The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-09-18
ArSenalS Turning Out
Fresh Type Of Riff.
BARREL INCASED WITH WOOD
None Yet Issued to troops, But Supply
Being Manufactured for Equipment
Of 100000 Men.


Every Government arsenal I'm the
United States, with the necessary faclli-
ties. is working night and day just
now turning out the new arm and forty
thousand of them have already been
completed. None VIII be issued to the
troops of the regular estu Adjustment.
however. until 1OOO0o-the number rcqui-
site TO supply the maximum strength OF
the army on n war footinF-have been
completed.
At the present rate Of progress this
viii probably be about December !. and
their issuance will be Immediately be
gun.
The old rife-or rather the rife which
has been in use since the Spanish
American war-will be returned to the
arsenals and later reissued TO the vari-
Gus militia organizations now armed
with the ancient Springfield rife. which
Is regarded as almost as obsolete as the
old hintlock or percussion-cup guns.
Spanish War Arms.
During the Spanish-American war. Is
IS well known. many OF the regular
troops and all OF the militia were stnl
armed with the old Springfield. firing
black powder. and carrying n 45-caIiber
ball that made great deal OF noise.
oid little damage and was absolutely
ineffective at long range. The disad-
Vantages under which the United
States troops labored as a result OF
their obsolete small arms are too well
known to the public to bear repetition.
but 1t is interesting to note that the
Spanish-American war. il IT did moth
ing else. awoxe tho army authorities
TO the necessity for keeping abreast OF
the times in ordnance construction,
The LATED States magazine rife
Wihch was being introduced in the army
Whenf the war begun was considered a
kooq weapon. but the advance made i'm
the last few years as a result of care
Iul study and exhaustive expertmepts
may De understood when Il is known
ulat The rifle now IN use and the arm
Nnich IS TO be introduced in December
next nave no two points in common.
The Old and New Arm.
Inc most noticeable difference be-
tween the old and the new arm an
parent at frs; glance is the fact that
the barrel OF the latter arm is entirely
covered with wood This innovation was
the result OF practical suggestions made
10 the ordnance officers by enlisted men
OF the army.
Following the campaign IN Cuba and
In the Philippines. many complaints
were made TO the ordnance officers by
officers in the field. who said that after
a period OF rapid discharges the rife
barrels became so hot that II was some
times necessary to cease firing for n
time 10 permit them 70 cool. In many.
cases men in the heat OF battle had the
skin burned from their hands by the
hot barrels.
The wood-covered barrel is the result
OF these suggestions the stee! being on
tireiy covered TO within two inches OF
the muzzle OF the gun IN almost every
other particular. from stock to forvya I'd
signt. there IS an important difference
between the old and the new gun and
In other features. which are NOT an
parent TO the ordinary observer In,
which have the greatest weight win
ordnance experts. the new arm Is Far
superior to the old.
Small Bore Rife.
The bore Of the new rifle IS smaller
the ealiber being about 30 inch. White
the initial velocity and penetrating DOW
er are both greater The new gun IS
also several inches shorter than the old
srm-sbout the length. IN fact OF the
old Springfield carblne. with which the
United States cavalry were armed after
the civil war. Indeed. n Il were no:
for the woode--covered barrel and the
peculiar loading and ejecting mechan-
tsm- the gun would be almost a counter
part % the famous cavalry weapon.
Tho II. S. Magazine Rife. Model OF
1900, as the new arm Is technically
known. will. n Is believed. prove exceo-
tiOnally popular with the enlisted force
OF the regular establishments In addf-
tion 10 the covered barrel feature. the
eiecting lever. which on the rife now
in use projects at right angles from the
rars 10 .
profanity on the part OF the enlisted
men than any other portion OF their
equipment. projects downward IN the
new arm. and Is somewhat shorter
The magazine has a capacity Of five
cartridges. and can be filed with ease
and quickness. The gun. fully assem-
bled. weighs a trife over eight pounds
and. according TO the ordnance experts
IS exceptionally we'll balanced. making
ease Of discharge and accuracy OF ain
feature % Importance.
The Guns Efficiency.
Some idea OF the efficiency OF the new
arm can be gained when II IS known
that 3 aimed shots have been fired IN
one minutes with the rife used az a
single loader. and % shots in the same
time. using magazine fire. Firing from
the hip without aim. p shots have been
fred I'm one minute. using the rife as
minutes from the magazine With an
ordinary service charge the powder
pressure in the rife chamber IS about
1900 pounds per square inch, the maxi
mum energy OF free coil r. 1905 fee,
pounds and the maximum effective
lighting range 47S1 yards.
The exceptional penetrating powers OF
the rife were illustrated in G test held
some time ago. With full service charge
the rife fired at a distance Of hfty feet
drove fits steel missile 545 inches into
white pine butts. and penetrated a steel
plate nearly one-half an inch thick
The bullet which Will be used IN the arm
has core OF lead and tin composition
ia a jacket OF cuprO- nickel and when
fired with "A service charge has a muzzIa
velocity OF 1890 feet a second.
Will Need Repairs.
The army officers on duty IN Wash
ington say that u VIII be oniv a little
while after the regular army is supplied
with the new guns before about half OF
them win be back in the arsenals I'm
need OF repairs The enlisted man. az
81 has been found from long experience.
81 mighty set IN his ways. and II takes
him "a long time 20 get used TO anything
new IN his lighting equipment
Consequently. when new rife IS is
sued 10 him he proceeds 10 take IL TO