The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1896-12-30
THE NEXT SEA FIGHT.
To be Fought Under Conditions Made by
SmokeIess Powder.
Baltimore Sun.

Baltimore Sun.
The next great sea fight will be
fought under conditions impossible
but for the discovery of smokeless
powder. Fleet commanders will be
enabled to maneuver in sight Of one
another, execute dangerous tactical
movements and be kept at all times
under perfect control by the admiral
commanding, through the system of
flag signals. The advent of smoke
less powder, therefore, promises to
revolutionize the evolution of modern
warships when in action. The entire
feet drill book will probably be over
hauled and allowance made for the
ease with which signals can be used.
It has been only in the last few
years that the authorities of the war
and navy departments have turned
their attention toward perfecting
brand of powder capable of high velo-
cities, quick burning and at the same
time producing little or no smoke.
In the last few months both depart
ments have found a formula which,
they declare, will give this govern
ment the strongest and best powder
known to the military powers of the
world.
In a few weeks the navy will pur-
chase upward of 100000 pounds Of
the new powder for the vessels in
service, and this will be followed later
by still larger orders, until there is
good stock on hand for all emergen-
cies. At present the factory at New
port cannot furnish the powder as fast
as the ships require it, So that it will
become necessary for the department
to send it's formula to some private
powder manufactory in order to facili-
tate deliveries and increase the sup
ply.
The last war shows that during
some of the great fleet evolutions in
the South ships frequently ran foul OF
one another through their inability to
navigate properly when obscured in
smoke, and that many mistake was
made because the signals could not be
seen from the flagship. There were
instances also when one vessel fired
on ship of her own squadron, believ-
ing her to be a ship of the enemy.
With the new powder twenty vessels
might engage an equal number, but
every ship would be able to read the
orders of the Admiral accurately.
The same number of vessels in an en-
gagement where the present black,
slow-burning powder vas used would
develop smoke cloud which, in five
minutes after the action began, would
practically shut out of sight each YES
sci from the other. The confusion on
board when the men are not able to
see those at the next gun is said also
to have led to mistakes resulting in
some instances to the loss of the YES
sci.
The adoption of the new powder by
the army will nccessitate alterations
on the field of battle. The infantry
man who fires with this powder at
once obtains the advantage of having
a clear field of fire. But, on the other
hand, if he is unprovided with cover,
either natural or artificial, there will
be no protecting cloud Of smoke to
conceal him, and should the enemy
have found cover he, on his side, is
more vulnerable than when the smoke
showed his position, The supposi-
tion that troops can be exposed to fire
without knowing whence it comes is
more or less fanciful in the opinion of
General Miles and the best military
tacticians in Washington.
It is admitted that with the suppress
sion of smoke the advance against
position will no doubt be somewhat
more difficult than formerly, but the
danger will not be greater until within
500 or 600 yards of the enemy. Be-
yond this point, when distances can
be judged with less difficulty, when
the errors of aiming are small, and
where the trajectory of the bullets of
the new army gun will be altogether
dangerous, it will make little differ
encc, the experts say, whether smoke
less or -smokelcss powder is used.
With high powered guns capable of
terrific velocities and greater accuracy
than the old wartime pieces, it will be
of the greatest benefit to soldiers to
have clear field, without cloud
of smoke, so that long distance
aiming can be done and a good target
made of the enemy. The absence of
smoke, the officer says, will be of ma
terial advantage to the defender who
can occupy positions which give cover,