The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-02-08
new RIFLE WILL BE
USED IN BRITISH ARMY.
Weapon Called the Lee-Enield Modi-
fed Is Five Inches Shorter Than
Gun Now in Use.

| SPECIAL. BY CABLE.
London. Feb. 7-Some important and
drastic alterations are being made in the
! Government smal.-arms factories conse-
quent or the arrangement made by the War
! Office for the new pattern of rifle, the adop-
| tion Of which reused considerable comments
| some months ago.
reorganization has just been commenced.
| In the first place. recent order for 5000
Lee Enfield rifles has been Cancelled
The newly adopted weapon is called the
"Lee-Enfield Modified Its mechanism. so
it is claimed, is much less complex than
that of the present Lee Enfield: it is COM
posed Of a smaller number of parts. and is
therefore turned out at .ess cost OF time
and material. and finally the modified is
stated TO possess greater velocity OF dis
charge.
The new rife. 1t was urged. was stumpy
in appearance, being the outcome OF an idea
to provide all branches of our service with
a small arm of one uniform pattern. 1t Is.
In fact. really compromise between rifle
and n carbine.
1t is five inches shorter than the existing
rife, which would certainly suggest that
the full effectiveness of the infantry arm is
in danger of being sacrificed to the hardly
equal advantage of uniformity.
For with diminished length Of barrel
the backsight and foresight are brought
the possible angle Of error in aiming and
causing a most regrettable loss of accuracy
at the longer ranges so common at the
present day.
Another novelty about the new weapon is
provided by the barrel. which Is entirely
covered by wood casing up to about an
inch of the muZzle-an improvement which
will undoubtedly be fully appreciated.
Some. critics have dealt rather severely
sight. compared with the existing pattern,
is somewhat clumsy to look at. The flap Is
large. and provides for adjustment up to
considerable range without being raised.
this only being necessary at extreme dis
tances from the objective. Despite appear
ances. this arrangement is advantageous.
ton Of the barrel Of the rifle which emerges
from the wooden casing. This so thorough
ly envelopes the barrel that heat radiation,
mated over the whole exposed length. ia
Likely to concentrate itself at the only out
let to be found-at the backsight and imme-
This is a possible defect which would mini
mize the accuracy of the aim
is also sg1 open to OBJECTION as d being unsnted
service
For loading the carrier system is adopted.
In order to prepare the Enfield Lock fac
tory for the manufacture of the new rife, II !
IS necessary that much of the machinery |
shall be altered and new machines laid !
down.
Engineers have this week commenced the |
work Of conversion. but i was stated at |
Enfield recently that the Government does |,
not intend to start the manufacture of the |
modified" arm until about June.
The same process of reconstruction is. 1t |
Is understood, being arranged for at the !
smal-arms factory. Spark |
brook. Birmingham; at the Small Heath |
small-arms factory, and at the works of the |
London Armory Company. Old Ford E.
Considerable dissatisfaction exists at En- |
field Lock that the Government should ]
have chosen the winter for the change. I
Restrictions of employment in regard to |
he mashine-gun department are anticipated
pany's works at Sheffield.