FAMOUS FRENCH RIFLE

Greymouth Evening Star, 4 July 1933, Page 9

FAMOUS FRENCH RIFLE

CENTENARY OF ITS INVENTOR. This year marks the centenary of the birth of Antoine Alphouse Chassepot, the inventor of the rifle which became famous through its employment by the French army in the war of 187,0-71. The advantages of a rifle which could b e loaded by the breech instead of by the muzzle had become obvious before the conclusion of the wars which ended at Waterloo. Prussia led the way. And when, in 1836, a Saxon, John Nicholas Dreyse, introduced a musket which, in addition to the breech-loading, had the innovation of the ignition of the cartridge by a small rod or “needle,” the weapon was adopted by the Prussian Government.

Its value was shown in the action taken against the insurgents of Baden in ISSI and 1852, and its claim to be the best rifle in Europe was shown in the war against Denmark in 1864. The inventor was ennobled, a significant mark of esteem in an aristocratic country as Prussia then was. In 1866 took place the war against Austria. Here the needle gun became famous. The Austrians relied largely on muzzle-loaders, and were outmatched. The Prussian rifle possessed two outstanding advantages. It could be loaded very rapidly, as compared with the Austrian weapon, and it could be loaded in the lying-down position. The moral effect prouced by the power of developing strong fire action without exposure on the part of the flrer was very great. Meanwihle, as a counterblast to the needle gun in France, Chassepot had been experimenting with various forms of breech-loaders. In 1866 was issued to the French army the ‘Fusil modele 1866,” which instantly became known as the “Chassepot.” In nearly every respect it was immensely superior to the needle gun. Its effective range was about I,Booyds 1 , nearly thrice that of its Prussian “opposite number.”

RAPIDITY OF FIRE. In rapidity of fire it also excelled, for it was capable of about eleven rounds a minute, as against the Pros-1 sian seven or eight. Being of smaller calibre, the Frenchman could carry ninety-three cartridges for his rifle, as against seventy-two, weight for weight, carried by thb Prussian infantryman. The Chassepot had, however, the objection that it fouled quickly, and after fourteen rounds it was necessary to wipe the breech. The first trhy-out of the Chassepot was in 1867, where at Montana the Garibaldians suffered heavily. “The Chassepot did wonders.” But although high hopes were built upon it, actually in 1870 the Chassepot wa s a disappointment. Its great range induced tho French, unwisely, to favour tactical defence; conversely the Germans made every effort to close rapidly to a distance where their own less efficient rifle could come in on equal terms. The Chassepot was, indeed,, not quite the “wash-out” as was the muchtrumpeted mitrailleuse. Nevertheless, the double failure of these boosted weapons may give tank “fans” to-day something to chew on. Tn 1874 the Chassepot. was superseded by the Gras rifle, with which—following the example set. by England with the Snider —a metal cartridge was employed.— “Observer.”