When was it published?

August 5, 1887 in The Holt County Sentinel

Foreign News August 5, 1887

The Holt County Sentinel

Q: What keywords are associated?

Lebel Gun, French Military, Repeating Rifle, Smokeless Powder, Steel Projectile

Oregon, Holt County, Missouri

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What is this article about?

The French Government plans to arm all its military regiments with the Lebel gun, a small light repeating rifle of small calibre using smokeless powder, before next spring. It fires steel projectiles that penetrate an eight-inch brick wall at 500 yards or a human body at a mile, with accuracy up to one and a half miles. Cartridges are light, allowing 220 rounds per soldier.

Clipping

OCR Quality

75% Good

Full Text

The Lebel gun, with which the French Government expects to have all its military regiments armed before next spring, is described as a small, light repeating rifle of small calibre, from which is sent a steel projectile that goes through an eight inch brick wall at a distance of 500 yards, or through the body of a man at a distance of a mile. The powder used is a new invention, the composition of which is a well-guarded government secret. There is no smoke when the gun is fired and it is said to project the steel bullet with wonderful accuracy the distance of one mile and a half. The cartridges are so light that 220 rounds can be carried by the soldier more conveniently than 16 of the old style cartridges.

What sub-type of article is it?

Military Campaign

What keywords are associated?

Lebel Gun French Military Repeating Rifle Smokeless Powder Steel Projectile

Where did it happen?

France

Foreign News Details

Primary Location

France

Event Date

Before Next Spring

Event Details

The French Government expects to arm all military regiments with the Lebel gun before next spring. It is a small, light repeating rifle of small calibre that sends a steel projectile through an eight-inch brick wall at 500 yards or a man's body at a mile. It uses a new smokeless powder invention with a secret composition, producing no smoke and projecting the bullet with wonderful accuracy up to one mile and a half. Cartridges are light, allowing 220 rounds to be carried more conveniently than 16 old-style ones.