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Show Thb MiTRAii.LErR. The M;trail-leur, M;trail-leur, which is as yet untried in practical practi-cal warfare, is considered by the French the most destructive military weapon known. Recently. 3u0 wretch ed horses, aheady condemned to the poleas. were purchased at tne rate of four or five francs each, and ranged at a considerable distance. Two mitrail-leurs mitrail-leurs were brought to play on them, and in three minutes after two discharges, dis-charges, not one of the animals remained re-mained standing. On a second occasion, occa-sion, 500 herses were brought down at a single trial. This formidable weapon is constructed as follows : It is a light 3T-barre!ed gun, arranged ar-ranged that its barrels may be discharged dis-charged simultaneously or consecutively. consecutive-ly. The 37 cartridges, intended for one charge, are contained in a small box. A steel plate, with corresponding correspond-ing holes, is placed on the open box, which is then reversed, and the cartridges cart-ridges fall points foremost into their respective holes. They are prevented from falling through by the rims at their bases. The loaded plate is then introduced into the breech-slot, and when the breech is closed by a lever, a number of steel pins, pressed by spiral springs, are only prevented from striking strik-ing the percussion arrangement in the cartridges by a plate in front of them. When this case is moved slowly by a handle, the cartridges, are fired one by one. If the plate be withdrawn rapidly, rap-idly, they follow each other so quickly that their discharge is all but simultaneous. simulta-neous. The invention seems very well adapted for use in forts or other permanent per-manent places of defense or offense, but its carriaeo ana management in the field would present many and insuperable insuper-able obstacles to its general use. Ex. |