Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1889-10-21
smoKsLEss POWDERS.
Rnplaly Coming Into Csc 10th for smanI

While the tremendous charges of great
bodies Of cavalry undoubtedly formed q
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-
cult effected was the demonstration Of
the great effectiveness Of the so called
smokeless and noiseless powder. Il Is
not too much to say that the final ma
neuyers at Hanover. in which the Tenth
corps. 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. 1t was found that
the Tenth corps almost held the Seventh
at It's mercy, since it could raaneuver
alike IN front and on the flank Of its OPP
ponent without allowing the latter to
properly judge OF the firing distances
from sound or smoke, both being so
slight
To 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
~ 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
a 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
~ 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 Lebei 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.
1t 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 single Lebel
rifle can not be heard at distance of
more than twenty or thirty yards; that
1t 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 rifle
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 SUI
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 for
machine and quick firing guns.
1t speaks Of the powder as ga curious,
grayish looking material, in long threads
or a whipcordlike form, presumably
from the shape it assumes under hydrau-
lie pressure Itsaction is most startling.
At 800 yards range not sound is heard
when a volley is fired with il, and only a
faint haze arises, which is almost imper-
ceptible. while ashowero of bullets is seen
TO fall upon the targets, an effect pro-
Guced seemingly without cause Care
full experiments viii be made with it OF
Lydd. In their quick firing guns the
British at Shoeburyness have used the
Chilworth smokeless powder with great
effect, obtaining a very high initial We
locity. s.
In rapid fire cannon, as in magazine
small arms, the value of smokeless pow
ders is obvious, because the peculiar adj
vantages of these weapons might other
wise be largely counterbalanced By
smoke.
OF eli the new powders Schultze's is
perhaps the best known. Nearly orQuite |
all appear to depend on the union of nj |
trous compounds Of some sort with other |
Substances. Some viii not keep in all |
and some give out an unendur- |
able odor. Their introduction will per-
haps call for some new studies in tactics,
as certain movements now depending on
the cover OF smoke can not hereafter |
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