WHAT THE MARKSMEN OF THE PRESENT DAY CAN DO.

Evening Star, Issue 3031, 6 November 1872, Page 4

WHAT THE MARKSMEN OF THE PRESENT DAY CAN DO.

There was a competition at Wimbldon on the 18th July, which casts some light upon the problem of what might be clone against an advancing army by British riflemen. One Gilkes, and three others, tired the Soper rifle, for rapidity and accuracy together, against a squad using the Snider. Lying on his back, with his knees for a rest, tho accomplished Gilkes discharged no less than ninety-seven rounds in two minutes and a half, which is about two shots every three seconds, scoring, this prodigious swfitness notwithstanding 13 bull’s-eyes, 38 centres, and 44 outers, only two bullets in all missing the target. Here is a .marksman who, in so brief a time, could apprrently slay or wound at least fifty enemies out of a hundred at grape-shot range, and certainly no mitrailleuse could accomplish, a similar result. Consider what havoc might be wrought upon a foe by a body of 500 such men provided with the Soper or a similar piece, and hidden about in the abundant cover of English fields ! They would sting sn enemy to death with perpetual shots from invisible muzzles ; and, except upon such places as the South Downs in England, and some commons, nothing hostile could advance unless in skirmishing order. Simply making a small arithmetical sum, we calculate that the 2,500 competitors for the Queen’s prize could fire with such a weapon as the Soper 175,000 shots in three minutes. Targets, of course, differ considerably from advancing enemies, and a groat deal of that lead would be lost. But war has not yet witnessed such an effect as the ‘ ‘ scoring part” of those 175,000 bullets could accomplish.