The Helena independent., 1890-02-27
The United States Following in the
Wake OF the Great Nations Of
Europe.
Use Of the Explosive VIII Render
Battles at snort Range More
Murderous


To-tEv tho principal European p'Wrra "il
posscss tArr alokc.te powders, afrs tse
Ncv York SHn The G-iLnrs tiled t'lrrs
IN thc maucwos ut less yrei, Sul ac acc
poine 10 no fhr stmo thing next autumn.
The practical stud NJ THIS iai rgclous pro.
duci is no lees imparl.ut tbon its 1.scuSorN,
a noteworthy point a the rnysiO.o-co ac
iIon NoIcu,l aPon the sliAer' boy ihc
suits W. ~" combustion oi tlns powder.
Although . mahc. 10 smok it noyoYll,-
less cmits gasfs Who's, ilv.sibA.ty cDca not
hinder their oc'.ou upon lhc organmn. In
some armies tie men hoyo boom consider
ably troubled rs Tie cmanaiious ol 'h'a
powder, With us 40 such effect hgs rs 30
been noticed hut We cannot sny for cor
tninty that our powder il hHlinlcs. 10 t'a
respect until go hayc efpcrn"oltod with
Z pid GrDc h} large uuuhctB Of mcn, as IN
the caso ot naRrnyers.
As Ia tho consequences Of tho use oi ihc
new powder from u tactical STANDPOINT Of
view, the thing which appears hest tsiab-
lished for an ininiurv engagement Is Tint
the absence ot smoke VIII render tine C'un-
ont more niuidcroua at short range ana less
nurdcrons ~ long ra &C.. When th0twU
coniendirg fQrocr become close enough ~
sec each oln'r mutually, the smoke forms
between them curtain which c0nccals
them from cnch other, mud Ohlilei them 10
nre almost at random, hut when iho dis
'nnce ~ great cnouqh 10 render man
scarcely disccmble. the smoke on each
'Qde facilitates the direction of the tire, IL
~ clenr hHt with the repeating arms,
whose introduction accompanies that of the
snokeless powder, combat al short rnngO
must bring about IN few moments The M
nihllaion of one of the two forces, n not
both. Such close engagement cnn only
occur when one ol the two parties becomes
gufiic entity b7okeu to be unable To hinder
the advance of the other. The dec siyc at-
lack mus; be prepared hy n euinuat Ell
gagged at y greater distance than any ",
nave witnessed up 20 the present
Tue preparation Of the attack becoming,
therefore. more necessary than ever. the
artillery, which iais preparation especially
concerns. must gain IN imporiHgm. lit
ire, moreover will he gtcatly facilitated
both by th" absence ot its own smoke and
the suppression of that ~ the infantry. n
will De easier for 1t to aid mp to the last
moment It's own troops IN the assault Of Sn
REemys position, because the absence of
smoke will enable II to distinguish friends
from foes.
i be general direction Of operations will
become more difficult. The absence of
smoAe and the reduced noise of the detona-
ions will scarcely allow of marchinghy the
sound a. the clniiun. II will be necessary.
in order 10 get sn IDEA OF the situation at n
distance, 20 examine IL directly IRON some
alevst'N point. Hn's will render still moro
necessary the use of hriihcal obslryntOries
and captive or even free balloons The
fields OF battle that smoke will nc
longer cover will also he more easy 90 exam
no flom an elevation. With the new OK
plosive future battles must necessafally b,
more decisive when tue troops become
closely en- nCed. Retreat will be something
impossible Ter the defeated. Shattered b,
the pIUjectiles of the couquerors whose
DIRE will no longer be-, as III times past,
masked by its cwn smoke, the Tunaways
would Iisk certain destruction, and the
smallest defeat must change into a rout. If
not disaster. HENCE the important fact
hat az the moment of going INTO action
The command rs of nm army and the
ohicoIs OF all degrees must feel more keenly
III, increased we,g 4 of their responsible
lies. The chances OF success Will. there
iOre. be with those who will be best able q
support these responsibilities 80 that IN
he, character will remain more than ever
the chief qunlity 10 be looked for AMONG
The oticors of all grades.