Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-17
Making the New Army Rife.


rifle, model of 1903, Gen Crozier says that
sufficient fixtures. gauges. etc, were COM
pleted in the early part of the present cal
endar year to enable daily output of 300
rifles to be obtained at the Springfield ar
mory. which output, it is anticipated will
be increased shortly to 400 per day. The
greater part of the fixtures. gauges ETC.
for the Rock Island arsenal have been COM
pleted and installed, and the manufacture
of rifles has been begun. 1t is anticipate ted
that a regular daily output of 125 arms will
be obtained at the latter plant before June
80 next.
The corps of cadets United States Mill
tary Academy, was equipped with the new
rife in March last. AS the cartridge for the
new is different from that of the old rifle
it has been decided to make no other issues
of the former arm except In Alaska, China
and the Philippines until a sufficient num-
Der have been completed to enable the en-
tire regular army to be equipped at the
same time. 1t is anticipated that this ex-
change of arms can be made in January
next
The output of United States magazine
rifles, model of 1898. was gradually de-
creased as that of the new rifle was in
creased. until its manufacture ceased en-
trely in November. AS the United States
maya zine rifles and carbnes of the models
of 1896 1898 and 1899 were provided with
five different models of rear sights a suf-
ficient number of model of 1902 sights are
being manufactured to replace the models
of 1892 and 1896. and all model of 1898
sights are being altered to the model Of
1902, thus reducing the number of different
models from five to two The addition of
the plate containing the peep-sighting
notch constitutes the principal difference
between the models of 1898 and 1902. AS
these arms are replaced with the new rife
they will be thoroughly overhauled, cleaned
and stored as part of the reserve supply.
The District of Columbia and all the
states and territories except Nevada and
Ha heeO
tically to full authorized strength of their
militia with this old magazine arm of
Krag-Jorgensen type.
Light Cavalry sabers.
AS the supply of light cavalry sabers on
hand at the close of the civil war has been
practically exhausted, General Crozier says
an order for the manufacture of 10000 has
been given.
Five thousand machetes and scabbards
were purchased during the year for the use
of troops serving in those parts of the
Philippines where the dense underground
renders them necessary. Three thousand
knives and scabbards of special design for
issue to the Hospital Corps are being made.
Field Artillery.
General CroZier says that as rapidly as
the present 3.2-inch is replaced in service
by the 3-inch field material, it is proposed
to thoroughly overhaul and repair the for
mer, preparatory to its storage part
of the reserve supply, until a sufficient
supply of the later design is obtained.
Although a satisfactory system of field
artillery has been adopted, the policy of
the department to continue tests of prom
Using designs has been continued.
The ordnance department has continued
its investigation of smokeless powders with
view to improving their qualities to en-
able them to be fired under pressures of
from 10000 to $4,000 pounds per square
inch for the purpose of utilizing the
strength of our service guns.
Forts in Insular Possessions.
Congress appropriated last year $41SOOO
for beginning the work this year Of the
armament of fortified lions In the insular
possessions, and estimates are made this
year for $1,511 ,979 more, including $1,000
for alterations and repairs of armament
and for machines to do this work at the
Manila ordnance depot.
The distance of the Philippines from the
United States, General Crozier says, pre-
cludes the possibility of sending heavy
parts Of armament home for repair, and
makes 1t imperative to provide means for
promptly repairing these and smaller parts
at the Manila ordnance depot and in some
instances at the batteries themselves. He
says that will require considerable further
expansion of the machine shops of the
depot and the extension OF the limits OF
the depot grounds.