Imperial Valley press., 1938-10-10
News Behind
the News

WASHINGTON rllle you
carry in the next war will be just as
heavy as ever, but much more COM
Portable to shoot.
Much greater accuracy for sus-
tanned firing and elimination OF the
terrific back-kick of the old side
bolt are claimed for the army's new
Nj shoulder rifle. The old one was
fatiguing and required careful
training to eliminate the common
tendency to tense the shoulder
against the recoil, thereby throwing
tae sight off the target.
The NILS kick is but a gentle
push. 1t fires a clip of eight balls
as rapidly as a trigger can be
pulled, ejecting each shell by utili-
zation of gases and replacing it
with a new one. For rapid firing it
is equal TO five CT the old rifles.
Cne CT its greatest values is that
recruits can be rapidly taught to
use it.
Other new wrinkles of war:
STRATEGY AND METHOD:
Rules of war seldom change, army
officers say. but methods OF ap-
plying them do. Airplanes can
win wars and it's believed certain
England, France and Russia could
have defeated Germany and Italy
despite German air superiority.
Otherwise the chief difference in
war operations as now planned and
these Of the World War is in great
ly superior fire power and motoriza-
tion.
This means rapid movement OF
fewer men and more weapons.
Newest development over here;
The arlnys Proposed Infantry Di-
visicn,' worked out for three years
on paper and in small tests and
about to be tested for year by a
reorganized Second Division a. San
Antonio prior to possible adoption
fer the entire army.
This experimental division cuts
wartime strength from $4,000 to
1000 men, but the new division
has greater fire power than The old.
Entirely motorized. it can move
anywhere as fast as a truck convoy
FLAMES: Marvellous bombing
siehts and the worlds most accur-
ate air force are claimed by the
army.
Newest types: /. The "Air2cuda,' -
or Bell Fighter believed able to ov-
ertake any modern bomber. Pro-
pellors in the rear give gunners
free field of fire. Six guns include
two aircraft C=nnon, unprecedented
on such a ship. Only ore plane is
on hand; 13 more have been ordel-
ed.
2. The ''super-flying fortress"
XB15, a 30-ton four-engined bomb
er about 80 feet long, with 150-foot
wing spread, four 1000-horsepower
twin-row engines and living-sleep-
ingcooking quarters.
I-AIRCRAFT Coast Artil-
lery is buying 1893 more anti-air-
craft guns this year to equip 80
regiments. All guns are on wheels
so they can be rushed to critical
areas. These fire by electrical con-
troll in batteries of four guns each
data on planes being transmitted
from mechanical computations TO
the guns so shells will hit in the
space where plane should be when
the shells arrive Fire practice on
towed targets has shown them very
accurate up 20 five miles.
Although these guns are limited
in distance and area, Spanish and
Chinese experience has show hos
tile aircraft avoid their areas OF
fire.
POISON GAS: No new gases,
says the army, but much expert
mentation and development. Gas
masks have vastly improved over
the old one with the nose-clip and
mouth breather.
HORSELESS CAVALRY: Fort
Knox now has two regiments OF
motorized cavalry, made up Of fast
radio controlled armored and com
bat cars. each one a fighting unit.