A NEW MACHINE GUN.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8085, 25 September 1894, Page 1

A NEW MACHINE GUN.

Now dostructivo engine*) of war aro Btill th« order of the day. Tho fcerriblo capacity of machine guns was viridly brought homo to tho public mind by tho way in which tho Maxims mowed the Matibelo down on their native soil in Matabololand. Now a now machine gun, for which great destructive powers are claimed, is introduced to public notice. This is tho Garland gun, which wan on trial lately at VVestcombo Park, near Greenwich. It is the invention o£ Colonel Garland, United States, and is a combination of a ono-poundor and two half-pounders. Tho one-pound barrel is breach-loading but tho two smallor barrels were fed with cartridges dropped into a sort of pocket at each aide, Tho heavier, arm ot tho gun was not in work* ing order, and tho demonstration was confined to tiring tho lulf-pounders, which is done by turning a handle after tho .stylo of a barrel orgm. This produced tho familiar "Poir, pow, pow," that ho distressed tho poor Matabelo. Tho gun was fired at a ono-inch steel plate, which the shells penetrated. Tim chargo used with tho half-pound sholls is 2Joz of black powder. The two oniill barrels fire alternately in rapid succession, a great number of shots being possible per minute, and one barrol can bo bliut oft", leaving only one in action. Tho gun cm be swung round on a pivot with comparative case. It will bo soon thaf. three persons aro necessary to work v, ono at each sido placing the cartridges in tho pockets, while a third turns tho allimportant hand I o tint sots tho discharging mechanism in motion. A distin* gubhing feature is tho heavy shot carried by tho gun, which is lookod upon as likoly to be useful for attacking torpedo boats,