Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-05-06
smoKelsss powpsn N war.
u Gives Many Advantage 10 the sid
Making the Attack.


u Gives Many Advantage 90 the side
Making the Attack.
Tho Introduction Of snokolcss powder
has had considerable to do wi,ha change
II tactics On the Gold Of battle. In tho
absence Of the smoke screen on both
tides. the company officers not only End
il easier to work together, but can con.
rol their mon and judge tho effect Of
heir FIRE on tho enomy TO a far greater
iogrcc than was formerly possible. From
their point of Wow this increased power
u control moro than compensates the
stack for the increased facility Of con-
.ealment smokeless powder confors on
The defense. Il Is true that the latter
also profits by the same increased power
d control. but they argue that from tho
nature Of things the defense, striving
only 10 prevent being beaten. Whereas
The attack fights with the determination
to win. the latter is in n position to make
ar better use VI this new powder than
he former. Put in another form, 1t
gomes 10 this The heavier aud more nc.
rurate the fire whistlingaycr q trench.
the harder 1t IL 20 make men raise their
heads over IL 20 take aim. SmoEolcss
powder makes II easier for tho attack TO
deliver such q fire; hence the difficulties
Of the defense will bo increased.
Further, In the absence Of smoke,
men stationary On the defense cannot
escape the depressing influence Of tho
dead and wounded lying around them.
but the attack leaves all these evidences
u the fight behind Il. 50 here again
the advantage il ON It's side.
With reference to the question Of tho
usc Of sinoleloss powders by the nrlil.
lcry, the general idea seems 20 be that
it was all gain to the side which
thought moro Of killing It's onomy than
Of avoiding boing Killed itself. II enor.
mously facilitates the maintenance oi
Grodisciplino within the battery, permits
VI continuous fire even mt tho most rapid
rate. for no smoke intorfcrcs with tho
laying of tho guns, and above all things
cheers tho hearts Of the mon by enabling
them TO sec the results OF their fire.
As u means Of concoalmcnt It Is Of no
use ut all. for even ut extreme ranges OF
5000 yards and upward the flash Of dis.
charge Is always distinctly vidblc. and
nj fighting ranges the flash enables one
to note oxaotly the position Of the enc
my's guns. This was not always posi-.
bic with the old powders, for the smoke
obscurod the object and prevented onos
picking up an oxac; point To aim NJ.
Tho artillery will DO far from regret
ting the loas Of tho two clouds which
hung, tho ono In front Of their own aud
the other In front Of the cncmy's guns.
Smoke is q cover added to that furnish.
ed by tho ground, and no one has ever
been anxious for his opponent TO have
covers which he himself could not turn
to advantage. II both are deprived Of
this cover victory will belong TO him
who, all else being equal, can most
slsillfully supply the deficiency.
Maneuvers win hereafter probably
take place over larger areas before nc.
tuAl lighting begins. and something Of
an Indians craft and natural keonncsi
Will DO needed on che part Of stat OH.
GERS. Smoke has been 80 good q oovol
on many oceaions that its absence wil
Impose now conditions, and natura
cover will have to be much more OK
tcnsively utilized. with the vanishing
poetry Of tho smoke battle the prose Of
new era will begin, In which comba
will DO more like game Of chess II
view Of the pieces Us u whole, and ney
dispositions Of old qualities and virtue
will DO wantcd.-lron Age.