Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1890-05-03
POWDERS USED ABROAD.
Enorts To solve the Problem Of a Battle
without smoke.


Eforts to solve the Problem Of a Battle
without smoke.
Nothing is receiving more attention
Just now from officers OF the army and
navy than new powders. 50 far -four
European countries are known To pos
sess distinct nitrate powder Thes,
countries are France. Germany. Italy,
Belgium. All but the French powder
are believed to be still in an expert.
mental state. though it is difficult to
learn any thing definite from the gov
ernment sources.
DIR. Griiiiths the renowned expert on
powders. is the only living man out.
side OF the official circles of the French
government known to have had in his
possession one Of the new Lebel rifle
cartridges Dr. Grifiiths was employed
hy the French government under an
oath of secrecy 10 examine aud give an
opinion on the i.ebel poa der All
that he has publicly said is IN all
the Lebel powder is the same as that
handed TO me IL j. certainly most excel
lent. Vague rumors have been circu.
lated to the effect that the Lebal powder
speedily deteriorales under certain eli
matte influences. Even this report can
not be confirmed ordenied. but. judging
from Dr. Griiiiths' opinion of the nitrate
II is fair To presume that the powder H.
serviceable.
The German powder is entirely dis.
tinct from the Lebel powder. but no re.
port has vet been received that il gives
70 proiectilc an initial velocity OF over
2.iO0 feet per second, as does the Lebel
powder. OF the Italian powder. the
last report received says that the Italian
Government has ordered the immediate
cessation of the manufacture of the new
cartridges. serious defects in Il having
been discovered. As To the Belgian
powder, nothing definite is known.
The French and Germans claim u
have passed the experimental stage,
Belgium lays claim 10 the same honor.
Austria and Russia are examining
smokeless powders. Report has /. that
Russia will he provided with the Lebel
powder in the event OF allying herself
with France and the powers"
From England comes the story thai
when the Emperor Of Austria saw tn,
work with the Germans smokeles,
powder during the .yeent mannuvre,
he instantly exclaimed: mo sucl
powder for me. None % ii for Austria
If my troops use such powder they vii
no longer be enyeloped with smoke
They will become exposed Nome of it
! say, for Austria. But in week tn,
Emperor changed his mind.
The only smokcless powder ever in
trcduced into the United States is tn,
Schult1c sporting powder. Except fol
sporting purposes the SchuliSe powder
has no especial advantages. The pow
der is the invention Of German arm,
officer named Schultze, who sold aut hi
rights to an English firm. The powde
Is white. and weighs about one-half a
much a. the best grade of black powder
In efficiency the Schnltze powder 4
equal 10 the best grade Of black powder
II is extremely clean. and is nearl,
smokeless
But as a rifle powder the Schultze |
impractieahle ~itis very quick in burn
ing. and this disqualities 1t for use /,
rifles. The sanm objection applies I
IT. hsf III hfdfN 9iuhhHfts 10 use
charge OF laa pounds of Schultze powde
in one OF the s-inch rifles would. i
all likelihood, burst the gun without al
fording any velocity To the projectile.
Dr. Griiiiths Is working on the schultz
powder with the object Of adapting 1t I
rife use. The powder has been moist
encd 50 ns To give IL slowness in burn
ing. and in that condition has give
good results In rifles. But in very dam
air IL is found thHt the powder become
still more moist. and again under tn
reverse conditions IL dries rapidly. Tn
English. il is understood. have the firs
claim on the schult~e powder shoul
nr. Grifiith succeed In adapting 1t t
rifle aud ordnance use.
IL is certain, however. that whateye
the | nited States Government does /
the matter Of obtaining smokeles
, powder, Il will never consent 10 buyin
IL from foreign firms unless those firm
agree to establish works in this country
N. \ Times