The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1891-05-28
IA CLEAR BATTLEFIEI,D.
IT WILL PRESENT A CLEAR AND
SMOKELESS SCENE.
AS LonE as He is Ambushed the Infantry
Soldier Will be NIyth-But the
Artillery Will be Exposed
to q Close Aim. Il

In the ensemble of battle and in the
| practice of following its different phases
the smoke of the field has been USE
full auxiliary to the commander-in-
chief. The clouds and puffs floating
over the lines of fire. which he followed
from his post of n-usually
an elevated one, where the atmosphere
remained clear--certified the troops
engaged, revealed to his practiced eve
an estimate of the adversary's forces,
and showed him step by step the fuctua-
tions OF the battle. In fact they often
told him more than the delayed re-
ports of aides de-camp.
But powder without smoke is now
an established fact. Artillery and in
fantry open fire, and no smoke is visi-
BILE! A single shot from the skirmish
line is henceforth absolutely imper-
ceptible, and a salvo from the line of
infantry at 800 yards only produces a
thin blue-white vapor like tobacco
smoke, that vanishes almost instantly.
In no instance, not even in the firing
of heavy ordnance, is the vapor dense
enough to Indicate even at short firing
range, the position of artillery or in
fantry.
These facts and others showing the
lnsidious properties of this new agent
in modern warfare were discussed at
length at a recent meeting of military
board in the army building, when it
was decided that the new powder
should be tested officially at Spring.
field with view to its introduction in
to the American army. Of course,
powder without smoke cannot become
the privilege of the American army.
European nations have taken up the
problem, and several of them boast of
having a formula of their own. Hence
advantages and disadvantages attend
ing its use on the field of battle will be
common to both sides. Each acquires
a better view of his adversary, but
loses the protection that veil of smoke
afforded him. A priori one can Judge
how doubly important becomes the ad-
vantage of being the first to see the
enemy, unseen by him, if possible.
In spite of all the precautions which
may be taken to discard those details
in the uniform that might mark too
conspicuously the presence of a troop
surprises-and surprises are common
occurrences in war-will be much
easier to effect than before. The side
that first receives the fire will suffer
serious disadvantage, for some time
must elapse before it can ascertain
whence comes the attack, and the
forces belonging to either side though
not two miles away may know nothing
of the skirmish.
Owing to the distance that two
armies preserve during the preli1ni-
naries of a combat cavalry is intrusted
with the honor of getting information
"a perilous trust at best, when it is
considered that a mounted troop is not
easily kept out of sight, and that the
chances are against it's being the first
to discover well-intrenched advance
post Moreover, if it is true that in
recent wars the increased Improvement
of quick-firing arms has diminished
the efficiency of the cavalry role, it's
future charge without the protection
of smoke to cover it's advance is looked
upon as problematic.
The results of the new powder in
what concerns infantry are doubtful,
so much depends on the the quality of
the troops. AS long as he is ambushed
the infantry soldier will be myth;
firing at 600 yards, his shot will neith-
err be seen nor heard, only felt. But,
it is stated by army officers, his role is
not to remain stationary. He must
advance and show himself. No longer
protected by a cloud of smoke he will
have to face a fusillade tenfold more
appalling than Antietam or Gettysburg.
Then?
Artillery, say the veterans, gains
everything by operating in clear field.
Before it worked blindfolded; the
enemy's smoke served as aim, and it
was often deceptive. Now the exact
position of the opposed artillery will
be visible. With even chances, when
once battery has attained precision
in it's aim, which before could but i'm
perfectly be determined on account of
smoke, it will serve as a guide to
neighboring batteries, and thus the
fire will be concentrated and more
effective. So that the artillery, if not
the infantry and calvary, would seem /
to be gamer by the great martial
transition from such smoke to no
smoke at all. New York Times.