AN INVULNERABLE COAT.

Southland Times, Issue 589, 9 November 1866, Page 3

AN INVULNERABLE COAT.

We bave no sooner come to know tbo t efficiency of breech-loaders than an mii ventor steps in to neutralise tbem. The '■ game of guns versus armor, wbicb has • been played so long on a great scale, must henceforth be transferred to tbe case sf smaller fire-arms. We write thus on tbe authority of a report furnished by Le Nord of a remarkable test, to which fhe invention of a light coat, impenetrable to musketry fire, bas been subjected, the inventor being M. Charles Bernard, with whose invention rumor bas tor a few weeks been busy. According to Le JSTord, tbe trial took place two days ago, at the Belgian Tir National, in presence of M. Dailly, president of tbe competition, and of a great number of marksmen. Tbe experiment was made with a cavalry charged with three grammes and a-balf of powder, and the conical ordinance ball for that arm. Tbe carbine, after having been tested and regulated, was placed upon a stand pointed at tbe level of tbe breast. M. Bernard placed himself at the distance of a hundred metres, commenced by taking off bis coat, and showed tbat between bis breast and bis capote there was absolutely nothing but bis shirt and bis waistcoat. He then put on bis capote, wbicb is a flowing garment falling to tbe ground, and covered bis head with a steel casque. Tbe shot was then fired. The public were greatly moved when tbey appeared to see M. Bernard stagger and fall. Happily he bad made a false step in stopping to pick up tbe ball, which had struck bim a little above the waist and to tbe left side. The ball deadening against tbe stuff, had fallen at bis foot, and he came running towards us to show it. At a short distance be threw tbe ball to tbe marksmen, crying to them not to approach. Not yet having taken out a patent, M. Bernard absolutely refused to let the garment be examined by wbicb be obtained so marvellous a result. The ball was only slightly beaten out of shape, and bore on its point tbe impress of the stuff. Tbe inventor offered to renew tbe experiment ; but, in presence of tbe result obtained, those present declared a new experiment unnecessary. Tbe coat is said to weigh very little, so tbat there can be no objection to it on tbe score of its bnrdensomeness. Are infantry henceforth to be useless against each other, unless tbey are armed with heavier weapons, which it will certainly be a noveity to introduce after all tbe desire of military men to have tbe lightest possiMe weapon ? But there will be no help for it, if it is" possible, by increasing tbe weight and power of tbe infantry soldier's weapon, to make tbe necessary defensive armor, even with tbe advantages of the present invention, too heavy. — Globe.