The special correspondent of the Times now at the Prussian
headquarters gives a suggestive account of the Prussian rifle, the Zundnadel gewehr, peculiar to that army. It is a breech-loader, and he says it can be loaded and fired six or seven times a minute. " All the Prussian has to do is to open the lower end of his rifle barrel, which is done by a most simple contrivance, to take a cart- ridge from his pouch, which he wears in front instead of behind, clap it in, without biting or breaking, shut to, and fire." That sounds effective, and the subject really demands inquiry; but there is one obvious objection to such a gun. The tendency of all soldiers is to fire a great deal too soon, and with such a piece the British soldier in particular would be apt to blaze away his whole stock of cartridges before he was near enough to do any serious mischief. It is possible when the troops are charged to keep them patient, but British troops are usually the attacking force.
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