ADDRESS. 33 
renown, misled by such legendary accounts, chiefly emanating from France, 
referred to the absence of noise and smoke in battlesas greatly enhancing 
the demands for skill and courage, and as surrounding a fight with mystery. 
The absence of recoil when a rifle was fired with smokeless powder was 
another of the marvels reported to attend the use of these new agents 
of warfare. It need scarcely be said that a closer acquaintance with 
them has dispelled the credit given to such of the accounts of their sup- 
posed qualities as were mythical, and a belief in which could only be 
ascribable to a phenomenal combination of credulity with ignorance of the 
most elementary scientific knowledge. 
The extensive use which has been made in Germany of smokeless or 
nearly smokeless powder in one or two special military displays has, 
however, afforded interesting indications of the actual changes likely 
to be wrought in the conditions under which engagements on land will be 
fought in the future, provided these new explosives thoroughly establish 
and maintain their positions as safe and reliable propelling agents. 
Although the powder adopted in Germany is not actually smokeless, 
the almost transparent film of smoke produced by independent rifle- 
firing with it is not visible at a distance of about 300 yards; at shorter 
distances it presents the appearance of a puff froma cigar. The most 
rapid salvo-firing by a large number of men does not have the effect of 
obscuring them from distant observers. When machine-guns and field- 
artillery are fired with the almost absolutely smokeless powder which we 
are employing, their position is not readily revealed to distant observers 
by the momentary vivid flash of flame and slight cloud of dust produced. 
There now appears little doubt that in future warfare belligerents on 
both sides will alike be users of these new powders; the screening or 
obscuring effect of smoke will therefore be practically absent during 
engagements between contending forces, and while, on the one hand, the 
very important protection of smoke, and its sometimes equally important 
assistance in manceuvres, will thus be abolished, both combatants will, 
on the other hand, secure the advantages of accuracy of shooting and of 
the use of individual fire, through the medium of cover, with comparative 
immunity from detection. Such results as these cannot fail to affect, more 
or less radically, the principles and conditions under which battles have 
hitherto been fought. With respect to the Naval Service, it is especially for 
the quick-firing guns, so important for defensive purposes, that a smoke- 
less powder has been anxiously looked for; by the adoption of such a 
powder as has during the past year been elaborated for our artillery, 
should experience establish its reliability under all Service conditions and 
its power to fulfil all reasonable requirements in regard to stability, these 
guns will not only be used by our ships under conditions most favour- 
able to their efficiency, but their power will also be very importantly 
increased. 
The ready and safe attainment of very high velocities of projection 
1890. D 
