DEVELOPMENTS IN MILITARY ARMS.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 10 August 1901, Page 4

DEVELOPMENTS IN MILITARY ARMS.

The fire capacity of a British infantry regiment is to be strengthened by the addition of a new engine of destructive science. This is no other than the Simpson machine rifle, which has received official approval after extended tests. The “ Daily Express ” describes this machine rifle as a bijou Maxim, which can be used by individual soldiers almost as easily as the ordinary weapon, and if can pump a hail of lead with extraordinary speed. It is used in the prone position, with the user lying across a saddle frame, the weapon being field in position by the weight of the body. It is a weapon for hand carriage, and there is no comparison to it for rapidity of fire in the culinary rifle. It is intended that fifty machine rifles shall be issued to each battalion, thus adding to the regimental firing line a 50-Maxim power. Mr Simpson is also submitiing a rifla fixed with rests, which are calculated to make good shots out of indifferent ones. There are two rests made of steel which lie in scalloped sockets in the butt and near the magazine. The rests when pulled out on going into actisn do not in any way hamper the movements of the man or impede the free use of the rifle with the bayonet fixed. When the soldier comes to the prone position the rests entirely relieve ihe strain o steadying the rifle. The soldier has merely to keep the weapon upright to secure what is practically a fixed rest for his rifla in taking aim.