THE GATLING BATTERY GUN.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1100, 12 July 1879, Page 3

THE GATLING BATTERY GUN.

The machine gun, or "battery," invented by Mr Gailing, an American, is said by English artillerists to be free from many defects of the French mitrailleur. In 1870, a committee of English military men was appointed to examine the powers of several forms of mitrailleur with a view to reporting upon the advisability or otherwise of introducing the arm into the British service. Thoy recommend for certain purposes the Gatling Battery Gun. In the Gatling the barrels, ten m number, are distinct and separate, being screwed into a solid revolving piece towards the breech end, and passed near their muzzles through a plate, by which they are kept parallel to each other. The whole revolves with a shaft, turning m bearings placed front and rear m an oblong fixed frame. The weapon is made of three sizes, the largest one firing bullets 1 inch jn diameter, weighing £ lb., the smallest dis charging bullets of 45* m diameter. The smallest Gatling is said to be j effective at a range ot more than a mile and a quarter, and can discharge 400 bullets or more m one minute. I The committee of military officers before referred to caused many experiments to be performed with a view of testing the power of the new weapon. After a careful comparison !of the effects' of field artillery firing shrapnel, the committee concluded t that the Gatling would be more ; destructive m the open at distances up to 1200 yards, but that it is not comparable to artillery m effect at greater distances, or where the ground is covered by trees, brushwood, earthworks, &c. The mitrailleur, however, would soon be knocked over by artillery if exposed, and therefore will probably be employed m situations under shelter from such fire. Mr Gatling contends that, shot for shot, his machine ia more accurate than iafantry, and certainly the absence of nerves will insure steadiness, while so few men (four) are necessary to watk the gun that the exposure of life is Je;*s. No resighting and re-laying are necessary between each discharge. When the gun is once sighted, its carriage does not move, except at tbo will of the operator ; and the gun can be moved literally when firing is gotfng on, so as to sweep the section of a circle of 12 ° or more, without moving the trail or changing the wheels ot" the carriage. The smoke of battle, therefore, dees not interfere with its precision.