4 
of shells, grenades, segment shell, and especially of shrapnel. In the case of 
percussion shell, as formerly in the case of smooth-bore shot, tli'e point of impact 
may be observed by the cloud of dust thrown up at the first impact, but when 
and where the shell burst or whether it was blind could not be determined (at 
least from the guns) if it was filled with smokeless powder. 
But the use of shrapnel, if one does not wish to fire quite at haphazard, 
becomes of questionable advantage if filled with a bursting charge of smokeless 
powder. Bor the little puff on burst is, if not the only, at all events the surest 
guide as to the effectiveness of the fire, that is to say, as to the correctness of the 
data—elevation, length of fuze, laying, &c. The use of smokeless powder in 
this case would most certainly be a grave mistake. Even with the greatest pre¬ 
cision in firing, the effect, especially in the cas.e of segment shell, would only be 
noticed by the enemy in the immediate vicinity of. those struck, and the moral 
effect would thus be very much lessened ; although, with equal force, “ the uncanny 
feeling that overpowers troops who find themselves pelted with fragments and 
bullets from shell that have burst unseen ” may fairly be set against that. But, 
after the introduction of smokeless powder, troops must accustom themselves to 
shots coming from unknown directions, and no one can deny that the bursting of 
shell visible and apparent by “ smoke and sound,” to the front and on all sides 
makes a deep impression even on seasoned troops. Besides, the use of smoky 
powder for bursting charges, offers yet this advantage, that a number of shell, 
bursting almost simultaneously in front of the enemy’s line, will give rise to a 
smoke that will make their aim difficult, and thus tend to diminish one’s own 
losses. 
In sieges, perhaps, the old powder may be even more often used. 
With quick-firing guns the use of smokeless powder is clearly indicated, for 
the sake of the ease in laying. Also in the case of guns not under cover when 
it is desired to open fire unexpectedly, for by its help the enemy will be kept in 
uncertainty, at least for a time, as to the direction from which the shells are 
coming. However, even under the most favourable circumstances, this will 
only be possible for a very short time and by various means, such as captive 
balloons, for example, both sides will be able to obtain accurate information as to 
the positions of their opponents’ guns. With heavy guns, when they are pro¬ 
tected by armoured carriages or in armoured towers, there can be no disadvantage 
in the use of strong smoke-giving, or ordinary powder if it has the same energy 
as the new powder—for in the slow firing that will usually be the rule from these 
guns there will be sufficient time between the shots for the smoke to clear away 
so that it will be no hindrance in laying. 
Besides the uses of smoky powder-from a part of the guns will tend to deceive ‘ 
the enemy and admit of an effective fire being carried on even from guns in the 
open. Such a case would be possible if, for instance, two guns fairly distant 
from each other, one of which was protected and the other in the open, fired as 
far as possible simultaneously, even if their objective was different. The enemy, 
only paying attention to, the smoke issuing from the armoured tower, would for a 
long time direct his fire only at this protected position, whilst he would himself 
suffer perceptible loss from the unprotected, but unobserved gun. 
Evidently what has been said about the bursting charges of shell and shrapnel 
of field guns applies with equal force to those of fortress and siege guns. It is 
of the greatest importance to know whether the shells fired against the enemy’s 
breastworks and walls have burst after penetration or not, a fact that can be 
easily ascertained by the use of smoky powder as bursting charge. The brownish 
yellow or reddish cloud of dust (according as to whether the earth or the escarp was 
struck) will be tinged white by the use of the old-fashioned powder, which would 
not be the case had smokeless powder been used. Eor the sound, even if very 
loud, cannot, if there fe the slightest attempt at a bombardment going on, give the 
necessary indication, as it would be impossible to know to which shot any parti¬ 
cular detonation belonged. 
