Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 January 1892 — Modern Rifles. [ARTICLE]

Modern Rifles.

One of the most striking features in the development of nations is the modern military equipment-supposed to be of appalling power, yet so changed since tho lust conflict as to be pructically untried. In a recent lecture to his students, Professor Bilroth, of Vienna, showed a collection of bones from persons wounded in t'>e wars of 1866 and 1370. He stated that tho damage done by tho rifles then in use could not bo compared to tho terrible effect of the repeating rifles of to-day. A bullet from a Mannlieher rifle pierces a brick wall at a distance of 500 to 600 paces, and it would be well nigh impossible to obtain shelter from an enemy’s fire. There can be no more marching in dense linos,as tho ball would go through three or four men. Smokeless powder affords better means of correct aim, und woe to the urmy that should cross the road in tho face of an enemy, or that should attack an enemy in a sheltered position. “I am thankful,’.’ concluded tho lecturer, “I cannot show you any bones that have suffered from tho weapons as they now ure.”—[Trenton (N. J.) American.