The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1918-07-26
SAWED-OFF GUN
SHOCK TO HUNS
Few Of Them That Reached
Front Gave Good
Reckoning.

sbe CORRESPONDENTS reported; on an
other sector of the front, as a matter
of fact-ran smash up against Bret
Harte's Great West. II was a grim
symbol of law and order that the
ouiet-spoken sheriffs carried along
the California trails. And Uncle
Sans finger to-day, as it rests upon
the riot gun" is pressed upon the
trigger of international law and order
in the trenches.
II was as an experimental weapon
that our sawed-off shotgun reached
she west front-though in sufficient
quantity to make itself useful. vi
course. it can not replace the rifle
nor is il in any sense intended to.
Neither does it perform the functions
of the machine gun. But a NUMBER
of these guns in the hands OF cool
men in a tight place. each spraying
anuroximately 450 slugs a minute
develops a combination against whlch
the familiar German mass attack Is
exceedingly apt to wilt in the act Oh
blooming.
The sawed-off shotgun is distinc-
lively an American contribution 10
westfront warfare. Some one WIN
experience on the other side or the
Mississippi remembered that mons
never liked the look of the sinister
short barrel and scattered promptly
when it barked. He recalled that
che Arizona bad man" on rampage
walker meekly enough up Main stree'
and forgot to finger his triggger-filed
and hip-slung revvolvers when some
body stood on the courthouse steps
fondling a "sawed-off," and that even
The most desperate criminals in a
prison pen thought thrice before rush
ing into a funnel of lead pumped at
them by a steady-handed guard
Designed For Night Work.
It was figured that the German
mind. after few tests, might react IN
pretty much the same way 1t was
especially desired to keep Fritz home
70 night and to discourage him from
roaming about No Mans Land in the
dark. Gen. Preshing approved the
idea and cabled promptly for the
guns. The specifications were drawn
here and a fairly large order placed
with well-known manufacturers. For
three months now these weapons have
been in the trenches doing excellent
service.
Obviously the riot gun, as Ameri-
ca makes and uses it, is essentially
an emergency gun, and not major
weapon. 1t would be futile to dis
tribute it broadcast among the imam
try. as there are only certain situa-
lions in which it's peculiar powers can
be effectively employed. 1t can not
be aimed, except in a general dlrec-
ton. and only has an extreme range
of $50 yards. But single shot does
cover a considerable area. And this
gives it a nocturnal effectiveness no
other small arm possesses.
For example, our American is sit
ting in listening post on misty
night. HIS acutely attuned ear
gathers sounds-creepng, stirring
shutting. He realizes that they are
snemy sounds. Yet he can not see
the foe. He can only judge the direc-
ton of approach. But he bangs away
With his sawed-off shotgun. He is
reasonably sure to get some OF his IN
visible adversaries and send the rest
scuttling for safety.
Deadly In The Dugout.
Again, one of Pershing's men, dur
ing a raid finds himself at the en-
trance TO an enemy dugout 1T is darl
IN there. He calls on the occupants
he knows are inside to surrender
There is no answer Of "Kamerad! -
only a sullen muttering, He sends il
4 charge of 90 buckshot and Frit
decides to come out-what is left
him. Or the American trooper ma
be alone in the raverse of a trenc
with a dozen Germans crowding at
ruptiy around the right turn on TO
of him. He has no time to pick theI
OH with his automatic, which is one G
mis- fayorites, but grabs his riot gu
and lets go from the hip. 1t is
most efficacious protest again
crOwding.
Probably with such new weapo
there will be futher specialization
The French fancied the idea at II
beginning Of the war and gathert
all the fowling pieces they could Il
use in the trenches. But they d
not develop the scheme. The pun
gun. as il was known and widely 10
ed by sportsmen in America WI
practically unknown in Europe Al
Nith it, in the form supplied by q
United States government man CT