun in firing efficiency wa2 equal 20 a
full company OF infantry firing five VOL
I leys a minute. The effective range OF the
! guns was up TO 2.5e0 yards TIE guns
were the regulation Gatling model OF 1S]5
long eu-barreI guns. drawn BY two Ms
souri, mules each. The battery was IN
/ der the command OF Lieut. John II Par
ker. Of the Thirteenth Infantry, who has
! made a special study OF machine guns
and IS regarded as high authority on Cat
lings- The Gatling gun attachment con-
! sisLs OF four pieces. each manned by a
sergeant. corporal and K Men In addI-
| tiOn there ts first sergeant, company
| clerk and cook"