102 president's address SECTION B. 



between rollers and rolled out into thin plates. These plates are 

 cut into strips, and then into cubes, the thickness of the plates 

 being regulated according to the purpose for which the powder is 

 intended to be used. This powder has a horny, brownish-yellow 

 appearance, and is so soft that it can be cut with a knife. 



The composition of "Cordite," the new English smokeless 

 powder, thovigh similar to is not identical with that of Ballistite. 

 A committee of distinguished chemists in England, appointed by 

 Governnaent, determined after long investigations that the ingi'e- 

 dients of Cordite should be as follows : — 



GuncottoD 37 per cent. 



Nitro-glycerine 58 per cent. 



Mineral jelly or vaseline 5 per cent. 



100 



The method of manufacture differs somewhat from that of 

 Ballistite, in so far as the properties of acetone in dissolving gun- 

 cotton are applied. About 20 per cent, of acetone is poured over 

 the ingredients in the incorporating machine, and the charge is 

 worked up for several hours until it has the consistency of dough. 

 When completed it is taken to the press house, where it is placed 

 in a machine of similar construction to a pump, the cjdinder of 

 which contains a small perforated hole at i's base ; the pressure 

 of the cylinder on the soft material forces it through the hole at 

 the base of the cylinder, through which it is squirted in the 

 form of a cord of any required thickness. The sizes vary from 

 "OSTSin., used in small aims, up to 0-oin., for lieavy ordnance. 

 The cord is wound on reels for the small arm powder, and cut into 

 lengths for the purposes of heavy ordnance. Experiments on a 

 large scale have given most satisfactory results, both as regards its 

 ballistic properties and its safety in manufacture, storage, and 

 handling. Consignments of this explosive have been subjected 

 alternately to the the cold winter of Canada and the tropical heat 

 of India, and it has been foimd on examination to be quite un- 

 changed. 



Invention in smokeless powders is in its infancy, and it is 

 impossible to say what the near future may bring forth. 



The question which has often been asked, as to whether there is 

 any urgent need for smokeless powders, has not yet been fully 

 answered. 



The direct advantages claimed in the case of cordite are — 



1st. Increase of rapidity in firing, combined with greater 

 accuracy of aim. 



2nd. Higher velocity and flatter trajectory. 



3rd. A diminution of the weight, thus allowing a larger 

 number of rounds to be carried. 



4th. Absence of fouliny;. 



