PRECIS 
AND 
TRANSLATIONS. 
“ARCHIV FUR DIE ARTILLERIE UND 
INGENIEUR-OFFIZIERE DES DEUTSCHEN REICHSHEERES,” 
FEBRUARY, 1891. 
ARE THERE NO LONGER ANY USES FOR 
SMOKE-GIYING POWDER ? 
FROM THE GERMAN OF 
A. DITTRICH, CAPTAIN, Royal Landwehr. 
TRANSLATED BY 
Captain R. M. B. F. Kelly, R.A. 
It is impossible as yet to measure in any way the effect that the use of smokeless 1 
powder may produce on tactics and military science. . Whether the .smokeless 
powder is also a noiseless powder appears of secondary importance. It is suffi¬ 
cient to know that a smokeless powder exists, and is already being experimented 
upon or has been introduced in most armies. 
It is a factor which must be reckoned with, although tacticians are not yet 
agreed upon the dispositions which will enable them to derive the fullest benefit 
from the advantages of this invention and to minimise the disadvantages to the 
greatest extent. The universal introduction of this powder is assured, and even 
those States which have not as yet decided on its adoption, dare not delay its 
introduction much longer. 
The necessity in this case is more urgent than in the case of any advance made 
in military inventions during the course of the present century. An army which 
did not, or does not, possess any percussion or rilled arms, breech-loaders, or 
•magazine rifles, if opposed to troops equipped with these arms would not perhaps 
find itself at such disadvantage as an army with the old.powder against opponents 
provided with smokeless powder. However, so much has been written by the 
highest authorities on this subject that any further discussion here appears super¬ 
fluous. On the other hand, the question whether, after the introduction of 
smokeless powder, the old-fashioned powder will have become quite unnecessary 
and obsolete, as many maintain, has so far been very little, if at all, discussed. 
This question is not so easily answered; it puts one in mind of the time when 
1 Ranchschwacke is rendered smokeless as we have no single word to express it, and apparently 
erroneously name all powders giving little smoke “ smokeless powders.” 
2. VOL. XIX. 12a 
