Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-14

the naval authorities. IL is announced. VIII
adhere TO the use OF black powder in pref
erence to high-explosive charges. A high
explosive charge, on exploding. produces a
very destructive effect in the immediate vi
cinity of the explosion. but does not set
combustible material on fire. Powder was
used in the shells on the British ships-of-
war which were directed against the Amer
lean position on Breeds HILL and now
even at this late date. with all the eNpe-
riences of the past summer still fresh In
mind. the results warrant the continuance
OF the same black powder
The war taught the all-important lesson.
however, that the powder for the future
must be smokeiess In character. Black
non-smokeloSs powder will continue to be
used In shells The aon-smokeless quality
is when used in this connection. a positive
advantage. The gunners can observe 10y
noting the location OF the explosion,
whether the shell fell short or beyond ths
target aimed at. The Spaniards had tho
advantage Of the Americans in the employ
ment or slnokeless powder. A Spanish bat
terry serving smokeless powder could with
diHlcuity be made out. Smokelcss powder
is now being turned out I'm large quantities
for the United States service An order OF
sonnet ming like 2.opooO0 pounds is being cN-
ccuted for the navy alone. There l. no
difhculty in making a smokeless powder.
A new grade of sniokeless powder can be
evolved every day i'm the year. but tho
trouble is 10 obtain powder that will
stand climatic changes. To be sprN-freab bic
a smokeless powder must first OF all pos
sess good keeping powers. II must be able
TO Withstand sudden changes OF temporal
ture without undergoing a chemical change.
ana. when niro-Slycerine is the basis. a. -
is i'm most smokeleSs uitrates, there must be
no CXuda tion.
The New Powder.
The new smokeless powder of the navy
is made by bureau Of ordnance formula
from soluble nitroceluiose dissolved in
ether alcohol. The form OF grain is that
of cylinder. Each grain has seven longl-
tudinal perforations. and the grains differ
only in the thickness of their walls 1t has
been found necessary to manufacture a dts
tinct grain of powder for each caiiber Of
gun. The powder at present used I'm the
British navy Is known as cOrdite. The new
American powder. besides being smokeless
in character, is able to impart enormous
Velocities to its projectiles. The present
siN-inch gun, when using brown powder,
gives TO its loD-pound shell a velocity of
little less than 1000 feet per second. The
same gun using the new smokeless powder
is able to impart to its projcctile velocity
of 3.nlo feet per second. At the same time
the higher velocities. when using smoke
less powder, are obtained on chamber pres
sure not greatly in excess OF those arising
when brown powder is employed. The
standard chamber pressure for navy guns
is fifteen tons to the square inch. 1t IS
possible that the pressure Will rise to six
teen tons when using smokeless powder
The standard pressure used In the army
coast defense rifles is sixteen tons to the
square inch.
The announced policy of the officials, at
present, is TO develop the ordnance Of the
country on established lines and by ac-
cumuating liberal supplies of munitions OF
tried character, enable the country 40 be
prepared at any moment for whatever
emergency may arise. This policy is the
only safe one to be pursued.