USING SMOKE IN WARFARE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 4254, 2 June 1888, Page 4

USING SMOKE IN WARFARE.

« Smoke will certainly play an important part m warfare of the future. Lost year at Milford Haven and this year m Langstone Harbour it was artificially created m large quantities m order to form screens behind which attacking forces might, unobserved, approach within range of forts and batteries. On each occasion rafts laden with combustibles were set on fire and floated into positions from which the wind carried the smoke m a more or less dense cloud m the direction of the defence. On tho other hand, ever since the introduction of the modern ordnance and rapid rifle fire, it has been felt that the huge volume of smoke which would be belched forth during a battle of the present day would probably prevent the uso of big guns to the best advantage. Smoke, m fact, may, according to circumstances, be either a great assistance or a grave impediment m warfare. The ideal state of things is, of course, one m which the production of smoke shall be controlled so that either a clear atmosphere or a cloudy one may, as need may arise, be created round a battery or ship m action. This ideal has now, to some extent, been attained. It is found that smoke, as it issues from the muzzle of a heavy gun, can bo almost instantly precipitated by means of a simple electrical apparatus. The invention 13 based übon the researches of Professor Tyndall, Lord Rayleigh and Professor Lodge m the action of electricity upon floating dust and vapour, and it should be of considerable military value. St. James's Gazeite.