NOTES OF THE WAR.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 750, 15 December 1870, Page 3

NOTES OF THE WAR.

The France gives au account of a lew murderous missile recentllj tried it Paris, the results of which were so earful that it is said that the authorities hesitate to adopt it. The misile is called the Satan Fusee, and :onsists of a hallow shell, which is illed with petroleum, the explosion )f which is regulated by a time fuse. These bombs contain one, two, or three itres of petroleum, and one of the argeet, wheh tried at St. Cloud corered an immense space of ground with a sea of liquid and inextinguishible fire. The commission appointed (o test the merits of this invention reported strongly on its efficacy, but declined to recommend its use except iu reprisal for the employment of similar destructive compounds by the enemy, which the Germans are accused of having done at Strasbourg. The inventor has been assigned a large establishment at Batiguolles, formerly a girl's school, where 200 men are busily engaged in preparing these dreadful messengers of death.

The " Daily News " states that Mr Chassepot, the inventor of the weapon which bears his name, is at Birmingham, under the name of Mr Jacob, examining rifles and putting his stamp on the cases. For every Snider rifle 400 cartridges are demanded. Several gun making establishments have orders from the French Goverumeut; all the guns have to pass Mr Jacob's inspection, and but for the scarcity of the real Boxer cartridge —the only one accepted—.„ large number would be shipped off. There are several parcels of guns ready, but awaiting cartridges. Up to the present time 1000 Chaisepots have been sent off to France, and about 6000 Sniders. The " Binning ham Gazette " says it is correct that Mr Chassepot is in Birmingham under au assumed name, and that this fact alone must dismiss the groundless assertion that several gun making establishment have orders from the French Government. All the purchases of guns in Birmingham have been by mercantile mainly London firms — and the French Government is neither known nor recognised by our townsmen. In every instance the gunmakers' responsibility ends with the delivery of the goods in Birmingham.