Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 November 1891 — IT DOES NOT SMOKE. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

IT DOES NOT SMOKE.

Samples of the Improved Powder Br might from Europe. Some months ago the War Department sent a special agent abroad to get samples of the different smokeless powders used by the European powers. While the idea was good, says tha New York World, the task gvas hopeless from the start. The war depart* ments of France, England and Gen many make their smokeless powdel and no outsider can enter theli factories, mqcli less get samples ol their powders. The process of manufacture is considered a state secret. Even active officers of the countries named have to apply for special permission to visit a powder mill belonging to their governriient. Under the circumstances it is not surprising that the United States agent found it impossible to get samples of the%mokeless powder used

In tho armies of France, England and Germany. All he could do was to buy samples from private powder mills. This-lie did, and lie brought back samples- of the English Maxim and Houghton, the French 13. N., the German Noble and Walsrode and the Belgium Werdencn, All these have been tested by nearly every European Government and found not satisfactory, in spito of the improvements made upon thorn. Each company assured the agent that its powder was tho best and that it would liko to supply the Ignited States Government with as much smokeless powder us tho whole army could puff away. Ciiptain Blunt, of Springffeid, at the head of tho board of army officers for testing tho new magazine rlilu to bo introduced into our army, was assigned to thoroughly test these powders. According to Captain Blunt’s report all the smokeless powders brought from Europo, as well as tho one manufactured by tho United States navy, is valueless for use in small ilrcarms such as infantry rifles. The forco of smokeless powder is much greater than than that of ordinary gunpowder, because of the high explosive character of tho substances used. Its combustion ia so rapid that one grain more than the normal chargo of a cartridge will cause an increase of 15,000 pounds pressure to the square inch in the breech of a gun. Unfortunately the most skillful hand cannot measure a powder charge to tho nicety of a grain, more or less. Tho Increased pressure causes an increased velocity of the missile, and as by far tho largest number of cartridges will be a trifle irregular in weight, tho produced pressure and tho actual velocity of each bullet will differ. With such material marksmanship would become a farce, and an infantry body forced to use it might as well throw rifles away and essay to hit the enemy with a baton. Only a few trials have been made to establish tho value of the sample* of smokeless powder for large guns. The 8-inch breech-loading steel rifle, the smallest of the American big guns at Sandy Hook, was tired a couple of

times with the German WaLsrode. The results, In a measure, surprised the experimenting officers. The nottnal charge of ordinary powder for an 8-inch rifle la 130 pounds. Only forty-five pounds ol the German smokeless powder were used, and the low pressure of 30,000 pounds per square inch to the breech of the gun, with extraordinary velocity of over 2,000 feet per Second was obtained. Taking Into consideration that the full charge of 130 pounds of ordinary powder, with a pressure qf at least 35,000 pounds to the square inch would not have given more than 1,750 or 1,800 feet velocity, It would seem that this smokeless powder has some good qualified. All these foreign powders have been carefully analyzed, but their composition remains a secret. It has been Impossible to determine the chemical bases of some of the compound ingredients, and until this is done It will be hard for our powder-makers to Improve upon these products. Thy value of smokeless powder In warfare is beyond dispute. The War Department seems to Realize this, add the ordnance department does at present, with its limited means, all it can to keep abreast with the progress of modern times. This government should follow the example of foreign powers and establish laboratories, placing them in charge of skilled chemists, who might study the smokeless powder question thoroughly. The French smokeless powder has the appearance of thin sheets of glue, which are cut in strips two inches long and half an inch wide. The charge is bound together with a string and then put into the gun. The German Walsrode is cut in cubes onethird of an Inch square. It is dark black and under the knife acts like soap. A thin piece cut from it is almost transparent. One of the chief components of all smokeless powder is now nitro-cellulose, which seems to have transplanted the straw cellulose. The national emblem of Russia Just now should he a turkey gobbler.

GERMAN WALSRODE SMOKELESS POWDER.

FRENCH B. N. SMOKELESS POWDER.