The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1889-11-15
Smokeless Powders.
RAPIDLY COMING INTO USE BOTH FOR
SMALL ARMS AND ARTILLERY.

RAPIDLY COMING INTO USE BOTH FOR
SMALL ARMS AND ARTILLERY.
While the tremendous charges of
great bodies of cavalry undoubtedly
formed leading feature of the late
German maneuvers, suggesting how
much is expected of mounted troops in
the future, yet upon the whole the
most important result effected was the
demonstration of the great effective
ness of the 80 called smokeless and noise
less powder. 1t is not too much to say
that the final maneuvers at Hanover
in which the Tenth corps, using smoke.
less cartridges, defeated the seventh
corps, provided with the ordinary black
powder, shows that the new compound
is necessity for warfare hereafter.
1t was found that the Tenth corps al
most held the Seventh at its mercy,
since it could maneuver alike in front
and on the flank of its opponent with.
out allowing the latter to properly
Judge of the firing distances from sound
or smoke, both being so slight.
To limited extent the action OF
smokeless powder has become known
through experiments with the new re-
peating arms, and also with artillery.
Earlier in the year, during the maneu-
vers of the artillery brigade of the
guards iu East Prussia. two regiments,
one consisting of eleven and the other
of eight batteries, practiced all day
long with the nearly smokeless powder
firing projecties of different caliber
1t produced at each shot ga ball of
black smoke about three feet in diane
ter, which quickly disappeared The
accounts show that the powder left 80
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
practically the same results. The new
German powders made by the united
Rhine and Westphalian factories are
T. also highly satisfactory in point of in
itial velocity and moderate pressures.
The first general information obtain
t I'd IN regard to the smokeless powders
; was in connection with the Lebel rifle,
l the new small caliber repeating arm OF
t the French, which created such an ex-
p citement few years ago, and practic
ally dictated reconstruction to small
n arms throughout Europe. At that time
neither the Austrian Mannlicher rifle
t nor the German repeater used smoke
less powder 1t is understood, OF
d course, that the words 'smokeless" ant
u ''noiseess' are used in comparativ,
sense, as there is some noise and some
e smoke in nearly all these powders. |
IS has been said, however, that the repor
h of single Lebel rifle can not be hear
s at distance of more than twenty
or thirty yards; that it may be said t.
make no smoke, and that the recoil
ID of no consequence whatever. Th
L. powder is said to be secret compoun
of gun cotton and cullodion, and il
il, exact composition is perhaps the onl
I'd secret now remaining in regard to th
in Lebei rifle.
The Germans began with the use {
H. the Duttinhofer semi. smokeless powde
and have also made limitations of tn
lg French powder as nearly as it can b
n found out. The Russians have tried
gu new powder, made by the OchtensI
factory, in imitation of the Duttinhof
[r. and its manufacturers insist that it
superior to the latter in ballistic prope
al ties; that it has a little higher init
on velocity, weight for weight, with le
lis pressure on the bore This may be Il
reason why the Russians have come
the use of the small caliber, viii,
De- could only have the required efficien'
Ter with one of the new compounds,
Iy. otherwise the bore would foul too ra
ed idly.
in The English also have obtained
smokeless and noiseless powder, inve
ed ted by the well known artilleri'
ss. Capt Noble, of the Elswick works,
G? Newcastle upon-Tyne. A British mi
an tary authority says that its use has
most been decided upon, both
OIL small arms and for machine and qui
firing guns.
ad 1t speaks of the power as "a curio
We. grayish looking materiel, in 10
of threads or whipcordike form p
sumably from the shape it assun
en- under hydraulic pressure. Its acJl
X" is most startling. AT 800 yards ran
not sound is heard when volley
it," fired with it, and only faint h;
er, arises, which is almost imperceptit
'ou while shower OF bullets Is seen
fall upon the targets, an effect prod
las ed seemingly without cause" Ca
ng full experiments will be made with
ph, at Lydd In their quick firing g,
the British at Shoeburyness have Vi
the Chilworth smokeless powder W
great effect, obtaining very high
tal velocity.
ime In rapid fire cannon, as in magaz
small arms, the value of smokel
powders is obvious, because the pc
lsin liar advantages of these weapons mi
the otherwise be largely counterbalau
by smoke.
les OF all the new powders Schultze'
perhaps the best known. Nearly
al, quite all appear to depend on
"SA union of nitrous compounds Of 81
- sort with other substances. S,
jail will not keep in all climates, and 81
give out an unendurable odor. r
L. Introduction will perhaps call for e.
new studies in tactics, as certain m,
very ments now depending on the cove
lied smoke can not hereafter rely ON
protecting mantle. But Just at +
lsh- ent the tactical considerations seem
be less important to our own cou
hat than the procuring of powders as
ight cient as the new ones which are fn'
4nts, tayor in Europe Washington h