New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-18
HANDICAPPED BY SMOKE.

HANDICAPPED BY SMOKE
The cartridges supplied with the Springfield
rifles have been a terrible handicap to the list
on account Of the volume - smoke they give
forth A. one time on Friday the list was or
dered 70 firing and remain In reserve on
account ~ this. The weapons effective
enough but they attract tho fire ~ the enemy.
with frlghttul results Doubtless many ~ the
effective bullets fred the list were directly
due 20 this ordinary black powder. Where both
sides used f. as IN the Civil War x was an
even thing but now the Spaniards have a terri
bic advantage over the American volunteers.
The discharge % a Springfield sends up a cloud
Of smoke that brings down the fire OF half
dozen Mausers BOT only has this been de-
structive OF volunteers. but 81 Regulars who
were ngh,ing nearby Tho 81 Massachusetts
and the other volunteers also have this old pat
tern Of arm Some ~ the men. when they have
com. on a dead or badly wounded Regular have
taken his Krag -Jorgensan and thrown their own
rife away. It ls not that the Springfield II
especially less effective, but only that IT. smoke
producing defect Is terrible hindrance 10 the
users
The discharge OF Krag-Jorrcnsen gives
practically no indication Of the exact spot
whence II vas fred or course the ear gives a
general Idea Apparently, the Mauser is not rs
good as the wea pom OF the Regular United States
Army in this regard. Certainly smoke from It
could he seen I'm the battle ~ FL Caney al
though chiefly In volley firing. II may be said
he-e that the Spanish artillery has a great adj
vantage over the American on account Of It's
smokeless powder The discharge OF piece Of
field artillery Of United states battery sent
up a perfect cloud 81 smoke. advertising ito po-
sition in a way 70 bring delight 10 the hearts Of
the Spanish rinemen and cannoneers on the
other hand the enemy's batteries could fire for
some time without being detected The boom
OF the cannon the whlrr OF the shrapne and its
explosion were the only evidence Of the activi-
~ ~ the gunners for some time. After time.
on Friday the Americans were able TO spy the
opposlng battery and in due time they sllenced
IT,
At various times the list was ordered to cease
firing merely because their smoke gave the enc
nv such accurate Information as 70 whore to
aim This was especially trying in the trenches,
when the Spaniards kept up a more or less
steady FIRE
WHEN PRACTICE COUNTED.
OF course the New Workers. had more or less
opportunity TO avail themselves Of the practice
they had had in the regimental range and at
Creedmoor. In the capture Of the two Spanish
blockhouses In the late afternoon they did brill
liant work Lieutenant Rafferty,, OF Company
NJ led one charge most galantly Lieutenant
Trull was wounded in the right hand going up
the hill and will probably lose two fingers
Thirty-seven Spaniards were captured here and
n number were killed. Companies a, c and
we're conspcuous in the advance up the hill
under fire.
Evening brought respite from battle. but not
from work The regiment had attained fine
position and II was necessary 10 hold IT, so the
night was spent In digging Entertainments. I'm
der cover Of darkness. tools were forwarded to
the front and until dawn the men piled pick
and shovel most industriously. They dug three
lines OF trenches about Ave feet deep and from
two 10 three feet deep Colonel Downs returned
to the rear early in the evening, but by 800
o'clock in the morning had started back for the
trenches He has been there ever since Last
night Major Wells also made a trip back.
Saturday morning at 4:3O o'clock. before 1t
was light the Spaniards began their firing and
the battle continued at intervals all day. In
their pits the men had an even chance with the
Standards and shots were exchanged whenever
a man on either side showed his head above
tho Garth The 11st lost some killed and