The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-04-12

ing rife, which would certainly suggest
that the fun effectiveness of the infan-
try arm is in danger of being sacrificed
to the hardly equal advantage of uniform
ity. For with a diminished length of barrel
the backsiRht and foresight are brought
much closer together, thereby, undoubted-
ly increasing the possible angle of error
In aiming, and causing a most regretta-
lie loss of accuracy at the longer ranges
40 common in the warfare Of the present
day.
And again, the loss of reach in bay
onet fight should unquestionably be a
consideration untss we are going to
stake everything upon the teaching Of
the South African campaign, fought out
under conditions which are not likely to
be reproduced.
Another novelty about the new weapon
is provided by the barrel, which is en-
tirely covered by a wood casing up to
about an inch from the muzzle. This
new feature, which may be regarded as
indispensable in the modern quick-hring
small arm, will allow the rife TO be
grasped by the hand at any part, however
prolonged or rapid the firing may have
been.
Hitherto 1t has only been possible to
hold the barrel where the hand-guard
gave protection from the heat. And num-
erous cases have occurred In South AZ
RIGA where this has become so intense
that men selling their rifles IN haste
have dropped them like hot Goals.
II is easily conceivable what a handi-
cap this might prove In action. And at
a time OF great emergency. when. as in
the Northumberland Fueiliers ~
Nooitgedacht, dubbed rifles became the
order of the day, the men would be de-
prived of a formidable means of de-
Tense.
The new wooden casing. therefore,
which caves a safe hold throughout. is
a very valuable Improvement, and will
be duly appreciated.
The Sighting systems
The system Of sighting proposed intro
duces an innovation which is much more
open to criticism. The backsight COM
pared with the existing pattern, Is some-
what clumsy to look at, and is reminis-
cent of that in use in the Austrian rifles
some years ago The flap is large and
provides for adjustment up to consider
able ranges without being raised this
only being necessary at extreme dis
tances from the objective. This arrange
ment, despite appearances, is advanta-
geous
The backsight is practically the only
portion of the barrel of the rifle which
energies from the wooden casing This
so thoroughly envelopes the barrel that
heat radiation, which In the existing pat
tern Is disseminated over the whole ex-
posed length, is likely to concentrate it,
self at the only outlet to be found at the
backsight and Immediately in front OF
the eyes Of the frer. This is a possible
defect, which, as 1t would minimize the
accuracy of the arm, should be carefully
Guarded against.
But there Is another point In connec-
ton with the sighting which from prac-
tical experience seems very open to OBJ
lection. IL Is in fact difficult to under
stand the process of reasoning which
has permitted the Introduction OF hood
ed foresight
Some years ago at Malta practical trial
was made of this very continuance with
a view TO determine it's suitability to
the conditions of the service. The con-
clusion arrived at was that, although con-
ducive to accurate shooting in the hands
of a marksman with plenty of time for
aiming, It demanded a deiicacy of skill
and handling altogether unsuted to the
rough and ready conditions OF active SER
vice.
The necessity of drawing a line upon
a distant objective through the hood Of
the foresight will not only call for more
than average visual ability, but entirely
preclude the possibility Of obtaining a
II IL impossible TO imagine such fea-
ture as a natural development OF tho
conditions Of South African warfare.
Carried Loading.
In effect, the breach-action and bolt
remain the same as before, with the adj
dition Of a new safety locking arrange
ment The trigger Us also provided with a
draw pull That Is 20 say. upon the ex-
ercise Of pressure by the forehnger the
trigger yields for a short space before
reaching the point Of discharge.
new departure is introduced in the
method Of loading. There are two recog-
nized systems OF effeeting the rapid Load
ing OF the modern magazine rine-by
carrier and by clip. The clip method Is
that favored by continental powers.
Under this system the clip containing
the cartridges Is placed straight into tho
magazine, falling thence automatically
when it's cartridges are expanded ny
means OF the carrier the cartridges are
dropped into the magazine receptacle
aud the empty carrier is thrown away.
The latter system has been adopted IN
the new rife II will certainly be aim
cult, n not impossible 20 load without
lowering the eyes from the objective.
This Is possible with the clip system, ana
81 a point highly important 20 good shoot
inR as well ~ IN every ease where Il y
indispensable 20 maintain n sharp watch
on the movements ~ on opponent.
Mrs snobhinFton. 1--WE had meant ~
oan long before fhis. reay. bur with the