85 
important object by an agency that appears to me to be at 
once simple and effective. 
Before proceeding to describe the means whereby I pro- 
pose to effect the object in question, I would premise that 
what constitutes the true rifle principle in a projectile is 
not only the condition of axial rotation in the line of flight, 
but, above all, is the condition that the projectile possess the 
highest degree of axial rotation from the first instant of its 
forward course. 
Unless this latter condition be present, no subsequent 
axial rotation, be it ever so great, can correct a bias or 
unprecise flight after the flight has commenced. 
The grand desideratum to be sought for is, that at the 
instant the rocket commences its flight it shall possess the 
highest degree of axial rotation. With such conditions pre- 
sent, we shall confer on our rocket all the properties (as 
regards precision of flight) of the most perfect rifle projec- 
tile. 
It is difficult by words alone to convey a perfectly clear 
idea of the mechanical arrangement by which I propose to 
effect this desirable object. I have therefore accompanied 
these remarks with an illustrative diagram of the mechan- 
ism by means of which I propose to confer on the rocket 
the requisite degree of high axial rotation so that, like a true 
rifle projectile, it shall possess that indispensable condition 
of precision of flight from and at the very instant it sets out 
on its course. 
Before proceeding to describe the distinctive features of 
my contrivance for effecting the object in question, it may 
be as well to allude to the means that have been employed 
in the endeavour to secure to war rockets rifle s^tion or 
