Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1892-11-19
sMokgLEss nownen
some Of tho Advantages 90 the Side Ma,
Ing the Attack.


Some OF the Advantages 90 the Side MAJ.
Ing the Attack,
The introduction Of smokeless pow.
dsrs has had considerable TO do WIN
u change of tactics on the field :,
battle. In the absence OF the smoka
screen on both sidea tho companv
officers not only find II castor 10 wort
together but can control their men
and Judge tho effect OF their tire on
the enemy to a far greater degree
than was formerly possible. From
their point OF view this Increased
power OF control more than compen.
safes the attack for the Increased
facility OF concealment smokeless
powder Confers on the defense.
II is true that the latter also profits
by tho Same increased power OF con.
troll. but they argue that from tha
natute OF things the defense strlying
only 10 prevent being beaten where.
as the attack fights with the detetmI.
nation 10 win. tho latter Is Ia posi-.
tion 10 make far better use OF this
now powder than the former Put ii
another form IL CONES 70 this. Tia
heavier and moro accurate the Ore
whistllng over trench the harder Il
il to make men raise ther heads over
Ii to aim SmOkeloss powder makes
ii easier for the attack TO deliver
such ire, hence the difficulties Of
tho deicnso will be Increased.
Further ia the absence of smoke
men stationary ON the defense cannot
escape tho depressing influence OF tho
dead and wounded lying around them.
put the attack leaves all these eyl.
dences Of tho fight behind IL NJ
hero again tho advantage Is on lis
side
With reference 70 the question Of
the uso Of smokeless powders By lhs
artillery tho general idea seams %
30 that Il was all gain to the side
which thought more OF killing is
enemy than OF avoiding being killed
Itself IL enormously facilitates the
maintenance OF hro discipline within
the battery permits OF continuous drs
oven ut the most rapid rate for no
smoke luterierss with tho laying 81
tho guns aud above AL thlngs cheers
tbs hearts Of the mon by enabling
them % sec the results Of their fra
As u mean, u coucealmsnt i. Il 81
NO use AZ ALL Tor oven az exlrems
ranges d 8 900 yards and upward the
Hash q tho discharge u alaays dts.
tIuctly visible. aud az nghtlng ranges
the flash enables one ~ n0tc exactly
tho position 81 the enemys guns
This was not always possible with The
old pOWdorA Tor tho smOke Obscurcd
tho % Get aud prevented ones pick.
Ing up an oSact p1 nj TO aim a.
Tho artillery will DO Tar from 70
grcltiug tho TWO clouds which hung
the one Ia front Of their oWn and tho
other ~ front % tho gucmys guns
Smoke is a cogcr added TO that fur
nishcd BY the grDuud and no ono has
over DeCa an lous for his opponent 10
have covers TO which he himself could
not turn TO advantage n both are
deprived Of this cover victory wlll
belong 70 him who all Clso being
equal can most skilifaliy supply the
deficiency.
Manouycrs will hereafter probably
take place over laFger areas before
actual lighting bogus says tho iron
Age and something OF an Indians
Graf. and natural kccnnoss will 30
needed on the part OF s,aT officers
smoke has boon so good . cover on
many occas on that 10 absence will lu.
pose ncw conditions and natural cover
Will have 10 DO moro O tnuslvciy util.
hod. With tho vanishing poetry Of
tho smoke battle tho prose OF nov
era wi begin 10 which combat viii
DO more like game OF chess in yicW
Of the pieces rs a whole aud new dis.
positions Of old qualities and virtues
will bo wanted. Caution will pay in
smokoless combat enterprise and
yigor will win ne bofora but blundurs
Wall receive terrible punishment
fatal % armies and ruinous 20 nations
dependent upon them.