The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-01-07
CONTROVERSY ON
DUN DUN BULLETS
Continued From First Page.


violations of the rules of civilized war
fare.
Winchester Recsived No Order
~, our Excellency also states that
the British government has ordered
from the Winchester Repeating Arms
company twenty thousand riot guns,
model 1897, and fifty million 'buckshot
cartridges for use in such guns. Thi,
department saw a published statement
OF the Winchester company, the cor.
lectness of which the company has con.
tirmed to the department by telegraph
In this statement the company cate.
gor1cally denied that it has received an
order for such guns and cartridges from
or made sale of such material to the
British government or to any other gov.
eminent engaged in the present war.
Your EXcellercy further calls at
tentlon to information the accuser of
which is not to be doubted, that eight
million cartridges filled with mushroom
bullets have been delivered since Oc-
tober of this year by tine Union Metallic
Cartridge Company for the armament
of the English army
What the Remington Supplied
In reply | have the honor TO refer
to the letter of. December 10, 1914, of
the Remington Arms Union Metallic
Cartridge Company, of New York, to
Your Excellency, called forth by GER
tain newspaper reports of statements
alleged to have been made by YOU in
regard to the sale by that company of
soft-nosed bullets. From this letter. a
copy of which was sent to this depart
ment by the company, it appears that
instead of eight million cartridges hav-
ing been sold, only little over H.
600 were manufactured and 100000
were sold
1.-The letter further asserts that
these cartridges were made to supply
demand for a better sporting cart.
ridge with soft-nosed bullet than had
been manufactured theretofor; and
that such cartridges cannot be used in
the military rifle of any foreign pow
er. The company adds that its state
ment can be substantiated and that it
is ready to give you any evidence that
you may require on these points.
'The department is now in receipt
from the company of a complete de-
tailed list of the persons to whom these
cartridges were sold. From this list
it appears that the cartridges were
sold to firms in lots of 20 to 1000 and
one lot each of 5000, 1000, 5000.
Of these only $50 cartridges went to
British North America and 100 to
British East Africa.
eff, however, it can furnish the de.
partment with evidence that this or any
other company are manufacturing and
selling for the use of the contendinp
armies in Europe, cartridges whose use
would contravene The Hague conven.
ton, the government would be glad to
be furnished the evidence and the
President directs me to inform YOU
that, in case any American company is
shown to be engaged in this traffic he
will use his influence DO prevent, so
far as possible sales of such ammuni.
tion to the powers engaged in the Euro
pean war, without regard to whether
it is the duty of this government upon
legal or conventional grounds to take
such action.
In view of the publicity which has
been given to your Excellency's com
plant addressed to the department in
these matters, it is taken for granted
that there can be no objection on your
part to equal publicity being given to
this note and the letter of the Union
Metallic Cartridge Company addressed
30 you on December 10. 1914"