Evening journal., 1903-09-10
The NEW ARMY RIFLE.
Claims Made For the Latest
Springfield.
CHTEP rBAFURE Is IT'S RANGE.

Can Send a Bullet, II II said, Through
Fifty-fve Mea-The Most Powerful
Weapon Ever Designed Por CavaI-
~ or InfHntry-oid style of Bnyonet
b.spcnsed with.
A New York Mail and Express corre-
Epondent writes that work is progress
ing rapidly on the manufacture OF the
new Springfield magazine ride in the
United States nrmory in Springfield.
Mass. to hli the special order for a
small number received from the war
department A great deal is claimed
for the new weapon, and Il Is believed
that Il viii be the most powerful arm
ever designed FOR foot soldiers OF cav
airy. Its most notable feature Is its
range. which is Ave miles. II Is a fore
gone conclusion that after a trial OF
the new arm by the troops hrst equipped
a general order viii be received TO con-
tlnue the manufacture and equip the
entire army, as the special board ap-
pointed by the ordnance department
has made a favorable report on the
weapon.
In recent tests the target used con.
sisted Of about twenty squares Of white
pine an inch thick. which were mount
cd vertically an inch apart. Bullets
shot from the improved cartridges OF
the new rife at distance Of ffty-three
feet from the nearest square showed a
penetration OF Gar Of the boards. and
at 1900 yards the penetration was 6.3.
According TO a law deduced by ord
nance experts, the neshy part Of a
mans body from front 10 back offers
the same resistance 70 q bullet as does
a plank OF white pine an inch thick.
on this theory II is claimed that the
new rife VIII shoot a bullet through
the bodies OF ffty-nve men formed In
a straight column, all facing IFS muz-
zle, the nearest man being ffty-three
feet away; at a distance OF 900 yards
Il will NOW down twenty-three men;
at 1000 yards. thirteen men, and at
1900 yards, six men. The KragJor-
gensen rifle now IN use VIII NOW down
forty-six men as against the hfty-hve
OF the new arm.
Although the new rifle will carry Eve
miles. soldiers will not attempt to use
II at that range. 1000 yards being con-
sldered the greatest distance at which
a soldier with sharp eyes, even when
aided by a telescope. can see human
target with sufficient accuracy to aim.
The new bullet VIII have 433 grains
Of powder as against 37.6 In the bullet
now in use. The muzzie velocity OF the
weapon IS 1900 feet per second. or 800
feet faster than the muzzle velocity OF
the Krag. The bullet OF the new arm
is equal to the old in diameter MS well
as in weight, but its greater charge Of
, powder increases the weight Of the en-
tire cartridge grains. Still the total
weight OF the new rife, with bayonet
scabbard and 100 cartridges. Is one
pound less than that OF the old. This
is the result OF a clever arrangement
OF the new arm. II is six inches short
er over all than the old. With its new
substitute for a bayonet and scabbard
II weighs 9.47 pounds against the 10Gi
pounds Of the Krag-Jorgensen with the
present bayonet and scabbard.
The old style OF bayonet Is entirely
done away with on the new arm. The
bayonet and cleaning rod are one and
tho same, BY pressing a button under
the muzzle the cleaning rod may be
pulled out ten inches, where the button
catch holds II IN place as a pike or bay
onet The bayonet and its scabbard are
thus dispensed with as separate arti-
cles. such as weigh down the older
arm