Army's New Musket

ARMY'S NEW MUSKET.

It Has Greater Velocity and Penetration Than Other Weapons.

General William Crozier, chief of the bureau of ordnance at Washington, in his annual report to the secretary of war says the improved musket has been completed and tried with very satisfactory results, the various changes not only improving the weapon, but cheapening and accelerating the production. The rod bayonet is a feature of the new rifle. Its advantage is said to lie in the fact that it lightens the weight of the gun and dispenses with the bayonet and bayonet scabbard now in use and in the place of which intrenching tools may be carried by the soldier.

The new piece weighs but a little less than nine and a half pounds, considerably less than the German and the Mauser, yet has greater velocity and greater penetration. It is noted that opinions differ as to the value of the rod bayonet. The construction of 5,000 of the new muskets has been authorized.