The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-05-07
THE KRAG,JoRGENsES ARM
American Army Rifles said TO BE De-
fectfve or Inferior


During the debate on the Army ApDro-
priatioa bill in the Senate some interest,"
ing information was brought to light By
Senators Teller. Proctor, and others, re
lating to the Krag-Jorgensen rife. the
small arm which superseded the old
Springfield rifle in Army use Many COM
plants have been made Informally By the
soldiers that this rife has serious defects
and will require considerable improvement
II II is not altogether thrown out and ST.
perseded by some other make of rife.
1t was shown-what many ordnance and
artillery officers have known for years
that this rife, although adopted after ev-
cry type Of small arm in the world had
been tested and examined. is far short OF
some OF the best guns IN foreign services
and doubtless is an inferior piece 10 the
Mauser. against which the American troops
ran during the Santiago battle. The latter
Is the gun the Beers are using with such
telling results against the British in South
AFRICA while the latter are armed with
the Lee gun. the invention OF an American
In recent testimony given before the
FoTtihcations Committee Captain Lewis
recorder OF the Ordnance and Fortihca-
tons Board. showed that the slight en-
enlargement given civilian inventions BY
army officers was responsible for some OF
the best American military inventions be-
ing adopted abroad Some Army men be-
iieye themselves competent 10 invent ev-
cry device required for the Army I vas
for this reason that Lee. Calling. Maxim.
and others had to sell their patents IN Eu
rope before they were adopted at home.
Ihe kFag-Jorgensen gun is the inven-
uon OF STede of that name. and for ey-
cry enc bought by the Army be Is paid
royalty OF 81 As there have been nearly
100000 OF these guns bought in the last
hve years, the royalty is very consider
able Wide differences Of opinion have al
ways existed among ordnance officers Of
the Army regarding the merits of this gun
A unanimity Of opinion prevails in the
. Navy that the piece is infinitely inferior
10 the Few Navy gun OF much smaller cali
bre. The Krag-Jorgensen has many de-
fe@ts. its opponents claim. which never
warranted its acceptance as a type OF gun
for the Army. and while IL may have been
I. better than the older weapon il is assert
ed better gun could have been secured
had not the Army been in such haste
The war seems 10 have added very lit
tie in favor Of the gun. and while ordnance
officers are rot inclined 10 condemn IL .5ut-
right. il is quite certain another type Of
gun viii be recommended for adoption in
the next few years. II is not only the gun
now OF the Army, but also Of the Navy, as
by the recommendations of a commission
composed Of Army and Naval officers two
years ago the Navy accepted the gun, not
because 1t approved il, bet as il was rec
ognized a single standard gun and similar
calibre for both services was necessary.
The Navy has therefore stopped the
manufacture Of it's small arm and all ships
hereafter commissioned viii be suppl ed
with the Krag-Jorgensen.
The Kearsarge has this gun already in
her ordnance department. All the new
Navy guns viii be furnished the naval mi
litia 10 displace the Old patterns guns they
now have.