The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-10-19
Nations of World Have Not Yet
Decided Whether Reyoil or Rigid
Carriage Guns Are Better.
ADVANTAGES OF EACH KIND.
Greater Rapidity of Fire Obtained
With Former. but Latter Are
Simpler and Not so Eus-
lily Put Out of Action.
REPUBLIC SPECIAL

REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
Washington. Oct. iS-Stored With com
plote and interesting information concern
INK every branch % every army in the
world aud repiete with fine illustrations and
maps. Notes OF military interest for 1871
issued by Lieutenant Colonel W. \. Slmp-
son. chief Of the military Information diyi-
sion. Is one OF the best volumes OF its Kind
ever issued from the Mar Department
or especial interest. In view OF the ef-
forts Of the United States Amy to settle
upon n type OF field sun. l. the Chapter
upon field artillery. II Il pointed out that
there are only two general types OF modern
field guns. namely suns on rigid carriages
and guns with fScoI devices on the car
iiaSes, and it j. stated that neither OF these
types has yet obtained unanimous prefer
eGce.
The greatest possible rapldity Of IRE i
not Obtained Win the guns on rigid car
riages, but they possess marked advantages
tcrial and their faults are stated u De the
failure Of the carnage 10 maintain the exact
INST firing position and the uncertain action
Ot the space in hard ground.
W Win the rccuil carriage guns. Nnlcn
! echaniSm returns the gun to the original
! ing position. great rap'dity Of nTe i OBJ
& NED. but The weapon has Its dtshuNdu-
t's:es In the way uf completely OF Tnschan-
a. increased weight and iisbiiity 10 fatal
.-.ury In action
france and Germany are the only coun-
tries whose srtil-ries are actually armed
E-th rapiG-nTe field guns. France uses a
fl& win recoil un the carriage. Germany
U.st the rigid carriage type. and Russia.
Itsfy. Belgium and Sweden have also.adopt-
ed the guns with rigid carriages. NORWAY
has adopted a gun OF the recou type anu
spain has purchased abroad an assortment
o. both types. In the new Japanese ne!d
gun. IL Is stated. the recOil seems TO be
taken up ON the carriage. Other countries
have not yet made final decisions.
Drawings and several pages OF readi1g
matter describe the new French field pieces.
after which the Lewis gun recently tried
by our Board Of Ordnance anil Fertilization
III Fort RILEY and Sandy Hook Is generally
supposed to nave been modelled. but Gaze
has been taken not 10 touch upon the recoli
mechanism which. after All. Is the distinct
i've feature OF the gun. The Importance OF
neld Howit=ers and mortars for high-angle
nring and as a part OF the neld artillery. II
- stated. Is generally recognized abroad.
France has a n-centlmeter field HowifZer.
but IL has proven too heavy for held nse.
and a lighter model % the same caliber
will probably be adopted soon Germany
has both n heavy and iisht field Howitzer
and Russia has a BS centimeter held NOR
tar. Great Britain uses the 5-inch HoWttzer
rs a Held weapon; Austra-Hungary ana
Huwitzers. which are too heavy for field
work. Mexico has an s-~centimeter noun
tain mortar
In a chapter on machine guns. attention
IS called to the fact that the practical guu
Of this class dates from the primitive Typ
Of Gatlin used In the wars OF the rebellion
and the Renyc mitraiileuse. secretly manu.
featured In France prior TO the war OF 1870.
and until quite recently was limited In call
Der Co small-arm ammunition.
The l-pounder Maxim machine gun. now
more Familiarity known as the 'pcmpom."
aud used with such deadly effect by the
Beers in South Africa, Is the first machine
gun Of calibeT" ever used in the field.