New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-17
ARMS IN THE PHILIPPINES.
WEAPONS NOT INFERIOR TO THOSE OF
AGUINALDO's TROOPS.
REGULARS HAVE KRAG-JoRGENsENs AND
VOLUNTEERS SPRINGFIELD RIFLES
RESPECTIVE VALUE OF THE GUNS.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.


fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE tribune
Washington April 1s.-General Corbin has written
a statement exploding the frequently reiterated
reports from sources friendly the Philippine in
surgents that the rifles in the hands of American.
volunteers serving under General Otis inferior
In range and power tn the arms used by Agui-
naldo's men, In order to ascertain whether there
any truth in the reports. Representative
Marsh. of Illinois. wrote to the Acknowledgement
ten days ago. and the reply which has reached him
Is follows:
Replying your esteemed favor Of the 5th of the
month commenting or the arms In the hands Of
our troops In the Philippines have the honor to
state that all the regular troops are armed with
the Krag-Jcrgensen. caibre 80 All the volunteers
called into the service armed with the Spring
field, calibre 45. the Department, not having suf-
as the more modern arm could be supplied all the
vounteeys Were armed with the new gun ; on No
zine rifles. In order to obtain them the corps
which was In the South az the time had been 6 De.
sent to Benicia Arsenal for shipment to Manila
and on December %, 1895 information was sent to
senal. to be forwarded IN lots called for by him.
On DscemSer e @ Gspe Tes o sbDpeS that ne
Since thai time no further call has been received
from him. aotwithstandns an additional Zoo x wsge
Jorgensen rides tover and above those in the hands
Tece ens placed n the hands Of the volunteers
smokeless powder cartridges for Springfield rifles
It is understood therefore by this Department that
at Manila there are on na me nnd large
Der more have either arrived or are on their way TO
Manila
field rife thet its simplicity and security from get
ting out of order under the toughest usage make IL
troops originally mustered into the service oeing
largely from he %h GGsa As far
rapidly Of fire IS concerned as Long as ,i IL Is
between 4D the two guns The Springfield rife
has range OF about thirtysix hundred yaras tee
that al long range there is a superiority In favor
OF the magazine rife and. In addition owing to the
magazln. rifle Ia much the hatter OF the two II
may be a question IS 10 which Is superior against s
bullet Of the 10 cabre rife is much greater than
that from the lighter bullet OF the magazine rine
Many cases Of unofficial statements nave reached
the Ordnance Department OF the ineficiency OF
small calibre bullets fred with high veloclties pc
cause ofNther failure TO produce the shocK necee-
sary for disabling an enemy and Of tae greater
efficiency Of the S caere arm In ns e tS occur IN
country thlckly wooded or with dense
in the neighbofho9d OF Msna the Spr pr 1ore
hand Won herewith a memorandum OF the Chief
Of Ordnance giving detailed information bearing
upon the subject discussed II there Is any urtner
light desired If in my p2%s o snail o be Gay eq
- e''' H. &. CORBIN. Adjutan,-General
The memorandum TO which General Corbin refers
follows:
November Il. 1898
and 5000 magazine rifles and 100000 smokeless pow
der cartridges for calibre As rifles These stores
were Immediately ordered and shipped via San
Francisco
On December g. 1895 the 5000 rifles not having
left San Francisco. and there being prooaoity az
that time that some OF the volunteer troops would
be mustered out the following cablegram was sent
TO General Otis by the Chief Of Ordnance:
Because of the changing troops ana deterlora-
ton of arms in Manila climate your 5000 magazine
rifles are stopped at Benecia to he forwarded IN
lots as called for by you 1890
on December 20 1895. General Otis cabled: Wish
nj no Krdg-10rgenSpn
rounds of ammunition for same. ship as soon as
practical Bile" 800 .
In accordance with this cabegram 5000 OF the
calibre 30 rifles and 100000 rounds OF ammunition
were sent 10 Renecia Arsenal for storage January
49, 1899 General Otis cabed that 100000 rounds OF
| ammunition calibre As. black smokeless pow
der were needed. and requested that they be sent
on first departing transport.
January is 1899 100000 calibre As cartridges, one
half black and one-half smokeless powder. were
sent from Benecia and 100000 one-haf black and
| one half smokeess powder were sent Via New
| York 80
| to the Manila ordnance depot without request from
! General Otis in order that there might be re-
serve supply At the depo-