32 REPORT—1890. 
along the bore, with the consequence that very greatly increased friction 
js established. The latter difficulty has been surmounted by more than 
one expedient, but always at the cost of absolute smokelessness. 
Our knowledge of the results obtained in France and Germany 
with the use of smokeless powders in the new rifles and in artillery 
is somewhat limited; our own experiments have demonstrated that 
satisfactory results are attainable with more than one variety of them, 
not only in the new repeating-arm of our infantry, but also with our 
machine-guns, with field-artillery, and with the quick-firing guns of 
larger calibre which constitute an important feature in the armament 
of our Navy. The importance of ensuring that the powder shall not 
be liable to undergo chemical change detrimental to its efficiency or 
safety, when stored in different localities where it may be subject to 
considerable variations of temperature (a condition especially essential 
jn connection with our own Naval and Military service in all parts of 
the world), necessitates qualities not very easily secured in an explosive 
agent consisting mainly of the comparatively sensitive nitro-compounds 
to which the chemist is limited in the production of a smokeless powder. 
It is possible, therefore, that the extent of use of such a material in our 
ships, or in our tropical possessions, may have to be limited by the practica- 
bility of fulfilling certain special conditions essential to its storage without 
danger of possible deterioration. If, however, great advantages are likely 
to attend the employment of a smokeless explosive, at any rate for certain 
Services, it will be well worth while to adopt such special arrangements 
as may be required for securing these without incurring special dangers ; 
this may prove to be especially necessary in our ships of war, where 
temperatures so high as to be prejudicial even to ordinary black powder 
sometimes prevail in the magazines, consequent mainly upon the positions 
assigned to them in the ships, but which may be guarded against by 
measures not difficult of application. 
The Press accounts of the wonderful performances of the first smoke- 
less powder adopted by the French—which, it should be added, were 
in some respects confirmed by official reports of officers who had wit- 
nessed experiments at a considerable distance—engendered a belief that 
a very great revolution in the conduct of campaigns must result from the 
introduction of such powders. It was even reported very positively that 
noiselessness was one of the important attributes of a smokeless powder, and 
highly-coloured comparisons have in consequence been drawn in Service- 
periodicals, and even by some military authorities, between the battles of 
the past and those of the future: the terrific din caused by the firing 
of the many guns and the roar of infantry-fire, in heavy engagements, 
being supposed to be reduced to noise so slight that distant troops would 
fail to know in what direction their comrades were engaged, and that 
sentries and outposts would no longer be able to warn their comrades of 
the approaching foe by the discharge of their rifles. Military journals of 
