The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-07-26
TIE puMDUM BILLET.

The Dumdum bullet, concerning
test, takes its name from the Indiar
armory where it was first made. It is
nearly third of an inch in diameter
whereas the diameter of the bullet used
in the United States magazine rifle is
barely a quarter of an inch. The mod
ern pencil-shaped bullet is encased II
nickel or copper to prevent its spread
ing, and here is where it differs from
the bullet complained of at The Hague
conference. The point of the Dumdum
is not covered by the nickel or copper
casing, but this bit of lead is exposed
| and in striking spreads and makes q
| larger and more dangerous wound than
the pencil bullet. Much surprise mas
been expressed that of all the nations
represented at The Hague conference
only the American and British dele
gates should have refused to prohibit
the use OF the Dumdum in warfare
The question inevitably arises, why
should our representatives have sane
toned the bullet that makes the cruel
| lest wound?
The answer is not so difficult as il
may seem. The car proposed that the
conference agree to accept no further
improvements in the machinery of war
and even abolish some that have lately
been adopted. To this there could be
no general consent, even on humanita-
rian grounds, for it is agreed that as a
rule Improvements in the means OF
waging effective war tend towards
peace by making nations more cautious
! in engaging in war. When the Dunn
dunn bullet was brought up for action
the American and British delegates re-
fused to condemn 1t, but proposed a
| substitute resolution. 1t was not con-
sidered that the Dumdum bullet
caused needless suffering, but, on the
contrary that it was an improvement
in the art Of war, and improvements
should not be discouraged or con
demned.
The argument on this point is not at
all obscure. The little nickel-cased bull
let allows a great gain in range and
saves much in weight, but 1t does not
stop a soldier unless it hits q. large
bone or some vital part. The wound is
so small and clean that often it is not
noticed in the heat and excitement OF
battle, and man may be hit more than
once, perhaps four or five times, before
he drops out of the fight. In short, the
| modern bullet has been proved to be
unexpectedly ineffective. When the
Dumdum strikes man, it stops him.
1t inflicts a wound much like that
| caused by the bullets used in the Amer
lean civil war, and such a wound was
not then deemed barbarous. OF course
it is cruel, for all killing or manning is
cruel, but killing and manning are the
business of war, and bullets that do
not stop man and put him out of the
fight are of precious little use.
1t was a humane notion that the
small calibre bullets would disable a
soldier without infiicting so severe a
wound as the old and larger bullets,
but this theory has been somewhat dis
credited by experience In recent British
and American campaigns, for It has
been found that man may still be
useful soldier even after two or three
quarterback holes have been made in
the fieshy parts of his body From the
standpoint Of strict humanity, the man
should not be hit at all, unless he can
be put out Of the fight. 1t may be add
ed that the Dumdum is not used in the
United States army.