Read's "Weekly Journal" of October 25th, 1760, in an account of a review in Hyde Park, mentions as the concluding item of the manœuvres, that "pieces of a new construction, of a globular form, were set on fire, which occasioned such a smoke as to render all persons within a considerable distance entirely invisible, and thereby the better in time of action to secure a retreat." There can be little doubt that this is one of the first demonstrations, at any rate in this country, of the use of smoke balls.
The Chinese made use of both projectiles many centuries ago, and the smoke—or stink-pot—was in use by them until comparatively recently.
Smoke balls from 4-2/5th inches up to 13 inches calibre were included in the official list of projectiles for smooth-bore guns until about 1873, when with ground light balls they became obsolete. The latter, as their name suggests, were intended to be burnt on the ground and light up enemy working parties, etc. This also was the object of the parachute light-ball, which was fitted with a time fuse and an opening charge; upon opening, a light was ignited suspended from a parachute. This method appears to have been invented in Denmark in 1820, and they were used in Austria the following year.
Another class of war store which naturally suggests itself is that used to give light for the purpose of signalling. The light is either burnt on the ground as a hand light or fitted to a rocket. Fireworks for this purpose have been in use from earliest times, being the logical development of the signal beacon, but it was not until the introduction of genuine colour—that is to say, colour distinguishable at a long distance—that they reached their full standard of utility.
It is, however, the rocket which has received most attention for military purposes, and certainly with good reason. Here
