The Washington herald., 1908-03-31
BY FREDERIC j. HAsKIN.

When smOkeleSs powder was invented
1t was predicted that it would revolu-
tiOnize warfare. That IL has made the
shock of battle more fatal and more ter
rife is we'll known. But It has not
brought about a revolution. Noiseless
battle may be made possible by the new
noiseless gun invented by Maxim. and
military experts are trying to peep into
the future and see along what lines such
a battle Will be fought. Then. If 10 smoke
less powder and noiseless guns a powder
is added that viii propel the leaden mis-
siles double the distance they are now
driven. the combination would set as
wide a difference between the battle OF a
century from now and the battle Of Ma
Mia as lay between Manila and Mara
thon.
More intense and more high-powered
explosives are being discovered each year.
Military experts and chemists are improv-
ing on each years discoveries, until each
step has been marked by such increased
explosive force that the wonderful power
is almost already beyond the bounds Of
comprehension. a recent preparation
known as Perunite B is rated as the most
powerful explosive known Its force is
explosives. With the force Of Perunite
B figured at 100 per cent, the force OF
other high explosives is represented as
follows: Explosive gelatin. 81 per cent:
niJroglycerin. 3; NobeTs smokeless
powder, 20; navy gun cotton, 6L5: dyna-
mite No. /, SIS, illuminate Of mercury,
AS; mortar powder. 80, and so on down
the lire until the ordinary black powder is
reached near the bottom.
The most powerful substance used by
military men is said to be explosive gela-
tin. which explodes with II per cent great
er intensity than dynamite and produces
80 per cent more power. At the same time,
it is less sensitive than dynamite Ex-
plosive gelatin is manufactured in the
form OF cables and cut of in lengths for
loading cartridges. An explosion OF gun
cotton produces 3,I00 degrees Of heat. Cen
tigrade, and the rate OF speed which its
force represents is 500 meters per second.
SmOkeless powder. or nitro-cellulose, as
it is technically called, gives a military
projectile velocity Of aeon feet per sec
ond at the muzzle Of a gun fifty calibers
long. From a military standpoint explo-
sives are divided into two classes-pro-
gressive and detonating. The difference
Gated by stating that a train Of gunpow-
der a quarter of a mile long. IL ignited
at one end. would require a comparatively
long time 10 burn, while 2 train OF dyna-
mite of equal length would be detonated
almost instantly by blow struck upon it
at one end. The one explOdes by contact
with fire. the other by shock.
Dynamite has eight times the explosive
force of gunpowder. Gun cotton, when
exploded produces gas having a volume
TO times greater than that Of the original
substance. NitrOglycerin. made through
the action OF nitric acid on glycerin. is
probably the most powerful and eccentric
explosive that is used to any extent in
the Industrial world. drop of Il on
copper cent. If struck, viii explode with
such force as 10 make the coin disappear
completely. A lighted match touched to
nitroglycerin in a liquid state will be
extinguished as though dipped in water.
But if the same liquid is Jared by being
struck or dropped, a terrific explosion
will result. It is safer when frozen, and
is used in blasting in that form.
Dynamite is much safer. 1t will do
little harm unless confined when the ex-
plosicn takes place. Its greatest force
goes upward. while the greatest force OF
low explosives, like gunpowder. is ex-
pended in a lateral direction. Therefore,
when there is an explosion Of dynamite
the persons near by should, II they have
time TO do anything. seek a hole in the
ground. II gunpowder explodes they
should climb a tree. The great danger
about dynamite is that it explodes easily
when in a partially decomposed state
When fresh and new a stick of dynamite
may be whitfield with impunity; but IL the
stick whitfield should happen not TO be
freshly made, little Of the whittier is
likely to be found afterward
To explode dynamite or similar explo-
sives, illuminate of mercury cap is gen
orally used. Dynamiters who handle that
giant powder carelessly are much more
particular about these little caps, for the
slightest shock or heat will cause an ex-
plosion Of 800 pounds pressure to the
square inch. There are other decorating
agents. however. which are much more
sensitive than illuminate of mercury. For
instance, the diazo benzine compounds
may be exploded by little current of
warm air; nitrogen-chloride will detonate
from the football of a fiy. and iodide Of
nitrogen Will explode with terrific force in
response TO one of three or four low notes
of violoncello, played at several yards
distance, but TO no other notes.
Smokeless powder, which is used in the
American army and navy gunnery with