Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1903-10-29
NEW RIFLES FoR QUA SOLDIERS,
Most Powerful Ever Designed for Cav.
airy or infantry.


airy or infantry.
A Mail and Express correspondent
writes that work is progressing rapid
ly on the manufacture of the new
Springfield magazine rife in the
United States armory in Springfield,
Mass. to I'LL the special order for the
new weapon, and it Is believed that it
will be the most powerful arm ever
designed for foot soldiers or cavalry.
Its most notable feature is its range.
which is five miles. 1t is a foregone
conclusion that after trial Of the
new arm by the troops first equipped,
a general order will be received to con-
tinue the manufacture and equip the
entire army, as the special board APP
pointed by the ordinance department
has made a favorable report on the
weapon.
In recent tests the target used con-
sisted of about twenty squares OF
white pine, one inch thick. which were
mounted vertically one inch apart.
Bullets shot from the improved car
tridges of the new rifle at distance
of 50 feet from the nearest square
showed a penetration of 81 OF the
boards. and at 1900 yards the penetra-
ton was 6.3. According to law de-
duced by ordnance experts. the fieshy
part OF a mans body. from front to
back, offers the same resistance to
bullet as does a plank of white pine
one inch thick On this theory 1t is
claimed that the new rifle will shoot
a bullet through the bodies of IS men
formed in a straight column. all fac
ing its muzzle, the nearest man being
So feet away; at distance of 500
yards 1t will NOV down % men; at l.
900 yards. Is men: and at 1.500 yards
men. The Krag-Jorgensen rifle now
In use will NOW down 46 men as
against the 81 of the new arm.
Although the new rifle will carry
I'VE miles. soldiers will not attempt
to use it at that range. 1000 yards be
ing considered the greatest distance
at which a soldier with sharp eyes.
even when aided by a telescope. can
see a human target with sufficient &C
curacy to aim.
The new bullet will have AS grains
OF powder. as against 37.6 Tn the bal.
let now in use. The mnzzle velocity
OF the weapon Is 81 fees per seeund
or 800 feet faster than the uuzzie ~
locity Of the Krae The isuiief ~ -
new arm r. equal o. TIE eid lei Ga.
meter as well a. in weEhf hnf IS
greater charge 81 powaeF inereaees
the weight 81 ire crfire eafff.fre
grains sim ne tfal we8Ktt of ~
new rife vim haFarH MsaHtefa aMf
100 cartridges q ano r.sea3 irss faan
that 81 the ola Ths Al fsa ref ~
clever arranremeaf ~ 80 neH arr.
the old. Win ~ ner er1s ,fatr ~
hayouef anf satf.arf aEhf 11T
pounds arainst ftn 81 - acnnas ~
the Krar TorFnnsen EZRA fhr rrasenf
hayonet snd scait1arf
The old style ef hsFanef Al crffreiv
done away win nn ne new arm. The
hayunef and ciesulrE r.a1 are one and
the sane ny pressing q huffon under
the muzxie TIE cleaning rod ma be
pulled out ten inches. where the but
ton catch holds e IN place rs = pike
or bayonet The hayonet and as scab-
hard are thus dispensed with as sepa-
rate articles. such IS weigh down the
older arm The advance In war meth
DDS has made a decrease in the use
Of the hayonet. and its place in the
soldiers belt hereafter will be filled
by an intrenching tool. now being de-
signed. a tool with which the soldier
can hurriedly throw up breastworks