Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-15
THE HORRORSOF WAR
NO WAY OF CONDUCTING IT ON HU-
NAME PRINCIPLES.
IT IS BARBAUOUS At BEST.
Efforts of International Law Have
Proved Futiic-Thc Dum-DuIn Bull
let and the Deadly Injuries II
IDnicts.
Cor the Dispatch.)

aeiested one. II was ever thus. Not
having any other excuse ready for being
crushingly defeated. the Spaniards whine
about unfair fighting. They lombard
ed US with petroleum bombs" say the
Spanish dispatches from Manila TO Ma
drid. What petroluem bombs are the
dispatches do not explain, but the beaten
Dons seek TO convey the impression that
foul fighting beat them. AS a matter OF
fact all the world knows that they were
beaten fairly and squarely. but even IL
new and terrible munitions of war had
been introduced by the Americans. the
| Dons would have to bear in mind that
"alPs fair in love and war" and the van
quished ones do not arouse any sentiment
but contempt by squealing after the blow.
ALL WAR IS BARBAROUS.
All war is barbarous. but the civilized
nations have not yet found any other
way of settling their differences. The
Powers Of Europe, in their keen rivalry,
agree not TO use explosive bullets; they
are interdicted. With the adoption by
the British Government OF the Dunn
Dunn bullet an interesting question has
| arisen whether the new bullet is an ex-
ploSiye bullet In the House of Commons
| recently, the Secretary Of State for India
| was quite indignant because the Dunn
| Dunn bullet was referred TO as an explo-
sive bullet Strictly speaking, this bullet
| may not come under the ban of the inter-
| national law and the customs OF war.
but the line of demarcation is more aca-
demic than real. If the Dum-Dum bullet
is permissible, why should we raise our
hands in holy horror at the suggestion OF
an explosive bullet or a petroleum bomb?
An explosive bomb explodes. A Dunn
Dunn bullet consists of solid lead encased
in a cup Of nickel. The difference be-
tween II and the Lee-Metford bullet is
that that bullet is encased all over with
the nickel, while the Dum-Dum bullet has
the lead uncovered at the point. 1t is
common knowledge that the Lee-Metford
weapon often punctures men without
disabling them. at any rate, at the time.
The bullet has been found to pass through
an enemy, and leave him to all intents
and purposes little the worse, unless a
vital part has been hit. The Dum-Dum
bullet, on the other hand, punctures the
flesh, and Immediately the lead tip
mushrooms" making a nasty. Jagged
wound, which is far more effective than
the mere daylight" hole occasloned by
Lee-Metford bullet.
THE DUM-DUM BULLET.
In extenuation of the injury done by
this new Dum-Dum bullet, named, by
the way, after the town in India where
1t was first made by Captain Berthe
Clay-it is claimed that it is not so
barbarous as the bullet that was used
with the old Snider rife, which was hol-
low, and therefore spread and made
CHASTITY wound. Only a trained casuist
could see the difference between an ex-
plosive bullet and this new Dum-Dum
bullet, which the British troops belch
forth from their rifles while yet a great
distance from the enemy. An explosive
bullet would carry as far, and would al
most certainly kill on striking a body.
The Dum-Dum bullet strikes an enc
my, mushrooms out" in his body and
inficts a horrible wound, which probably
means a lingering death instead Of a
quick dispatch. The distinction between
these two bullets appears a small mat
ter. Yet the refinement which veneers |
civilized nations sanctions the Dum-Dum |
bullet, while II refuses 10 permit the use |
Of its explosive rival.
IT'S OBJECT is TO KILL.
But, after all, is not this discussion OF |
the relative killing merits of these bull
lets uncalled for, and is there any justi- |
fcation for the armed nations of Eu- |
rope Directing TO the use OF explosive |
projectileS? The object Of war is to |
kill, and the more effectual the means |
the more pleased are those who have
the directions OF operations. Inventive |
genius has provided the navy with the |
torpedo and with submerged mines. Such
an explosion as wrecked the Maine may |
in time of war be caused by a torpedo or
by a submerged mine. By the use oil
these agencies hundreds OF officers and
men, and vessel worth it may be as
much as five million dollars, would in
the twinkling OF an eye be sent TO the
bottom OF the sea. This method OF
warfare has received the sanction Of all
the nations Of the world; it has been
reduced TO a more or less exact science.
SOME FINE DISTINCTIONS.
II is difficult to see where the differ
ence lies between killing a single man
with an explosive bullet and slaughter
ing whole ships company by sub
merged mines. AS a matter Of fact, In
the consideration Of methods OF warfare.
there is no room for sentiment. ANY
soldier who uses a bayonet merely to
pierce an antagonist, and does not drive
home his advantage by twisting and
twirling the weapon, would probably not
live to tell the tale OF his humanity. II
DDS Of warfare that logic tottsrs, and we
find it impossible to draw the line be-
tween one method and another-to label
one as humane and the other as not in
keeping with the traditions of civilized
nations.
At present war is a necessity. and we
may as we'll make up our minds 10
dismiss once and forever any attempt to
make it appear humane. 1t has been,
1t is now. and will be for al time bar
barous.
NO DIFFERENCE TO THE DEAD.
1t makes little difference to the soldier
or sailor whether he becomes the billet
OF a Remington ball or Dunn
Dunn bullet, each Of which inflicts Il gap
ing, ragged wound; whether he is laid
low with bullet which explodes and
kills him instantly, and robs him Of
lingering, painful death; or whether.
without a signal or warning. the ship
on which he Is serving strikes sub
merged mine or is attacked by a torpedo
and so sunk. In either case the ulti-
mate result is the same. and all attempts
On the part OF the super-sensitive 70
lraw hairbreadth distinctions are foolish
and vain.