Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 131, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 May 1912 — England Has New Rifle [ARTICLE]

England Has New Rifle

Will Be Easier to Handle and More Effective Than Present Model. 1 London. —The British troops are to be armed with a new rifle. Ever since its Introduction In 1903 the Lee-Enfield rifle, with which the British forces are now armed, has been the subject of fierce controversy. The shortening of, the barrel was the point cMefly criticized, and as the rifle has not been able to hold Its own against the longer weapon with which the territorials have been equipped the controversy has never died down. The Idea underlying the adoption of the short rifle was to have a weapon which woqld be easily bandied by both mounted and dismounted troops. To suit the cavafry five inches was taken off the rifle and the reach of the infantry soldier with the bayonet was thus shortened. Attempts have been made to restore this lost advantage by the issue of A longer bayonet, but the developments of the modern high power cartridge have intensified the defects of the short barrel as regards fire efficiency. A longer barrel is necessary for accuracy and ease. The barrel of the new rifle will not have the foil five Inches restored, bat about one-half of that. A change of considerable Importance will be made In the caliber, wMch In the new rifle will be .276 instead of .303. An advantage In velocity Is expected from this change, as the ballet will be lighter. The chamber of the new rifle being larger and the breech mechanism stronger the explosive to bo used will possess very high power;

and it Is not improbable that the velocity will be 3,000 feet a second, as against 2,450 of the rifle and ammunition now In use. This would give Britain an advantage of 100 feet a second over the nearest rival, and with the alterations the bullet should never travel higher than the height or a man. The principle of the aperture sight, which makes aiming partially automatic, has been accepted, and the loading also will be much quickened by the new methods of feeding cartridges into the chamber. The new rifle will be a few ounces heavier than the present Lee-Enfield. It is expected that trials will be made with It by selected troops this summer.