ARMY ESTIMATES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1382, 7 March 1912, Page 5

ARMY ESTIMATES.

MORE ABOUT THE SERVICE RIFLEAIR CORPS PLANS. By Teleeraph-Vresa Association-Copyright London, March u. In introducing the Army Estimates in tho House of Commons, Colonel Si-ely, Vniler-Secretnry of State for War, v.nhesitatingly denied that there was a particle of truth in the Opposition charts as to the inferiority of the Army rifle, which was extraordinarily reliable, as hntl been proved during the .South African v.-ar. Britain's heavy suns, horse and field artillery, and machine guns, were the best in Europe. Part of the present air battalion had been absorbed by a new flying corps, cmbracing soldiers, sailors,, and civilians. It was proposed to train 180 officers yearly, and purchase 131 aeroplanes. The Aviation Training School on Salisbury Plain had not been used during the last four months by those learning to fly. The art has been learnt in private aerodromes. Mr. Bonar Law, Leader of the Opposition, reneated the statement that the British rifle was inferior when the trajectory was compared with that of other rifles. He added that the culpable delay iu improving the rifle was inexcusable. Lord Haldane, Secretary of State for War, replying to a question in the House of Lords, said that if there had been war last summer, the British rifle, if inferior in trajectory, would have been found to havo had many advantages over the German rifle.

SOME CRITICISMS.

MORE MONEY NEEDED FOR REGULARS. (Rec. March 6, 11.15 p.m.) London, March' G. Mr. Wyndham, Unionist member for Dover, during the Army debate, expressed bis dissatisfaction with Lord Haldanfi's scheme lo secure the national safety. The rxpeditionury force was below strength, and ho urged the increase of. the home establishments of line regiments. Licut.-Gcneral Sir Reginald Pole-Carew, Unionist member for Bodmin, declared that the whole military system needed reorganisation. The. existing scheme courted disaster. Two-thirds of the money devoted to the Territorials should be spent on the Regulars.

NEW ARMY RIFLE,

BRITISH EXPERIMENTS. The improved pattern of ride with which the Army authorities havo been experimenting for borne tinin (writes the military correspondent of the "Morning Post") is gradually being brought to a more or less advanced form, and it is not unlikely that the new weapon may bo placed in the hands of selected troops for trial next year. The new pattern, being still in the workshop stage, is not ripe for full description, and Ihe details must still be regarded as confidential. At the same time, it is'well known that the aim of the authorities has been directed towards strengthening the breech and improving the sights of tho present Lee-Eiifield rifle. It is umlerstDod that a breech, following t;> some extent the Mauser pattern, has been tried with success, and that the adoption of the aperture sight has been recommended. ; HOW HRITAIN'.XAGS'BEHIND. . The outcome of any .such change will be of considerable moment. The breech of tho present Lee-Eufield rifle is the weakest among first-class small arms. It wilt not stand the explosion in the chamber of the modem high-velocity cartridge. This drawback places our Army in tho position of having to use weaker ammunition than other Powers, or, in precise words, to fire a bullet that soars higher than others and is therefore slower and less effective. With regaid to the -sights, it has been obvious for some time that the American plan of using n "peep hole' in the back sight bar, instead of an open sight cut in the back sight bar after the manner of the letters V or U, makes for rapid and partially automatic aim. Practically the rifle with a "peep" sight is aimed in revolver fashion, there being only the foresight to align on the object, as the aperture back sight focuses automatically and obviates the old alignment from the eye of back sight, fore sight, and object aimed at. The present Lee-Enh'eld breech was made for the old, fat, blunt,'black-powder cartridge, and is now obsolete, and the uselessness of tho present short barrel and weak breech was pointed out at the time that the present pattern was adopted. The safo working pressure of this breech is about 20 tons as against 24 tons in other rifles. The use of anything like ,a modern high-power cartridge is, therefore, out of the question. A compromise in ammunition was devised last year, and was not satisfactory, but a now design now in course of manufacture uses tho maximum .strength suitable for the present rifle. This explosive is also a compromise to accord with the rifle's weakness, but the bullet is a great improvement, it being semi-pointed in shape. This is Urn first time that this pattern has been adopted in the British Service. Stocks of this ammunition are now being rapidly accumulated in view of an issue next year. THE. NEW CARTRIDGE. The :ioir cartridge, while still inferior to the German, increases the value of firing from the Lee-Enfield to its present limit. The new bullet is in a cunro-nickel jacket, filled at the tip with aluminium to give lightness, and tho body is of lead. It is however, liable to turn on striking a. soft, object and so inflict a ".sideways wound. Tho new cordite is like the old, except thnt it has a hole through the centre and is therefore known as tubular conlite. It is, however, harder, as % it contains less nitro-glycenne. The weient of the new bullet is 174 grains, and the height of the trajectory at 800 yards is Bft. din., as against Ihe present 13tt. 4m. The German bullet flies at Oft. 10m., and weighs only 150 grains. Its velocity, of course, is greater. Thus with the new ammunition we have more than half bridged the gulf between our present cartridge and that of the German and other makes. The next move is to get on equal terms by means of ths promised new rifle, and.it is of interest to leurn that an experimental cartridge is in existence, waiting for n rifle strong enough to take it, which will fly lower than the German bullet, whilft being OX the same weight. _ , Tho committee which recently considered deigns for an automatic rifle was unable to recommend one, and the now > rifle will therefore bo an improved magazine smallarm.