Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-10-24
sMoKELEss POWDERS.
Rapidly Coming Into Use 10th for Small
Arms and Artillery.


While the tremendous charges Of great
bodies Of cavalry undoubtedly formed a
leading feature Of the late German ma
neuvers. suggesting how much is expect
ed of mounted troops in the future, yet
upon the whole the most important re-
suit effected was the demonstration OF
the great effectiveness Of the 80 called
smokeless and noiseless powder 1t is
not too much TO say that the final ma
neuvers at Hanover, in which the Tenth
CORDS, using smokeless cartridges, de-
feated the Seventh corps, provided with
the ordinary black powder, shows that
the new compound is a necessity for
warfare hereafter. II was found that
the Tenth corps almost held the Seventh
at its mercy, since it could maneuver
alike in front and on the flank of its op-
ponent without allowing the latter to
properly judge of the firing distances
from sound or smoke. both being so
slight.
To a limited extent the action of smoke
less powder has become known through
experiments with the new repeating
arms, and also with artillery. Earlier
in the year, during the maneuvers of the
artillery brigade of the guards in East
Prussia, two regiments, one consisting
of eleven and the other of eight batter
les, practiced all day long with the near
ly smokeless powder, firing projectiles Of
different caliber. 1t produced at each
shot ''a ball Of black smoke about three
feet in diameter, which quickly disap-
peared." The accounts show that the
powder left SO little refuse in the bore
that, instead of cleaning it out after
every shot, it was only necessary to pass
rag through it now and then.
In Italy recent experiments with the
same or equivalent powder showed prac-
tically the same results. The new Ger
man powders made by the united Rhine
and Westphalian factories are also high
ly satisfactory in point of initial velocity
and moderate pressures.
The first general information obtained
in regard to the smokeless powders was
in connection with the Lebel rifle, the
new small caliber repeating arm of the
French, which created. such an excite
ment few years ago, and practically
dictated reconstruction to small arms
throughout Europe. At that time neither
the Austrian Mannlicher rifle nor the
German repeater used smokeless powder.
It is understood, of course, that the
words ''smokeless" and "noiseless" are
used in comparative sense, as there is
some noise and some smoke in nearly all
these powders. 1t has been said, how
ever, that the report of a single Lebel
rifle can not be heard at distance Of
more than twenty or thirty yards; that
it may be said to make no smoke, and
that the recoil is of no consequence what
ever. The powder. is said to be secret
compound of gun cotton and cullodion,
and its exact composition is perhaps the
only secret now remaining in regard to
the Lebel rife. ,>.
The Germans began with the use of
the Duttinhofer semi-smokeless powder,
and have also made limitations of the
French powder as nearly as it can be
found out The Russians have tried a
new powder, made by the Ochtenski
factory, in imitation of the Duttinhofer,
and its manufacturers insist that it is su-
perior to the latter in ballistic properties;
that it has little higher initial velocity,
weight for weight, with less pressure on
the bore. This may be the reason why
the Russians have come to the use of the
small caliber, which could only have the
required efficiency with one Of the new
compounds, as otherwise the bore would
foul too rapidly.
The English also have obtained a
smokeless and noiseless powder, invented
by the well known artillerist, Capt. No
BILE, of the Elswick works, at Newcastle
upon-Tyne. A British military authori
ty says that its use has almost been de
cided upon, both for small arms and fol
machine and quick firing guns.
It speaks of the powder as ''a curious
grayish looking material, in long threads
or a whipcordlike form, presumably
from the shape it assumes under hydrau
lie pressure. Its action is most startling
At 800 yards range not a sound is heart
when volley is fred with it, and only I
faint haze arises, which is almost imper
CcDtlUle, WllllC d oIlOWSI Va uullCto 40 oSOA
to fall upon the targets, an effect pro
duced seemingly without cause" Care
full experiments will be made with it a
Lydd. In their quick firing guns tn
British at Shoeburyness have used tn
Chilworth smokeless powder with grea
effect, obtaining a very high initial We
locity.
In rapid fire cannon, as in magazin
small arms, the value of smokeless pow
ders is obvious, because the peculiar ad
vantages of these weapons might othe,
wise be largely counterbalanced b
smoke
OF all the new powders Schultze's
perhaps the best known. Nearly or quit
all appear to depend on the union Of n
trous compounds of some sort with othe
substances. Some will not keep in a
climates, and some give out an unendul
able odor. Their introduction will PEI
haps call for some new studies in tactics
as certain movements now depending o
the cover Of smoke can not hereafte
rely on this protecting mantle. But ju'
at present the tactical consideration
seem to be less important to our ow
country than the procuring of powder
as efficient as the new ones which al
finding favor in Europe. Washingto
Special.